India can rightly be called the birthplace of diamonds, as the precious stone was first recognised and mined here.
Here's a look at the world's most highly valued stones, representing timeless beauty and unparalleled prestige.
1. The Kohinoor
The ‘Kohinoor’ is considered to be the most expensive diamond in the world. Originally found in Golconda, Andhra Pradesh, the diamond means as “Mountain of Light” in Persian. It’s a 105 carat (21.6 grams) diamond that was owned by various Sikh, Mughal and Persian rulers that fought each other from time to time. The stone was found to measure 36.00 × 31.90 × 13.04 mm. British rulers acquired it through the British East India company and it has been part of the British crown since. It is kept in HM Tower of London and is a popular tourist attraction. It’s total value is unknown but it is estimated to be worth between 10-13 billion pounds.
2. The Sancy
The ‘Sancy’ is a centuries-old diamond passed down through generations of European royalty. Prior to that it was known to have belonged to the Great Moghuls. It is also believed to be of Indian origin. The Sancy is 55.23 carat (11.05 grams) of pale yellow diamond. This is the first large diamond to be cut with symmetrical facets. The stone is also unusual because it has no pavilion – just a pair of crowns, one on the other.
The Sancy fetched nine million Swiss francs ($9.7 million) at an auction in Geneva in May 2012. The 35-carat "Beau Sancy" diamond was worn by Marie de Medici, Queen consort of Henry IV, at her coronation in 1610. An anonymous telephone bidder purchased the jewel, put on the market by the House of Prussia and described by sellers Sotheby's as one of the "most fascinating and romantic" gems ever to come to auction.
3. The Cullinan
The Cullinan Diamond is 3,106,75 carats (621.35 grams) diamond and is the largest rough gem quality diamond ever found in the world. It was originally discarded by a hasty mine manager who figured it was far too large to be anything other than a crystal. It was later recovered and re-gifted to King Edward VII in 1907. After being polished it was cut into nine smaller diamond pieces – the largest piece (Cullinan I or Star Africa first) was of 530.2 carats. Two of the nine stones are part of the British Crown.
4. The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is worth $350 million and is possibly the world’s best-known gemstone. The diamond is 45.52 carats (9.10 grams) and now located in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The diamond appears blue in color to the naked eye because of the number of traces of boron in the crystal structure but it shines a red colour under ultraviolet light.
This diamond’s story begins in the 17th century when a French merchant traveler sold an uncut diamond he described as having ‘a beautiful violet’ colour to King Loius XIV. The stone was cut and named Le Bleu France. It changed hands several times throughout the following 200 years and eventually landed in the private collection of the English financier in 1838, after whom it is now named – Henry Philip Hope. It was later sold to Harry Winston, who ultimately bequeathed it to the Smithsonian in 1958. The diamond is mysteriously considered to be a ‘curse diamond’ that brings misfortune or tragedy to people who own it or wear it.
5. De Beers Centenary Diamond
Worth a $100 million, the De Beers Centenary Diamond is a flawless, colorless stone, discovered in South Africa’s Premier Mine in 1986. Named to commemorate the 100th anniversary of De Beers Consolidated Mines, it was first presented to the public in its 599-carat, uncut form in 1988.
De Beers then spent three years cutting the Centenary Diamond, unveiling it as a 273.85-carat, modified heart-shaped stone in February 1991. It was displayed in the Tower of London for several years thereafter, and is now privately owned.
6. The Graff Pink
The 24.78-carat, emerald-cut diamond was owned by Harry Winston for 60 years. The gemstone, rated among a type that accounts for just two percent of diamonds
In 2010, the Fancy Intense Pink stone was mounted on a platinum ring and sold by Sotheby’s Geneva. David Bennett, director of the international jewelry department at Sotheby’s, reported, “I cannot exaggerate just how rare this stone is. This sale is one of the most exciting of my 35-year career.”
Laurence Graff purchased what is now called the Graff Pink Diamond for $46 million, helping Sotheby’s set a record for the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction.
7. The Steinmetz Pink
Weighing in at 59.60 carats, the Steinmetz Pink is the largest diamond to be categorized as Fancy Vivid Pink by the Gemological Institute of America. The Steinmetz Pink is 59.60 carats (11.92 grams) and estimated to be worth $ 25 million. It’s the largest known diamond that given a color as Fancy vivid pink ever.
Owned by the Geneva-based Steinmetz Diamond Group, the stone was presented to the public at a Monaco ceremony in May 2003, then loaned to the Smithsonian.
8. The Wittlsbach-Graff
The 31,06 carat diamond was sold at a Christie's auction in December 2008 in London for a record USD 24.3 million. It is also of Indian origin, coming from the Kollur mine.
This deep blue stone has a royal past. In the 17th Century, Spanish king Philip IV included it in his daughter’s dowry, after which it became part of the crown jewels of both Austria and Bavaria. In 2008, English jeweler Laurence Graff purchased the stone, then called der Blaue Wittelsbach, from Christie’s London. He worked with a diamond cutter to remove all impurities, and renamed it the Wittelsbach-Graff.
9. The Archduke Joseph
In November 2012, this 76.02-carat diamond set a new record for the most expensive colorless diamond per carat ever sold at auction.
Originally discovered in the Golconda mines in India, the cushion-shaped diamond was named for Austria’s Archduke Joseph August, the great-grandson of a Roman emperor and a French king.
The anonymous buyer at Christie’s Geneva in 2012 purchased the stone for $21.4 million and reportedly plans to donate the diamond to a museum.
10. Heart of Eternity
To round off our top ten we have the 'Heart of Eternity' estimated to be worth $16 million. The Heart of Eternity is a 27.64 carats (5.528 g) diamond with a color rated as Fancy Vivid Blue by the Gemological Institue of America. It was cut by the Steinmetz group before sold to De Beers Group. The diamond itself was found in premier diamond mine in South Africa.
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