The rarest diamonds ever discovered
Throughout history, some diamonds have caught the attention of experts because of extraordinary characteristics that make them exceptional and unique in the history of gemology.
But what are the rarest diamonds in history?
- Cullinan (3,106 carats): Discovered in 1905 in South Africa, the Cullinan is the largest rough diamond ever found. After cutting, it gave rise to several stones, including the Cullinan I (530.2 carats), known as the Great Star of Africa, currently set in the British royal scepter.
- Lesedi La Rona (1,109 carats): Found in 2015 in Botswana, the Lesedi La Rona is one of the largest gem-quality diamonds ever discovered. Sold for $53 million, the famous Graff Lesedi La Rona was cut from its rough after more than 18 months of work. Weighing 302.37 carats, it is the largest diamond with the highest grades of clarity and purity ever certified to date by the GIA.
- Pink Star: This 59.60-carat pink diamond mined in 1999 is among the rarest and most expensive ever sold. Its extraordinary hue, intensity graded Fancy Vivid and absolute clarity made it the star of a record auction in 2017 in Hong Kong, where it was purchased for more than $71 million.
- Hope Diamond: With its intense blue color, the Hope Diamond mined in India is one of the most famous and mysterious diamonds in the world. With a history dating back to the 1600s, it has belonged to personalities such as King Louis XIV, King George IV of England, and Pierre Cartier, and was later donated to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it is still treasured and admired by the public around the world.
- The Moussaieff Red Diamond: At 5.11 carats, mined in Brazil in the 1990s, it is the largest and rarest red diamond ever discovered. Red is the rarest color among diamonds, and this gem is considered a true miracle of nature. Purchased by Shlomo Moussaieff in the early 2000s, it was displayed at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. as part of the extraordinary “Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit.
These diamonds have not only marked the history of jewelry, but continue to be a symbol of nature's unparalleled fascination and absolute rarity.
