These are the four most expensive, valuable and famous diamonds in the world
They are called Hope, Cullinan, Koh-i-Noor and Pink Star: The largest, most valuable or most famous diamonds in the world also have dazzling names. Rare, high-class diamonds impress with their purity and beauty, but are sometimes also the cause of lesser deeds and evil curses. Learn more about the history of four of the world's most famous diamonds — and how private investors can also enjoy top-class investments.
The most expensive diamonds in world history
First of all, the legendary diamonds listed here are literally unaffordable for investors as they are in the hands of royalty or museums. Their value, too, can only be roughly estimated — most are considered priceless simply because of their historical significance.
I. Hope
The deep blue and 45.52-carat Hope Diamond is now valued at over 200 million dollars and is considered the most famous diamond in the world. But it is not only its beauty and preciousness that make it so extraordinary, because there are many legends and myths surrounding the Hope Diamond. It was discovered in the 17th century in a mine in Golconda, India. According to legend, the deep blue gemstone adorned the statue of the Indian deity Vishnu, who cursed the diamond after it was stolen.
Since then, it is said to have brought misfortune and an early and sudden end to its owners — including King Louis XV of France, Marie Antoinette, Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. During the French Revolution, the diamond was robbed and appeared years later in England, where its namesake, the British banker Henry Philip Hope, finally acquired it in 1830. Since 1958, diamond has been used in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington hosted on loan.
Culllinan II
Frederick Wells discovered the largest rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats, in 1905 in the South African Premier Mine. At that time, Wells was rewarded with a modest sum of 10,000 dollars for this rich yield.
Because it threatened to shatter, the Amsterdam diamond cutter Joseph Asscher set about dividing the Cullinan diamond three years after the discovery. It was divided and cut into nine larger pieces (Cullinan I to IX) and 96 smaller pieces. The large Cullinan diamonds have been native to England since 1907 and now adorn the British crown jewels. The Cullinan I, the largest of all stones, weighs 530.4 carats, is nicknamed “The Big Star of Africa” and, according to experts, could be worth up to 350 million euros.
III. Koh-i-Noor (The Mountain of Light)
The Koh-i-Noor is not only one of the most legendary and famous diamonds, but is also so valuable that its price could never be precisely estimated. Its color corresponds to classification D, meaning it has the rarest and highest color quality. It is said that a jeweler reduced it from 600 to 700 carats to a weight of just 186 carats as a result of a failed grinding process.
The origins of Koh-i-Noor, possibly dating back to 1300, lie in the legendary Indian Golkonda mines. The first confirmed evidence of the whereabouts of the Koh-i-Noor diamond dates back to 1304, when the Indian Sultan Ala ud-din Khalji stole it from the Raja of Malwa. The stone then adorned the peacock's eye in the then world-famous Peacock Throne in Delhi. Over the centuries, diamonds have changed hands several times.
In 1739, the Persian Shah Nadir invaded Delhi and plundered the city to rob the valuable diamond. However, this was not successful. Legend has it that one of the harem ladies informed Shah Nadir that Shah Mohammed's diamond was hidden in his turban. Shah Nadir then made use of an old, oriental tradition. As a result, exchanging turbans is a sign of friendship and peace. Muhammad Shah could not possibly refuse this gesture. When the Persian Shah Nadar later found the diamond in the captured turban, he is said to have proclaimed “Koh-i-Noor,” which means “mountain of light” in Persian.
From that moment on, the diamond had a name. In the course of military conflicts, the gemstone changed hands several times before it came to the British royal court in 1851. There it was cut again and received its current oval shape with a weight of 105.60 carats.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond is currently part of a richly decorated crown of the British Crown Jewels. The diamond was last seen at Queen Mum's funeral in 2002 and is now stored in the Tower of London.
That may also be a good thing. According to legend, only God and a woman can carry the stone with impunity — but it would only bring bad luck to male owners.
IV Pink Star
Pink Star Diamant, Steinmetz Pink and The Pink Dream are all names for the same pink gemstone. This is primarily due to the frequent changes of ownership that the relatively young diamond has undergone.
When the pink rough diamond was discovered in 1999, its weight was 132.5 carats. After the stone was cut, the diamond weighed the current weight of 59.60 carats — a loss of over 50 percent of material. Nevertheless, the Pink Star diamond is a record diamond because it holds the title of the largest diamond in the world in the color Fancy Vivid Pink.
After completion, the pink diamond was presented to the world public for the first time in the form of a chain pendant in 2003. The Pink Star then went to Washington and was exhibited there at the National Museum of Natural History.
In 2013, he was sold by Sotheby's for around 83 million US dollars to Isaac Wolf, who was ultimately unable to raise the sum. In 2017, the auction house Sotheby's auctioned off the “CTF Pink Star” again and scored the Record amount of 71.2 million dollars. The showpiece was then hailed as the most expensive diamond ever auctioned in history.
Invest in valuable diamonds
With the exception of the CTF Pink Star, all cult diamonds described are not for sale and can only be admired in museums or on special occasions. However, diamond fans and investors can also “sparkle” their portfolio with significantly cheaper, yet very high-quality gemstones. Either as a direct investment or in the form of exclusive, digital tangible assets.
However, there are a few things to consider when buying diamonds: Only stones of at least 0.3 carats and of the highest quality, which can barely be verified by laymen, are suitable as capital investments. The origin of the diamond should also be fully documented. After the purchase, there is also the question of taxation, safe custody and tied up liquidity. This is because diamonds as such do not yield any ongoing returns, but must first be sold in order to benefit from potential price increases. Digitized assets offer a useful alternative here, which investors can use for as little as 500 euros Shares of tested and high-quality diamonds be able to add to the portfolio.
