Diamonds from rare resources were expensive as early as the 14th and 15th centuries, and only royal nobility could afford to buy priceless diamonds. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of diamonds being auctioned off in jewellery sales, which has increased the demand for diamonds. The most expensive diamonds in the world are listed below.
Which is the No 1 diamond?
The Koh-i-Noor
Approximately 800 carats of rough are said to have been extracted in the 1300s from the Korah mine in India. It is one of the most renowned and ancient diamonds in the world, having been originally ground into a rose form and measuring 191 carats. It is also considered the world's most valuable diamond. The stone was purchased by the British in 1850, with the intention of reducing faults and enhancing its brightness and brilliance.
It was reduced to 105.6 carats by Prince Albert, who cut it into a circular shape. Opaque-cut diamonds with a colourless lustre are also known as the Mountain of Light and Diamond of Babur. The history and lore surrounding this stone are rich. This diamond was formerly considered a cursed gem in the past. Several deadly wars and carnage were triggered by it, which led to numerous deaths for kings who owned it. Over the years, the Mountain of Light gained notoriety as the crown gem of the British Queen's crown, and it now rests in peace at a museum in London.
Cullinan Diamond
The 3,106.75ct/621.35g Cullinan diamond is the world's biggest rough gem-quality diamond discovery to date. Cullinan, South Africa, was the site of its discovery in 1905, and it was given to King Edward VII as a gift. This big raw diamond was then faceted to produce a variety of different-sized diamonds, the two largest of which are named Star of Africa I and II, respectively. The Star of Africa I is the largest diamond in the world. A 530.2-carat drop-shaped diamond has been found. It is presently housed at England's Buckingham Palace and has 74 facets placed on the King of Britain's sceptre.
The "Hope" Diamond
The Hope Diamond is a well-known "doom diamond." Several owners have mysteriously perished after it appeared, and homicide and looting have accompanied it. Titanic's "Heart of the Sea" is based on this design. In 1668, King Louis XIV acquired the Hope diamond, which, in the 1600s, was found in India. Finally, the "Crown Blue Diamond" was cut into a 67.125-carat chicken heart-shaped piece. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the French Revolution in 1792, and the long-lost diamond did not resurface in Europe until Wilhelm Fowles, a diamond cutter, bought it in the Netherlands in 1830. Wilhelm Fowles carved this diamond into its current shape and weight of 44.4 carats in order to dissuade the French authorities from chasing it.
The Diamond of the Centenary
An 80-year-old diamond called the centennial diamond was found. After three years of polishing, the raw diamond weighed 599 carats and ranked third in the world in weight. There are 247 cuts in all, with 75 at the top, 89 at the bottom, and 83 at the waist. This emerald-coloured, perfect diamond is a rare and beautiful gem. In the De Beers collection, the Centenary diamond is valued at around $100 million.
The CTF Pink Star
A 132.5-carat raw diamond was used to create the CTF Pink Star, which De Beers acquired in 1999 from the Steinmetz mine. Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in April 2017 established a record for worldwide gem auctions when Hong Kong jewellery giant Chow Tai Fook purchased a diamond for $71.2 million. Oval perfect brilliant pink diamond of 59.60 carats with an IF clarity is the result of two years of meticulous cutting and polishing. In honour of Dr Zheng Yutong, the father of Chow Tai Fook's current chairman and founder, it has been renamed CTF Pink Star.
