Diamonds are nature’s rarest and most beautiful gems. Formed deep in the earth thousands of years ago, they are crystals made from a formula of carbon and extreme heat and pressure. Brought to Earth’s surface by volcanic activity, these precious gems can be colorless or various lovely hues, thanks to other minerals in the mix. The world’s most valuable diamonds, such as The Great Star of Africa or the Hope Diamond are housed in museums. However, if you have a few million to toss aside, there are rare and expensive diamonds auctioned off from time to time. Here are the top five most expensive diamonds ever sold.
In November of 2010, A London jeweler purchased a pink diamond from Sotheby’s’ auctioneers in Geneva for $46.5 million. The jeweler was Laurence Graff, who named the 24.78 carat diamond the Graff Pink Diamond. The beauty and rarity of this diamond is it’s combination of color and purity along with the emerald cut. Emerald cuts are very rare for colored diamonds.
Laurence Graff also claims the second highest diamond purchase with the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond, carrying a price tag of $24.3 million. It’s beautiful blue clarity has been compared to the Hope diamond. It is followed by a romantic history, supposedly purchased by King Phillip lV of Spain to include in the dowry of his daughter Margaret Teresa in 1664.
At a feverish auction in Hong Kong, the Perfect Pink diamond was sold for $23.2 million in intense bidding by four other bidders. This 14.23 carat pink ice beauty was purchased by an anonymous bidder.
In May of 2012, another rare pink diamond was bought at a Hong Kong auction for $23.2 million. An anonymous phone caller bought this “Martian Pink” – 12 carats after six minutes of bidding. This marvelous pink stone was named in 1976 in honor of a US satellite launch to Mars, the red (or pink) planet.
Lastly, the lovely yellow Sun Drop diamond sold at Sotheby’s’ in Geneva in November of 2011 for a mere $12.3 million. This huge 110 carat yellow diamond now has an anonymous owner.
Rebecca M for Raymond Lee Jewelers, premiere fine jewelry and luxury watch boutique and buyer.
