Largest Famous Diamonds by Weight
The Cullinan Diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905, remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found at 3,106.75 carats. It was cut into several stones, including the 530.20-carat Great Star of Africa, which is set in the British Sovereign's Sceptre. The Lesedi La Rona, found in Botswana in 2015, weighed 1,109 carats in the rough and was sold by Lucara Diamond Corp. to Graff Diamonds for $53 million in 2017. The Excelsior Diamond, found in South Africa in 1893, weighed 995.20 carats and was cut into multiple stones over several decades. The Star of Sierra Leone, discovered in 1972, weighed 968.9 carats and was purchased by Harry Winston. The Incomparable Diamond, found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1980s, weighed 890 carats in the rough and later appeared at auction. The Millennium Star, a 777-carat rough stone, was acquired by De Beers and cut into a 203.04-carat flawless pear-shaped diamond. The Spirit of de Grisogono, a 587-carat rough from Congo, was cut into a 312.24-carat black diamond, making it the largest known cut black diamond. The Golden Jubilee Diamond, found in South Africa in 1985, weighed 755.50 carats in the rough and was cut into a 545.67-carat brownish-yellow stone, currently owned by the Thai government and set in the Royal Palace. The Abazigal Diamond, discovered in Ethiopia in 2024, weighed 404.2 carats and was sold by Ethiopia's government to an international buyer, marking one of the largest gem-quality finds in recent years. Forbes
Most Expensive Diamonds Sold at Auction
The Pink Star, a 59.60-carat internally flawless vivid pink diamond, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2017 for $71.2 million to Chow Tai Fook Jewellery, making it the most expensive gemstone ever sold at auction. The Oppenheimer Blue, a 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, sold at Christie's Geneva in 2016 for $57.5 million to an anonymous buyer. The Blue Moon of Josephine, a 12.03-carat internally flawless vivid blue diamond, sold at Sotheby's Geneva in 2015 for $48.5 million. The Graff Pink, a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond, sold at Sotheby's Geneva in 2010 for $46 million. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond, a 31.06-carat deep blue diamond, was purchased by Laurence Graff in 2008 for $24.3 million and later re-cut to enhance clarity. The De Beers Millennium Star, a 203.04-carat pear-shaped diamond, was acquired by De Beers in the late 1990s and insured for $360 million at the time. The Perfect Pink, a 14.23-carat fancy intense pink diamond, sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2010 for $23.2 million.