Top 10 most expensive gemstones in the world, timeless value
Key Takeaways
- The most expensive gemstones in the world not only possess perfect beauty but also carry legendary histories and enormous value. So how valuable is the most expensive gemstone in the world? Let’s...
The most expensive gemstones in the world not only possess perfect beauty but also carry legendary histories and enormous value. So how valuable is the most expensive gemstone in the world? Let’s join Jemmia to explore the top 10 most valuable gemstones in the world through the article below.
Top 1: The Koh-i-Noor diamond: Priceless
Value: Priceless (currently kept by the British Royal Family)
Weight: 105.6 carats
History: A symbol of power, it belonged to many Indian royal dynasties before becoming part of the British Crown.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond carries mysteries and legends spanning many centuries. Once believed to bring prosperity to female owners but misfortune if owned by a man, this gemstone changed hands many times before being acquired by Queen Victoria in 1849. Today, Koh-i-Noor is set on Queen Elizabeth’s Crown and displayed at the Tower of London.
Top 2: Hope Blue Diamond: 250 - 350 million USD
Value: Estimated at 250 - 350 million USD
Weight: 45.52 carats
History: Famous for its curse, it once belonged to the French royal family before becoming one of the world’s most mysterious diamonds.
The Hope Blue Diamond impresses not only with its rare blue color but also with the mysterious stories surrounding it. Believed to bring misfortune to its owners, this stone once belonged to King Louis XIV before disappearing during the French Revolution. After changing hands many times, it was donated by jeweler Harry Winston to the Smithsonian Institution, where the diamond is currently displayed, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Top 3: De Beers Millennium Star Diamond: Over 100 million USD
Value: Undetermined but over 100 million USD
Weight: 203.04 carats
Features: Flawless, perfect transparency, graded D - the highest color grade on the diamond scale.
The De Beers Millennium Star Diamond is one of the most perfect diamonds ever found. Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this stone took more than three years to be crafted into an exquisite pear shape. As the largest diamond in De Beers’ Millennium collection, it was once the target of a daring robbery at the Millennium Dome Museum in London in 2000, but fortunately it was successfully protected. Today, the Millennium Star remains one of the most valuable diamonds in the world.
See more: The De Beers Diamond Empire With Top-Tier Marketing Strategies
Top 4: Pink Star Diamond: 71.2 million USD
Value: Sold for 71.2 million USD
Weight: 59.60 carats
Features: Rare vivid pink color, graded Fancy Vivid Pink - the highest grade for pink diamonds.
The Pink Star Diamond is the largest pink diamond ever certified by GIA. Mined by De Beers in Africa, the original rough stone weighed 132.5 carats and took more than two years to be crafted into a perfect oval shape. In 2017, Pink Star set a record when it was auctioned at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for 71.2 million USD, becoming the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction. Its radiant beauty and rarity make Pink Star a symbol of luxury and class.
Top 5: The Oppenheimer Blue diamond: 57.5 million USD
Value: Sold for 57.5 million USD
Weight: 14.62 carats
Features: Vivid blue color (Fancy Vivid Blue), the largest blue diamond ever auctioned.
The Oppenheimer Blue diamond was named after Sir Philip Oppenheimer, who once owned this gemstone and was an important member of the Oppenheimer family - the people who controlled De Beers for many decades. With its perfect blue color and impressive clarity, the diamond set a record when it was auctioned at Christie’s Geneva in 2016 for 57.5 million USD. Considered by experts to be one of the most beautiful blue diamonds ever found, Oppenheimer Blue is a symbol of sophistication and class.
Top 6: Sunrise Ruby Myanmar: 30 million USD
Value: Sold for 30.3 million USD
Weight: 25.59 carats
Features: Rare "Pigeon Blood" red color, originating from Myanmar - where the world’s finest rubies are mined.
The Sunrise Ruby Myanmar is the most expensive ruby ever sold at auction, setting a record at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2015 with a price of 30.3 million USD. This gemstone made a strong impression thanks to its vivid red hue, perfect transparency, and untreated condition, which is very rare for rubies of large size. Originating from Myanmar’s legendary Mogok mines – considered the source of the highest-quality rubies in the world - Sunrise Ruby has become a symbol of graceful beauty and eternal value.
Top 7: Jadeite Necklace (Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace): 27 million USD
Value: Sold for 27.44 million USD
Weight: Includes 27 jadeite beads, each bead measuring from 15 to 19 mm in diameter
Features: Crafted from Type A jadeite (Imperial Jadeite), with a vivid green color and high transparency, originating from Myanmar.
The Jadeite Necklace, especially the Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace, is one of the most valuable and rare pieces of jewelry in the world. This necklace once belonged to Barbara Hutton - the heiress of the Woolworth family, before becoming a treasure in the gemstone collecting world. With its perfect green color and absolute purity, this necklace reflects the class of imperial jadeite. In 2014, it set a record when it was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for 27.44 million USD, affirming the position of Myanmar jadeite in the gemstone world.
Top 8: Red Diamond (Moussaieff Red Diamond): 20 million USD
Value: Can be worth up to millions of USD per carat
Weight: Usually very small, the largest known stone is 5.11 carats (Moussaieff Red Diamond)
Features: Extremely rare natural red color, with only a few stones recorded worldwide.
Red diamonds are the rarest and most mysterious type of diamond among all colored diamonds. Only a few natural red diamonds have been discovered, mainly from the Argyle mine in Australia - a place famous for its rare colored diamonds. Among them, the Moussaieff Red Diamond (5.11 carats) is the largest red diamond ever recorded. Because of their extreme rarity, red diamonds are extraordinarily expensive, often exceeding 1 million USD per carat. These gemstones are not only symbols of luxury but also the dream of collectors around the globe.
Top 9: Sapphire Blue Belle of Asia: 17 million USD
Value: Sold for 17.3 million USD
Weight: 392.52 carats
Features: Vivid blue color, originating from Sri Lanka - a leading source of high-quality sapphires in the world.
The Blue Belle of Asia sapphire is one of the largest and most valuable blue sapphires ever auctioned. Mined in Sri Lanka in 1926, this stone impresses with its deep blue color and excellent clarity. In 2014, Blue Belle of Asia set a record when it was sold at Christie’s Geneva for 17.3 million USD, becoming the most expensive sapphire in the world at that time. The rarity and mysterious beauty of this stone make it a treasure in the gemstone collecting world.
Top 10: Rockefeller Emerald: 5.5 million USD
Value: Sold for 5.5 million USD
Weight: 18.04 carats
Features: Rich vivid green color, high clarity, originating from Colombia - home to the world’s most beautiful emeralds.
The Rockefeller Emerald once belonged to John D. Rockefeller Jr., who purchased the stone in the 1930s and commissioned the famed jeweler Raymond Yard to craft it into a luxurious ring. This emerald stands out with its pure green color and lack of significant inclusions, which is very rare in natural emeralds.
In 2017, the stone was auctioned at Christie’s New York for 5.5 million USD, equivalent to about 305,000 USD per carat – a record for emeralds. With its prestigious origin and outstanding quality, the Rockefeller Emerald is a symbol of sophistication and timeless class.
Factors affecting the value of gemstones
The value of a gemstone depends not only on its beauty but also on many important factors below:
Rarity: Unique color and scarcity directly affect the stone’s value.
Size & carat weight: The larger the stone and the higher the carat weight, the more expensive it becomes.
Origin: Coming from famous mines such as Myanmar (ruby, jadeite), South Africa (diamond), or Colombia (emerald) significantly increases value.
History & owner: Stones that once belonged to royalty or prestigious families will have especially high value thanks to their historical stories and the mystery surrounding them.
Frequently asked questions
Which gemstone is the most expensive in the world?
Currently, the Koh-i-Noor diamond is considered the most valuable gemstone.
Can gemstones increase in value over time?
Yes, rare gemstones with a history will increase in value over time.
How can you determine whether a gemstone is authentic?
It is necessary to check certifications from GIA, IGI, or other reputable organizations.
Should you invest in gemstones?
Investing in gemstones is an attractive option, but it requires knowledge and choosing a reputable seller.
Above are the 10 most expensive gemstones in the world today. Hopefully the information provided by Jemmia will help you gain more knowledge about gemstones. Follow Jemmia to discover more interesting and useful knowledge about diamonds, gold, and gemstones.
