Formed at 500 km below the Earth's crust, often over 3 billion years old diamonds are created when carbon is subjected to both huge pressure and heat.
A purple-pink diamond of 15.81-carat has set a new record as the largest ever to be auctioned, selling for USD 29.3 million or Rs 213 crores in Hong Kong. Set on a platinum ring, the purple-pink diamond named 'The Sakura', which translates to the Japanese word for cherry blossom was put under the hammer by the auction house Christie's. Christie's said that the diamond was bought by an Asian private buyer on Sunday, but did not divulge any other details.
Formed at 500 km below the Earth's crust, often over 3 billion years old, diamonds are created when carbon is subjected to both huge pressure and heat. The rarest diamonds are those exceptionally large in size, or with remarkable color and clarity.
Today we bring before you the five costliest diamonds in the world. Though the most expensive diamond in the world is the oval-shaped legendary Koh-I-Noor, weighing a massive 105.6 carat and the most expensive diamond, we do not know the actual price of it. Steeped in mystery and legend, the stone is believed to have been mined in India in the 1300s.
1. The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond
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The Cullinan is the largest rough diamond of gem quality ever found, weighing an incredible 3,106.75 carat. Discovered in Cullinan, South Africa in 1905, it was then gifted to King Edward VII. The rough diamond, also known as the Star of Africa, was cut into 9 main stones, the largest of which is the 530.2 carat Cullinan I.
(Image Source: Twitter)
2. The Hope Diamond was discovered in India
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Believed to have been discovered in India in the 1600s, the Hope Diamond was bought by King Louis XIV in 1668. This 45.52 carat Fancy Dark Gray-Blue antique cushion cut diamond was later stolen during a crown jewel looting in 1791 but resurfaced in London in 1839.
Fast forward to 1949, Harry Winston purchased this diamond and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution, attracting many tourists. The stone is rumored to be cursed due to the misfortune and tragedy that many of its previous owners experienced.
(Image Source: Reuters)
3. The Centenary Diamond weighs over 500 carats
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As a rough diamond, the Centenary Diamond weighed over 500 carats. It was later cut to a modified heart shape, weighing 273.85 carats. The sacrifice in carat weight, however, improved the color (D) and clarity grade (flawless) of this unique diamond. It took a total of 154 days for their highly skilled team to finish the re-cutting process.
(Image Source: Twitter)
4. The Pink Star largest diamond in Fancy Vivid Pink
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Mined in South Africa in 1999, the Pink Star, previously known as the Steinmetz Pink, is the largest diamond to have been graded a Fancy Vivid Pink. Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, a Hong Kong, bought the Pink Star from Sotheby's auction in 2017 in a telephone bid.
An internally flawless, oval diamond weighing a huge 59.60 carat, this gemstone was later renamed to CTF Pink Star in memory of the current Chow Tai Fook Chairman's late father.
(Image Source: Reuters)
5. The Sakura is purple-pink diamond
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A purple-pink diamond of 15.81-carat has set a new record as the largest ever to be auctioned, selling for USD 29.3 million or Rs 213 crores in Hong Kong. Set on a platinum ring, the purple-pink diamond named 'The Sakura', which translates to the Japanese word for cherry blossom was put under the hammer by the auction house Christie's.
The diamond is classed as 'fancy vivid' because of its depth of color and 'internally flawless', meaning any blemishes internally are only visible under a powerful microscope. Just 1% of pink diamonds are said to be larger than 10 carats and just 4% are graded 'fancy vivid'.
(Image Source: Reuters)
