Let’s manifest, don’t forget the rule of 11:11 and admire the 11 of World’s Most Exclusive & Expensive diamonds. The number of their carats speak louder and so does their glow.
1. The Lesedi La Rona diamond at 1,109 carats in its rough form (2,774 Carats Before Fracturing Into 5).
A senior research scientist at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) believes the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona — the second largest rough diamond ever found — actually weighed at least 2,774 carats before it fractured into five pieces during the sorting process at Lucara's Karowe mine in Botswana in November 2015.
Lucara had previously reported that the 813-carat "Constellation” and a 374-carat unnamed "shard" had broken off Lesedi La Rona. The total weight of the original rough diamond, had it remained intact, would have been 2,296 carats.
2. The Graff Lesedi La Rona 302.37 carat.
The 302.37 carat Graff Lesedi La Rona is the largest highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA, and the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond, expertly cut and polished by Graff’s world leading team of gemmologists and master polishers. This rare marvel required over 18 months of meticulous craftsmanship, and marks an historic moment in diamond history. We invite you to learn more about its journey, from its 1,109 carat rough form to its final, precious silhouette.
3. The Rock 228.31 carat pear-shaped white diamond.
The Rock, which, at 228.31 carats, is the largest-ever white diamond to sell at auction, fetching nearly $22 million at Christie’s. It is also the largest pear-shaped diamond ever to have been graded by the GIA, inspiring us to look back at some other enormous diamonds from history and to discover that The Rock is not the only stone out there for buyers with pockets deep enough for sky-high carats… The diamond making headlines of late has a less romantic name, but one that captures its particular allure perfectly: The Rock. This 228.31ct pear-shaped white diamond, which is not too far off being the size of an admittedly very small edible pear.
4.The Red Cross 205.07 carat fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond
In the same auction, another impressive rock found a new home: a 205.07ct fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond named The Red Cross Diamond. The diamond was first sold in 1918 for £10,000 to London jeweller S.J. Phillips, then again in 1973 for CHF1.8 million to a private owner. This time, the diamond sold for CHF14.1 million, a world auction record for a fancy intense yellow diamond.
5. Dior 88.88 carat Le Montaigne diamond
The extraordinary Dior Joaillerie 88.88 carat yellow diamond named Le Montaigne is another masterpiece of high jewellery world. Discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley Mine in 2020, as a 150-carat rough diamond that promised intense colour and unparalleled clarity, Dior acquired the stone on the condition that it must be cut into a single 88.88 carat diamond. After nine months of study, modelling and painstaking cutting, the final diamond has now been revealed and certified as a cushion-cut Fancy Intense yellow diamond of VVS2 clarity. It weighs, as promised, exactly 88.88 carats. The weight requirement stems from Christian Dior’s belief in lucky charms and, in particular, the significance of the number eight. The designer founded his house on 8 October 1946 with the maison spanning eight floors and housing eight workshops. It was also located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The diamond’s name, likewise, recalls the address of the original atelier on Avenue Montaigne, where the brand still retains its flagship today. The 88.88 carat weight of the diamond also refers to the name of Dior’s En Huit collection (‘huit’ meaning ‘eight’ in French).
6. Tiffany & Co. World's Fair necklace set with an internally flawless, oval-shaped, D-colour Type IIa diamond weighing over 80 carats
Tiffany unveiled The World Fair’s Necklace at a Tiffany event in Dubai; doubling up as an eternally flawless 180-carat necklace with a centre 80-carat centre stone, which may be taken apart to stand alone as a breathtaking cocktail ring. Although Tiffany & Co have declined to reveal the exact price of The World’s Fair Necklace, experts have hinted at the potential price of £22 million. The World’s Fair Necklace was originally inspired by an Art Deco style necklace designed by Tiffany in 1939. The magnificent 200-carat piece became the talk of New York society and Hollywood, where the piece became an integral design propelling Tiffany & Co into one of the leading jewellery brands of our time.
7. Pink star 59.60 karat prodan 71,2 milliona dollars
This is the highest amount paid for a gemstone among all those sold by the auction house. In addition, the Pink Star became a world record holder, having won the title of the most expensive diamond in the world, knocking off the magnificent blue Oppenheimer Blue weighing 14.62 carats from its pedestal - last spring it was sold at auction by Christie's for $ 57.5 million. The new owner of the flawless vivid pink diamond weighing 59.6 carats was the Hong Kong jewelry company Chow Tai Fook, which renamed the gem CTF Pink (where CTF is an abbreviation of the brand name). The final price of the lot exceeded Sotheby's expected $ 60 million. It was fixed five minutes after the start of fierce bidding between the main contenders.
8. Kat Florence monumental 57.84- carat neon blue Paraiba tourmaline form Brazil.
This ring by Kat Florence showcases a monumental 57.84-carat neon blue Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil. The exceptional gemstone is complemented by 1.29 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds, each graded D-color and flawless.
9. Unheated Orange Sapphire Ring, 30.23 Carats
The exceptional orange sapphire in this ring is a true marvel of nature. Weighing a monumental 30.23 carats, it has earned the distinction of being one of the largest orange sapphires ever examined by the GIA Laboratory. Its rich hue, exceptional transparency and untreated status place it in a class of its own. The accompanying GIA report and letter highlight the stone's rarity and significance, noting the rare combination of size, color and clarity that sets it apart. Originating in Australia, this gemstone's brilliance is further underscored by its outstanding grade from Gubelin, a rare accolade reserved for the finest quality stones. The oval shaped fancy colored sapphire is encircled in approximately 8.80 carats of diamonds and set in 18K white gold.
10. Cullinan Dream 24.18 carat ring.
The most expensive diamond rings ever sold at auction is the 24.18 carat, Cullinan Dream. The largest Fancy Intense blue diamond to ever appear at auction, this beautiful rectangular mixed-cut stone is set onto a platinum ring with baguette-cut diamond side stones. Like the Oppenheimer Blue, the Cullinan Dream comes from the South African mine of the same name and is the largest of four gems cut from a 122.52 carat rough blue diamond unearthed in 2014. The 24.18ct Cullinan Dream - the largest Fancy Intense blue diamond to ever appear at auction - sold for $25.4 million at Christie’s New York in June 2016.
11. The Blue Moon of Josephine diamond at 12.03 carats
When a diamond is of a certain calibre, tradition dictates that it is given a name. When property mogul Joseph Lau bought a 12.03 carat blue diamond for $48.4 million in 2015, it became the Blue Moon of Josephine, named after his seven-year-old daughter for whom he bought the stone. A 1,109-carat rough diamond unearthed in Botswana that same year was named Lesedi La Rona, meaning ‘our light’ in the local Tswana language.
