Fashion

The 8 Most Expensive Diamonds Of All Time

These stunning diamonds (and their price tags) will leave you in awe.

Hand holding nine jewels
Harry Winston Jewels. Photo courtesy of Harry Winston.

In the world of high jewelry, hundreds of diamonds go for millions of dollars. But what about the most expensive diamonds to ever be sold? The stunning raw diamonds, found in a mine but not yet carved? Or the exquisite stones that once adorned the necks of royalty, but now go up for auction at esteemed auction houses like Sotheby's? The prices of the most expensive diamonds ever sold are based upon several factors. It's all about the quality, size, and just how bad people want to get their hands on something so rare. The most expensive diamonds ever to be sold usually have paperwork detailing their provenance and proving their worth.

These precious gems have captivated the hearts of collectors and connoisseurs alike, selling for astronomical prices and leaving us in awe of their sheer beauty and rarity. These record-breaking auctions all have something in common: the color. Hint: there's lots of fancy blue and pink. 

L'OFFICIEL has rounded up some of the most expensive diamonds to ever be sold, below. 

The Pink Star, $71.2 million

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
The Pink Star. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

The Pink Star diamond, a 59.6-carat marvel and one of the rarest gems on Earth, broke records at Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in 2017 as the most expensive diamond ever auctioned. This gem, originally a rough stone from De Beers in 1999, underwent a meticulous 20-month cutting process. After debuting in London in 2003, it graced the Natural History Museum in 2005, with over 70,000 visitors daily.

So, how much did this gorgeous diamond sell for? A whopping $71.2 million 

The Oppenheimer Blue, $57.6 million 

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
The Oppenheimer Blue. Photo courtesy of Christie's.

In 2016, The Oppenheimer Blue became the most expensive blue diamond sold at auction at Christie's Geneva. 

This fancy vivid blue diamond, weighing 14.62 carats, was the largest of its kind ever auctioned. The bidding war over the phone lasted a thrilling 25 minutes before it was finally sold for a jaw-dropping $57.6 million. 

The Pink Legacy, $50 million 

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
The Pink Legacy. Photo courtesy of Christie's.

The Pink Legacy is like one in a million with its color intensity, and turned heads when it hit the auction block in 2018, a whole hundred years after it was unearthed in South Africa. This 18.96-carat stunner was snagged by Harry Winston for an expensive $50 million at Christie's Geneva. 

Williamson Pink Star, $49.9 million

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
Williamson Pink Star. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

 The Williamson Pink Star made headlines at Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in 2022. This fancy vivid pink diamond, originally estimated at $21 million, ended up selling for a mind-blowing $49.9 million. That's a record-breaking $5,178,124 per carat, making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold. 

The Blue Moon of Josephine, $48.5 million 

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
The Blue Moon of Josephine. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

Just one year out of the ground in South Africa, the Blue Moon diamond sold at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva in 2015. This breathtaking 12.03-carat blue gem was snagged for $48.5 million by Joseph Lau, a businessman from Japan. 

The Graff Pink, $46.2 million 

Most expensive diamonds ever sold
The Graff Pink. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

 The Graff Pink, a stunning 24.78-carat diamond, is truly a sight to behold. The chairman of Sotheby's International Jewellery Division couldn't contain his admiration for the jewel, calling it "one of the most desirable diamonds I have ever seen." This rare beauty was sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2010 to the renowned British jeweler, Laurence Graff.

The Orange, $35.5 million

accessories gemstone jewelry diamond
The Orange. Photo courtesy of Christie's.

The Orange diamond is such a rare gem and is one of the select few to earn the Fancy Vivid title from the Gemological Institute of America. This pear-shaped marvel is the largest known orange diamond, and it outshines the next biggest by a whole 9 carats. It went for an eye-popping $35.5 million at a Christie's auction in Geneva back in 2013, making it one of the most expensive diamonds in a fancy orange hue to ever sell.

The Zoe Diamond, $32.6 million 

accessories diamond gemstone jewelry
The Zoe Diamond. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's.

That 9.75-carat fancy vivid blue diamond made waves at Sotheby's back in November 2014. It sold for $32.6 million, more than double its expected top value, setting records for both the price of a blue diamond and the price-per-carat for any diamond at a staggering $3.3 million

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