Diamonds are some of the most valuable items in the world, and not just for their monetary value. The inspiration for countless verses and ill-fated expeditions, diamonds are as much a part of human history as anything else. Here is a list of the ten most expensive diamonds in the world.
10
The Allnatt Diamond
Value: $3 million
The Allnatt Diamond gets its name from Major Alfred Ernest Allnatt, who once owned it. Supposedly located at the present site of the De Beers diamond mine, the Allnatt is measured at 101.29 carats and has a vivid Yellow color.
9
The Moussaieff Red Diamond
Value: $7 millions
The Moussaieff Red Diamond weighs a modest 5.11 carats and features a triangular brilliant cut. Considered a fancy red diamond, the Moussaieff may be one of the smaller diamonds in this list, but it is the largest fancy red that has ever been rated by the Gemological Institute of America.
8
The Heart of Eternity
Value: $16 millions
The poetically-named Heart of Eternity measures 27.64 carats and has a fancy vivid blue color as rated by the Gemological Institue of America. One of the rarest types of colored diamonds in existence, the Heart of Eternity is now under the ownership of the De Beers Group.
7
Wittelsbach Diamond
Value: $16.4 millions
The Wittelsbach diamond weighs in at 35.36 carats. A blue diamond measuring 40 mm in diameter, the Wittelsbach has been, at different times, part of the crown jewels of Austria and Bavaria.
6
The Steinmetz Pink
Value: $ 25 millions
The Steinmetz Pink has a weight of 59.60 carats and has been given a vivid pink rating by the Gemological Institute of America. It is the largest diamond of this color, and it was once part of the diamonds exhibit of the Smithsonian museum.
5
De Beers Centenary Diamond
Value: $100 millions
The De Beers Centenary Diamond belongs to the class of diamonds that are among the highest graded in the world today. Rated as colorless and without any perceptible flaws inside and out, the De Beers Centenary is the third largest diamond to have been found in the De Beer’s Premier Mine.
4
The Hope Diamond
Value: $350 millions
The Hope diamond has a weight of 45.52 carats. Now housed in the Smithsonian, the Hope Diamond is one of the best known diamonds in existence.
3
The Cullinan
Value: $400 millions
The Cullinan Diamond measures an impressive 3,106,75 carats in weight. It has the distinction of being the world’s largest rough gem diamond that has ever been found.
2
The Sancy Diamond
Value: not estimated/priceless
The Sancy diamond has a weight of 55.23 carats and has been rated as pale yellow in color. Thought to have originated from India, the diamond is now a part of the Crown Jewel collection at the Louvre.
1
Koh-I-Noor
Value: not estimated/priceless
Koh-I-Noor derives its name from the Persian phrase for “Mountain of Light”. For a time, it was the world’s largest known diamond. Today, Koh-I-Noor is under the ownership of the British crown and can be viewed at the HM Tower in London.