Most Expensive Luxury Diamonds Ever Sold in History

Diamonds have captivated humanity for centuries with their brilliance, rarity, and mystique. But among them, a select few have shattered records and stunned the world with their breathtaking beauty and astronomical price tags. These are not just precious stones — they are cultural icons, historical treasures, and investments worth millions.

This article explores the most expensive luxury diamonds ever sold, revealing what makes them so valuable and why collectors are willing to pay fortunes for a single gem.

The Pink Star – $71.2 Million

Topping the list is the Pink Star, a 59.60-carat fancy vivid pink diamond that fetched $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2017. It holds the record as the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.

Key facts:

Type: Fancy Vivid Pink, Internally Flawless
Carat: 59.60
Buyer: Chow Tai Fook (Hong Kong-based jewelry group)
Former name: Steinmetz Pink

The Pink Star’s rarity lies in its size and color saturation — a vivid pink diamond of this caliber is almost unheard of, making it a once-in-a-lifetime gem.

The Oppenheimer Blue – $57.5 Million

Sold at Christie’s in 2016 for $57.5 million, the Oppenheimer Blue was the world’s most expensive diamond at the time. This 14.62-carat vivid blue diamond is named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a member of the De Beers family.

Highlights:

Type: Fancy Vivid Blue
Carat: 14.62
Shape: Emerald Cut
Setting: Set in a platinum ring with two side diamonds

Its unique combination of history, royal provenance, and deep blue color contributed to its record-breaking price.

The Graff Pink – $46.2 Million

The Graff Pink is a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond once owned by Harry Winston. It was purchased in 2010 by Laurence Graff, a British billionaire jeweler, for $46.2 million.

Details:

Type: Fancy Intense Pink
Clarity: VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)
Cut: Emerald
Setting: Classic platinum ring

Graff later had the diamond re-cut to enhance its brilliance, reducing the carat slightly but increasing clarity to Internally Flawless — elevating its value even more.

The Blue Moon of Josephine – $48.4 Million

Bought by Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau for his daughter, the Blue Moon of Josephine sold for $48.4 million in 2015 at Sotheby’s Geneva. This 12.03-carat vivid blue diamond stunned the world with its rich color and poetic story.

Notable facts:

Type: Fancy Vivid Blue, IF (Internally Flawless)
Origin: South Africa
Shape: Cushion cut
Unique feature: Exceptional transparency and symmetry

Joseph Lau named several record-breaking diamonds after his daughter, and this one remains among the most famous blue diamonds ever discovered.

The Winston Pink Legacy – $50.3 Million

In 2018, Harry Winston acquired the Pink Legacy, a 18.96-carat fancy vivid pink diamond, for $50.3 million at a Christie’s auction. This equated to $2.6 million per carat, a world record at the time for a pink diamond.

Key characteristics:

Type: Fancy Vivid Pink
Clarity: VS1
Cut: Rectangular
Rarity: Type IIa diamond (purest chemical structure)

It was renamed the Winston Pink Legacy, reinforcing Harry Winston’s association with some of the world’s finest diamonds.

The Cullinan Dream – $25.4 Million

The Cullinan Dream is the largest fancy intense blue diamond ever to appear at auction. At 24.18 carats, it sold for $25.4 million at Christie’s in 2016.

Important aspects:

Origin: Mined from the Cullinan Mine in South Africa
Type: Fancy Intense Blue
Cut: Cut-cornered rectangular mixed cut

Named after the famous Cullinan Mine that produced the largest rough diamond in history, this stone is both rare and historically significant.

The Orange – $35.5 Million

At just 14.82 carats, The Orange might seem small compared to others on this list, but it shattered expectations when it sold for $35.5 million in 2013 at Christie’s.

Why it’s unique:

Type: Fancy Vivid Orange
Record: Highest price per carat for an orange diamond
Setting: Simple and modern to highlight the stone’s natural color

Orange diamonds are among the rarest color diamonds in the world. A vivid hue of this size had never been seen before or since.

The Wittelsbach-Graff – $24.3 Million

Originally part of the Austrian and Bavarian Crown Jewels, the Wittelsbach Diamond is a 31.06-carat deep blue diamond with a storied royal past. Laurence Graff purchased it in 2008 for $24.3 million, and controversially had it re-cut to improve its clarity.

Features:

Type: Fancy Deep Blue
Origin: India (Golconda mines)
Historical significance: Part of royal collections for over 300 years

Its transformation under Graff’s ownership sparked debate but elevated its quality to modern luxury standards.

Unique Factors That Drive Luxury Diamond Prices

These record-breaking diamonds share several traits that contribute to their astronomical values:

Color Intensity: Vivid blues, pinks, and oranges are the rarest and most desirable.
Carat Weight: Larger stones with perfect symmetry are extremely rare.
Clarity: Internally flawless diamonds carry immense value, especially in colored stones.
Historical Significance: Provenance and past ownership can elevate a diamond’s story and price.
Auction Demand: Competitive bidding often pushes prices far beyond initial estimates.
Brand Ownership: Names like Graff, Harry Winston, and Tiffany add prestige and value.

Why Collectors Invest in Luxury Diamonds

Aside from their beauty, luxury diamonds represent a unique investment category. They are:

Portable assets that hold value in uncertain economies
Resistant to inflation and currency devaluation
Culturally significant artifacts that tell stories
Status symbols in elite circles

For high-net-worth individuals, owning one of the world’s rarest diamonds is about more than money — it’s a legacy move.

The most expensive luxury diamonds ever sold are not just sparkling stones — they are symbols of art, rarity, history, and emotion. From the breathtaking Pink Star to the regal Wittelsbach-Graff, these diamonds continue to captivate collectors and set records in the world of fine jewelry.

Whether you’re a serious investor, a jewelry enthusiast, or simply in awe of their beauty, luxury diamonds tell a timeless story — one of passion, prestige, and perfection.