The World’s Most Expensive Jewelry: A Look at Record-Breaking Pieces
Jewelry has always been a symbol of luxury and wealth, and some pieces are so rare and exquisite that they fetch millions of dollars at auction. From rare diamonds to precious gemstones, the world’s most expensive jewelry pieces are coveted by collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Record-Breaking Pieces
Over the years, several pieces of jewelry have made headlines for their record-breaking prices. In 2019, the Pink Star diamond sold for a staggering $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold. The Oppenheimer Blue diamond, a rare blue diamond, sold for $57.5 million in 2016, setting a new record for the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction.
Other notable pieces include the Graff Pink diamond, which sold for $46 million in 2010, and the Winston Blue diamond, which sold for $23.8 million in 2014. These pieces are not only valuable because of their price, but also because of their rarity and history.
The Fascination with Expensive Jewelry
Despite the high prices, there is a fascination with expensive jewelry that goes beyond its monetary value. These pieces are often seen as works of art, and their intricate designs and exquisite craftsmanship are admired by many. For collectors, owning a rare and valuable piece of jewelry is a symbol of status and wealth.
Whether you are a collector or simply appreciate the beauty of fine jewelry, the world’s most expensive pieces are a sight to behold. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the record-breaking pieces and the stories behind them.
The Pink Star Diamond
The Pink Star Diamond, also known as the Steinmetz Pink Diamond, is one of the most valuable and rarest gems on earth. This remarkable diamond is a fancy vivid pink diamond that weighs 59.60 carats and was discovered in 1999 in South Africa.
Description
The Pink Star is the largest internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Its exceptional colour and clarity make it a unique and extraordinary gem. The diamond has an oval shape and is set in a ring with white diamonds.
History
The Pink Star was originally mined by De Beers in South Africa in 1999. The diamond was then sold to Steinmetz Group, a diamond company based in Geneva, Switzerland. The company spent two years cutting and polishing the diamond to create the perfect gem. The Pink Star was unveiled to the public in 2003 at the Monaco Blue Auction, where it was sold for $83 million to a private buyer.
Price Tag
The Pink Star Diamond is currently the most expensive diamond ever sold, with a price tag of $71.2 million. The diamond was sold in 2017 at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong to Chow Tai Fook, a Hong Kong-based jewelry company. The sale of the Pink Star broke the record for the most expensive gemstone ever sold at auction.
| Weight | Colour | Clarity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59.60 carats | Fancy Vivid Pink | Internally Flawless | $71.2 million |
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond is one of the most famous and valuable diamonds in the world. It is a stunning blue diamond that weighs 14.62 carats and is set in a platinum ring. The diamond was named after its former owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a member of the Oppenheimer family who were once the owners of the De Beers diamond company.
History
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa, which is known for producing some of the world’s most valuable diamonds. The diamond was cut and polished by one of the most skilled diamond cutters in the world, who spent over two years perfecting its shape and color.
The diamond was sold at an auction at Christie’s in Geneva in 2016 for a record-breaking price of $50.6 million, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction at the time. The buyer of the diamond remains anonymous.
Price Tag
The Oppenheimer Blue Diamond has an estimated value of around $50 million. Its stunning blue color, combined with its size and clarity, make it one of the most valuable diamonds in the world. The diamond is considered a rare and unique piece of jewelry, and its value is expected to increase over time.
| Weight | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 14.62 carats | Blue | $50.6 million |
The Graff Pink Diamond
The Graff Pink Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world, known for its exquisite pink color and exceptional clarity. The diamond was discovered in South Africa, and it weighs 24.78 carats.
Description
The Graff Pink Diamond is a Type IIa diamond, which means it has very few impurities and is chemically pure. The diamond has a rectangular shape with rounded corners, and it is set in a platinum ring with two shield-shaped diamonds on either side.
History
The diamond was originally owned by Harry Winston, a famous jeweler and collector. Laurence Graff, another well-known jeweler, purchased the diamond in 2010 for $46 million. Graff then had the diamond recut to enhance its color and clarity, which increased its value even further.
Price Tag
Today, the Graff Pink Diamond is valued at over $100 million, making it one of the most expensive diamonds in the world. The diamond is often displayed at museums and exhibitions, and it is considered a true masterpiece of nature and craftsmanship.
| Carat Weight | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 24.78 | Pink | $100 million+ |
The Perfect Pink Diamond
The Perfect Pink Diamond is a rare and exquisite gemstone that has captured the hearts of many jewelry enthusiasts. It is one of the most sought-after diamonds in the world, known for its exceptional beauty and rarity. This diamond is a fancy intense pink, which is the highest grade of pink color that a diamond can have.
Description
The Perfect Pink Diamond is a cushion-shaped diamond that weighs 14.23 carats. It is set in a ring with two white diamonds on either side, which only adds to its beauty. The diamond has a clarity grade of VVS2, which means it has very few inclusions and is almost flawless. The diamond is also Type IIa, which is a rare classification of diamonds that are chemically pure and have no traces of nitrogen.
History
The Perfect Pink Diamond was discovered in 2010 at the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia. The mine is known for producing some of the world’s most valuable pink diamonds, and The Perfect Pink Diamond is one of the finest examples. The diamond was purchased by a private collector who has chosen to remain anonymous.
Price Tag
The Perfect Pink Diamond is one of the most expensive diamonds in the world, with an estimated value of $23.2 million. Its rarity, exceptional color, and clarity make it highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. The diamond has been featured in several exhibitions around the world, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
| Weight | Color | Clarity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14.23 carats | Fancy Intense Pink | VVS2 | $23.2 million |
The Winston Blue Diamond
The Winston Blue Diamond is one of the most valuable diamonds in the world, known for its exceptional size and rare blue hue. This diamond was discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 2014, weighing 13.22 carats in its rough state, and was later cut into a pear shape, weighing 13.22 carats.
History
The Winston Blue Diamond was named after Harry Winston, a well-known American jeweler who purchased the diamond for a record-breaking price of $23.8 million at a Christie’s auction in Geneva in 2014. The diamond was originally part of the Oppenheimer Blue Collection, which was owned by the Oppenheimer family, who were prominent diamond merchants and owned the De Beers diamond company.
The Oppenheimer Blue Collection consisted of rare and valuable diamonds, including the Oppenheimer Blue, which was the largest Vivid Blue diamond ever sold at auction until the sale of The Blue Moon of Josephine in 2015.
Price Tag
The Winston Blue Diamond was sold for $23.8 million, making it one of the most expensive diamonds in the world. The diamond was purchased by Harry Winston, who renamed it the Winston Blue Diamond and added it to his collection of rare and valuable jewels.
The Winston Blue Diamond is now on display at the Harry Winston Salon in New York City, where it can be viewed by appointment only.
Conclusion
The world’s most expensive jewelry pieces are truly remarkable, not just for their price tag but also for their exquisite craftsmanship and unique designs. From diamonds to emeralds, rubies to sapphires, these precious stones have been transformed into breathtaking jewelry pieces that have captured the hearts of collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Whether it’s the Blue Moon diamond, the Oppenheimer Blue, or the Pink Star, each of these jewelry pieces has its own unique story and history. While some of them have been passed down through generations of royal families, others have been created by renowned jewelry designers who have pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
While most of us may never be able to afford these luxurious jewelry pieces, we can still appreciate their beauty and craftsmanship. And who knows, maybe one day we might get lucky and stumble upon a priceless gemstone ourselves!
Until then, we can continue to marvel at the world’s most expensive jewelry pieces and dream about what it would be like to wear them.
- So, which of these record-breaking jewelry pieces is your favorite?
- Do you have any other favorite high-end jewelry pieces that you would like to share?
Let us know in the comments below!
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The Pink Star |
The Blue Moon |
The Oppenheimer Blue |