Showing posts with label De beers Mine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label De beers Mine. Show all posts

Friday, 18 September 2026

De Beers London launches Vibrations

 De Beers London presents Vibrations: a High Jewellery universe inspired by the quiet yet enduring power of inland water.

De Beers London presents Vibrations: a High Jewellery universe inspired by the quiet yet enduring power of inland water. The collection celebrates De Beers London’s deep connection to the Earth and its diamond-sourcing countries. Dedicated to life-enriching bodies of water in Botswana, South Africa and Canada, three new sets join Echo, the first set unveiled in January 2026, which was inspired by the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.

“Vibrations embodies our ambition for De Beers London High Jewellery: to create a distinctive expression of High Jewellery, rooted in our connection to the source and brought to life through creativity, innovation and exceptional craftsmanship. From new expressions of diamond cutting to remarkable transformability, Vibrations pushes our artistry forward while celebrating diamonds of extraordinary rarity and character. We are particularly proud to unveil the collection in London, where every De Beers London creation begins, while remaining deeply connected to the landscapes from which our diamonds come.”
Emmanuelle Nodale, CEO De Beers London

Inspired by Inland Waters

As the only House with a direct connection to the source of its diamonds, De Beers London is uniquely placed to celebrate water as Earth’s elemental force. Vibrations captures the emotional resonance of water on the cusp of transformation: a river about to cascade down a precipice, droplets clinging to a verdant riverbank, or freshly crystallised clusters of ice. The abstract designs take inspiration from inland water: perpetual motion, grounded and invigorating.

Vibrations draws parallels between the transformative power of inland water as it gradually shapes the Earth’s landscape, and the billion-year journey of each De Beers diamond. Whether meandering through a lush delta or carving a path through ancient metamorphic rocks, inland water has the capacity to sustain life and alter the landscape. Fluid and dynamic, it has a vital energy that prevails. Likewise, De Beers diamonds are formed by phenomenal forces deep within the Earth, shaped into unique designs that mark what matters, and that will endure.

A Tribute to the Source

De Beers London’s privileged access to rough diamonds means only the most remarkable stones appear in its High Jewellery. Vibrations is defined by diamonds of exceptional rarity and beauty, selected directly from the origin, and transformed into wearable works of art that reflect the unique character of the landscapes where their journey began.

The collection showcases seven diamonds from the Natural Works of Art collection, representing the pinnacle of quality and character, including Fancy Pink and Blue diamonds, among the rarest stones the Earth has ever produced.

De Beers London’s High Jewellery artistry is expressed through the intricate articulation of the pieces, evoking the fluidity and movement of water. Three of the designs are transformable, permitting multiple styling options through technical ingenuity and masterful craftsmanship

GemFair: Diamonds Sculpted by River Currents

Flowing throughout the Vibrations collection are rare alluvial white diamonds, sculpted by powerful forces of water and discovered by independent artisans on ancient riverbeds in Sierra Leone. These diamonds originate from GemFair, a sourcing initiative that supports artisanal miners through traceability, fair prices, ethical practices and sustainable community development.

Appearing for the first time in De Beers London High Jewellery in both rough and polished forms, the artisanally sourced diamonds are individually selected for their character and quality. Rough white diamonds are particularly rare, requiring stones of exceptional purity and brightness.

Traced directly to their origins in Sierra Leone’s tropical river valleys, GemFair diamonds are a tangible link to where the journey begins, connecting De Beers London’s creativity with the Earth’s life-sustaining waters. They ground the collection in origin, celebrating the profound links between diamonds, water and the communities who work with them.

Echo

The Echo suite takes inspiration from the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, where over millions of years the ancient Fish River carved its meandering path through Africa’s largest canyon. In tribute to the river’s steady persistence, five fluid designs recall the rippling patterns that radiate across the surface after a pebble is dropped into water. The creations celebrate the contrast between the brilliance of polished white diamonds and the tactile beauty of rough alluvial diamonds sourced via the GemFair initiative, creating a play of light reminiscent of reflections on rippling water.

A transformable necklace is the masterpiece of the Echo set, featuring a 1.12-carat Fancy Intense Blue diamond from the Natural Works of Art collection, sourced in Namibia. Its colour mirrors the Fish River’s waters, and contrasts with precisely calibrated waves of custom-cut white diamonds that graduate in size, recalling echoes reverberating around the canyon. Expertly articulated to drape across the neck like a river traversing a canyon, the Echo Necklace transforms into six unique jewels, including a necklace, tiara, bracelet and earrings: the first time De Beers London has unveiled a piece of such technical complexity. The set also comprises a ring featuring a 5.21-carat D Flawless diamond, alongside a brooch, bracelet and earrings.

Cascade

The Cascade suite takes its design cues from Tugela Falls in South Africa, the highest waterfall in Africa. A towering force that plunges for more than 980m over sheer basalt cliffs, sending clouds of misty foam rising from its depths, Tugela Falls is a magnificent example of the intensity of Earth’s inland water. The four Cascade creations evoke the dramatic power of falling water through sculptural volumes, billowing silhouettes, swirling streams of diamonds and soft-blue chalcedony, the first time the hardstone has been used in De Beers London High Jewellery.

Chosen for its gentle translucency, luminous glow and aquatic hue, chalcedony is often linked to water. A fluid sautoir of chalcedony beads sourced from Namibia represents Tugela Falls’ steep plunge and the misty foam rising from the cascade. A pair of earrings feature a removable tassel of chalcedony beads. Elsewhere, carved chalcedony sourced from Kenya is shaped into bold curves that mimic the turbulent energy of a plunge pool. The Cascade designs combine round brilliant, pear- shaped, oval-cut, baguettes and princess-cut and pavĂ©-set diamonds in swirling streams like colliding currents.

Shimmer

The Shimmer suite draws inspiration from the Arctic frost flowers that form in Canada’s Ellesmere Island, and the unique pink light observed during long polar transitions. As the sun hovers close to the horizon, ice crystals and cold air bend the light, casting vivid magenta, pink and violet hues across the island’s snow-capped peaks, glaciers and fjords. Rare Fancy Pink diamonds capture the pinkish glow of dawn and dusk across this icy wilderness, while intricate patterns of white diamonds echo the frozen crystalline patterns that form on newly created ice during still, cold weather, supporting microbial life like Arctic coral reefs.

Comprising seven pieces, Shimmer is defined by lace-like motifs that echo the delicate clusters of ice crystals that form frost flowers, while also connecting to the Couture tradition of High Jewellery. Prioritising fluidity and articulation, the geometric designs combine unusual diamond cuts including triangular and navette-shaped diamonds. The suite showcases four rare Fancy Pink diamonds, including a pair of harmonious pink diamonds from the Argyle mine. The Shimmer Masterpiece Necklace is set with a 2.07-carat Fancy Intense Pink diamond unearthed in Botswana, and a Shimmer ring features a 0.81 carat Fancy Intense Pinkish Purple diamond chosen for its remarkable saturation and clarity.

Undulation

The Undulation suite pays tribute to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Earth’s largest inland delta and home to some of the world’s most protected species. A vast oasis within the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta boasts a unique wetland habitat within which a rich and diverse ecosystem can thrive. De Beers is deeply connected to Botswana, and particularly to the Okavango Delta, whose source waters it is committed to protecting through Okavango Eternal, a multi-year conservation project in partnership with the National Geographic Society.

The Undulation Suite comprises six fluidly articulated designs whose undulating curves mimic the path of the Okavango River as it traces the contours of the Delta’s lush vegetation. The sinuous shapes are trimmed by rough green diamonds, among the rarest diamonds ever unearthed.

For every 10,000 Fancy coloured diamonds discovered, just 10 display a natural green shade, created over millions of years as a result of natural radiation deep within the Earth’s crust. Every rough diamond was chosen for its unique character, creating a rich palette that reflects the diversity of shades in the Delta’s vegetation. Together, they are a tactile connection to the Earth and testament to De Beers London’s ability to source singularly rare diamonds whose scarcity is equalled by their beauty.

Introducing Cabochon-Cut Diamonds

The Undulation designs are finished with De Beers London’s cabochon-cut diamonds, introduced for the first time in High Jewellery. With softly rounded profiles reminiscent of water droplets resting along the river’s edge, the cabochon cut softens the way light is reflected, creating a deep, luminous glow rather than sharp brilliance. The cabochon cut has long been associated with coloured gemstones; applying the same shape to diamonds presented a distinct challenge due to their exceptional hardness.

A specialised cutting technique was developed over five years, involving precision technology to achieve a smooth, domed form while preserving the character of each diamond. With no facets to conceal inclusions, the cabochon cut places the diamond’s character fully on display, requiring rough diamonds of exceptional quality and purity alongside cutting-edge lapidary skills.

Such exacting requirements mean that less than 0.5% of diamonds meet the necessary colour and clarity criteria, and fewer still possess the optimal crystal structure, symmetry and quality. De Beers London’s diamond experts identified the rare stones with the potential to take on this distinctive form, before skilled diamond cutters shaped them into a distinct expression of the source waters that have nourished the Earth for millennia.

Source: debeersgroup

Friday, 26 June 2026

The Diamond: Nature’s Most Remarkable Gem

The Diamond: Nature’s Most Remarkable Gem

Diamonds are among the most fascinating natural materials on Earth. Known for their beauty, rarity, and incredible durability, diamonds have captured human imagination for thousands of years. But beyond their brilliance as gemstones, diamonds are remarkable scientific creations with unique physical properties that make them valuable in jewellery, technology, and industry.

A diamond is a natural crystal made entirely from carbon. What makes it extraordinary is not the element itself, but the way the carbon atoms are arranged. These atoms form a highly organised crystal structure known as the diamond cubic structure, creating one of the strongest natural materials known to mankind.

Pure diamonds are colourless, transparent, and extremely resistant to chemical reactions. They are tasteless, odourless, and do not dissolve in water. Their exceptional hardness and ability to conduct heat have made diamonds valuable not only as gemstones but also in advanced industrial applications such as cutting tools, polishing equipment, and high precision technology.

The Unique Structure of a Diamond

The secret behind a diamond’s strength lies within its atomic structure.

Each carbon atom in a diamond is connected to four other carbon atoms through extremely strong bonds. This creates a rigid three dimensional structure that gives diamonds their famous hardness.

By comparison, graphite, another form of carbon, has a completely different structure. Graphite atoms are arranged in layers that can easily slide over one another, making graphite soft and useful as pencil lead.

Although diamond and graphite are both made from carbon, their different atomic arrangements create completely different materials.

Diamonds are considered a “metastable” form of carbon. Under normal conditions, graphite is technically the more stable form, but the transformation from diamond to graphite happens so slowly that it would take millions or even billions of years.

How Diamonds Are Formed

Natural diamonds are ancient treasures created deep beneath the Earth’s surface.

Most natural diamonds formed between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years ago, long before humans existed. They developed under extreme pressure and temperatures deep within the Earth’s mantle, generally between 150 and 250 kilometres below the surface.

Under these conditions, carbon containing fluids moved through rocks and, over enormous periods of time, formed diamond crystals.

Volcanic eruptions later transported these diamonds closer to the surface. They became trapped in special volcanic rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites, where they could eventually be discovered and mined.

Some diamonds have come from even greater depths, reaching hundreds of kilometres below the Earth’s surface.

The Origin and History of Diamonds

The word diamond comes from the ancient Greek word “adamas”, meaning unbreakable, untamed, or unconquerable. This reflects the early belief that diamonds represented strength and permanence.

Diamonds are believed to have first been discovered and mined in India thousands of years ago, with early sources coming from river deposits. Ancient cultures valued diamonds not only for their beauty but also for their symbolic and spiritual importance.

Over time, diamonds became associated with wealth, power, and status. Their popularity increased dramatically from the 19th century as new diamond deposits were discovered, cutting and polishing techniques improved, and the global jewellery market expanded.

The Discovery That Diamonds Are Carbon

For centuries, the true nature of diamonds was unknown.

In the 1700s, French scientist Antoine Lavoisier conducted experiments using sunlight focused onto diamonds in an oxygen environment. He discovered that burning diamonds produced carbon dioxide, proving that diamonds were made of carbon.

Later, English chemist Smithson Tennant expanded on this work and demonstrated that diamonds and graphite were chemically the same element arranged differently.

This discovery changed the understanding of diamonds forever and showed that one element could exist in completely different forms.

Why Diamonds Have Different Colours

Although many people imagine diamonds as colourless, diamonds naturally occur in a wide range of colours.

A perfectly pure diamond has no colour, but natural diamonds often contain tiny amounts of other elements or changes in their crystal structure. These small differences create unique colours.

Nitrogen is the most common impurity and can create yellow and brown shades.

Boron can produce blue diamonds.

Radiation exposure can create green diamonds.

Structural changes within the crystal can produce pink, red, and other rare colours.

The rarest coloured diamonds, especially vivid pink, red, and blue diamonds, can become some of the most valuable gemstones ever sold.

Diamond Clarity and Natural Characteristics

No two natural diamonds are exactly alike.

During formation deep inside the Earth, diamonds can capture tiny internal features known as inclusions. These may include minerals, growth patterns, or small structural changes.

Clarity grading evaluates these characteristics under magnification and helps determine a diamond’s rarity and value.

The fewer visible inclusions a diamond has, the rarer it generally becomes.

The Importance of the 4Cs

The quality and value of a diamond are traditionally assessed using the famous 4Cs:

Colour

Colour measures how close a diamond is to being completely colourless. Colourless diamonds are highly valued, while naturally coloured diamonds are graded differently due to their rarity.

Clarity

Clarity evaluates internal inclusions and external features. These natural characteristics help identify the uniqueness of each diamond.

Cut

Cut is one of the most important factors affecting a diamond’s beauty. A well cut diamond allows light to enter and reflect back through the stone, creating brilliance, fire, and sparkle.

Carat

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Larger diamonds are generally rarer, but size alone does not determine value. Quality, rarity, and overall characteristics are equally important.

The Strength and Hardness of Diamonds

Diamonds are the hardest natural material on the Mohs hardness scale.

This hardness allows diamonds to maintain their polished surfaces for long periods, making them ideal for jewellery that is worn every day, such as engagement rings.

However, hardness does not mean a diamond cannot be damaged. Diamonds can still chip or break if struck in certain directions because they have natural planes within their crystal structure.

Diamonds Beyond Jewellery

While diamonds are famous as gemstones, their properties make them useful in many industries.

Their extreme hardness makes them ideal for cutting and polishing materials.

Their ability to transfer heat efficiently allows them to be used in advanced technology.

Their electrical and optical properties are also being explored for scientific and electronic applications.

Natural Diamonds and Laboratory Grown Diamonds

Modern technology has made it possible to create diamonds in laboratories.

Laboratory grown diamonds are produced using methods that recreate diamond forming conditions. The two main methods are High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD).

These diamonds have the same chemical composition as natural diamonds, but specialised equipment can identify differences in their growth patterns and characteristics.

Gem laboratories use advanced testing techniques to distinguish between natural and laboratory grown diamonds.

Diamond Certification and Trust

Because every diamond is unique, professional grading and certification play an important role in the diamond industry.

Independent laboratories examine diamonds using scientific methods to assess their characteristics, confirm authenticity, and provide accurate grading information.

At DCLA, diamond science, advanced technology, and expert knowledge are combined to provide confidence and transparency for consumers and the jewellery industry.

The Enduring Legacy of Diamonds

A diamond represents billions of years of natural history, transformed through expert cutting and craftsmanship into one of the world’s most admired gemstones.

From deep beneath the Earth’s surface to the jewellery worn around the world, diamonds continue to fascinate because they combine science, beauty, rarity, and history in a single extraordinary crystal.

Source: DCLA

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Natural Diamonds at a Turning Point: De Beers Sale Signals a New Era for the Global Diamond Industry

 Natural Diamond Market Recovery Begins to Take Shape

The natural diamond industry is entering a defining period of transformation as one of the world’s most influential diamond companies, De Beers, moves closer to a change in ownership while the broader market shows early signs of recovery after several challenging years.

De Beers CEO Al Cook has indicated that a sale of the diamond giant could be completed within weeks rather than months, bringing to a close a two year process of negotiations. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Europe conference in London, Cook said discussions have reached an advanced stage and that the company is closer to a sale than ever before.

Anglo American placed its 85% stake in De Beers on the market in May 2024 as part of a wider restructuring strategy following a prolonged downturn in diamond prices, weaker consumer demand, and the rapid growth of lab grown diamonds.

De Beers remains one of the most important names in the global diamond industry, with operations spanning Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa, and Canada. The company has played a central role in shaping the natural diamond market for more than a century.

The potential buyers include diamond producing nations and strategic investors. Botswana, which already owns a 15% stake in De Beers, along with Namibia and Angola, have shown interest through various partnerships. These countries recognise the importance of diamonds to their economies and are looking to secure a stronger role in the future direction of the industry.

Cook highlighted that the current interest comes from groups with deep diamond knowledge, creating the opportunity for a strong public private partnership that could support the next chapter of De Beers.

Sources indicate that the number of potential buyers has narrowed from six groups in 2025 to two remaining consortia. These include diamond producing governments, former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, investment groups, and international investors.

Natural Diamond Market Recovery Begins to Take Shape

While the industry has faced significant pressure since 2021, the market is showing signs of reaching a turning point.

The downturn was driven by several major structural changes. The rapid expansion of lab grown diamonds transformed consumer expectations, with improvements in CVD and HPHT technology allowing synthetic diamonds to become widely available at significantly lower prices.

This created pressure across the natural diamond pipeline as consumers became more focused on size and appearance rather than rarity and long term value.

At the same time, weaker luxury demand, particularly in China, reduced one of the industry’s most important growth markets. The slowdown affected miners, manufacturers, retailers, and diamond producing nations.

Botswana, the world’s largest diamond producer by value, experienced economic pressure as declining diamond revenues impacted national growth. The challenges highlighted the importance of diamonds not only as a luxury product but as a critical economic resource for producing countries.

A New Diamond Market Structure

The current recovery is unlikely to mirror previous diamond cycles. The industry is entering a new era where scarcity, provenance, quality, and consumer trust will become increasingly important.

Natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds are moving into different market positions. Lab grown diamonds compete primarily on affordability, while natural diamonds continue to represent rarity, geological history, and emotional value.

The potential sale of De Beers could become a major milestone in reshaping the future of the natural diamond sector. New ownership, combined with improving market fundamentals and a renewed focus on the uniqueness of natural diamonds, may help create the foundation for the next phase of the industry.

For the global diamond market, 2026 could represent not just a recovery year, but the beginning of a new chapter.The natural diamond industry is entering a defining period of transformation as one of the world’s most influential diamond companies, De Beers, moves closer to a change in ownership while the broader market shows early signs of recovery after several challenging years.

De Beers CEO Al Cook has indicated that a sale of the diamond giant could be completed within weeks rather than months, bringing to a close a two year process of negotiations. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Europe conference in London, Cook said discussions have reached an advanced stage and that the company is closer to a sale than ever before.

Anglo American placed its 85% stake in De Beers on the market in May 2024 as part of a wider restructuring strategy following a prolonged downturn in diamond prices, weaker consumer demand, and the rapid growth of lab grown diamonds.

De Beers remains one of the most important names in the global diamond industry, with operations spanning Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa, and Canada. The company has played a central role in shaping the natural diamond market for more than a century.

The potential buyers include diamond producing nations and strategic investors. Botswana, which already owns a 15% stake in De Beers, along with Namibia and Angola, have shown interest through various partnerships. These countries recognise the importance of diamonds to their economies and are looking to secure a stronger role in the future direction of the industry.

Cook highlighted that the current interest comes from groups with deep diamond knowledge, creating the opportunity for a strong public private partnership that could support the next chapter of De Beers.

Sources indicate that the number of potential buyers has narrowed from six groups in 2025 to two remaining consortia. These include diamond producing governments, former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, investment groups, and international investors.

Natural Diamond Market Recovery Begins to Take Shape

While the industry has faced significant pressure since 2021, the market is showing signs of reaching a turning point.

The downturn was driven by several major structural changes. The rapid expansion of lab grown diamonds transformed consumer expectations, with improvements in CVD and HPHT technology allowing synthetic diamonds to become widely available at significantly lower prices.

This created pressure across the natural diamond pipeline as consumers became more focused on size and appearance rather than rarity and long term value.

At the same time, weaker luxury demand, particularly in China, reduced one of the industry’s most important growth markets. The slowdown affected miners, manufacturers, retailers, and diamond producing nations.

Botswana, the world’s largest diamond producer by value, experienced economic pressure as declining diamond revenues impacted national growth. The challenges highlighted the importance of diamonds not only as a luxury product but as a critical economic resource for producing countries.

A New Diamond Market Structure

The current recovery is unlikely to mirror previous diamond cycles. The industry is entering a new era where scarcity, provenance, quality, and consumer trust will become increasingly important.

Natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds are moving into different market positions. Lab grown diamonds compete primarily on affordability, while natural diamonds continue to represent rarity, geological history, and emotional value.

The potential sale of De Beers could become a major milestone in reshaping the future of the natural diamond sector. New ownership, combined with improving market fundamentals and a renewed focus on the uniqueness of natural diamonds, may help create the foundation for the next phase of the industry.

For the global diamond market, 2026 could represent not just a recovery year, but the beginning of a new chapter.

Source: DCLA

Thursday, 4 June 2026

The 24 Most Important Diamonds in History

 Cullinan Diamond

Size, History, Master Cutters and Present Locations

Diamonds have fascinated humanity for centuries. Some became symbols of royal power, others transformed the science of diamond cutting, and a few achieved legendary status because of their extraordinary size and rarity.

The following list combines size, historical importance, rarity and influence on the diamond industry.

1. Cullinan Diamond

Cullinan Diamond

Rough Weight: 3,106.75 carats
Found: South Africa, 1905
Polished By: Joseph Asscher
Current Location: British Crown Jewels

The Cullinan remains the largest gem quality rough diamond ever discovered. It was cut into nine principal diamonds and 96 smaller stones. The largest, Cullinan I, weighs 530.2 carats and remains one of the world’s most famous diamonds.

Estimated Value Today: US$2 billion+ (insurance estimates vary greatly).


2. Golden Jubilee Diamond

Golden Jubilee Diamond

Polished Weight: 545.67 carats
Found: South Africa
Polished By: Gabriel Tolkowsky
Current Location: Thailand Royal Treasury

The largest faceted gem quality diamond in the world.

Estimated Value: US$100 million to US$250 million.


3. The Incomparable

The Incomparable

Polished Weight: 407.48 carats
Found: Democratic Republic of Congo
Current Location: Private ownership

A fancy brownish yellow diamond renowned for its size and unusual triangular shape.

Estimated Value: US$20 million to US$50 million.


4. Cullinan I (Great Star of Africa)

Cullinan I (Great Star of Africa)

Weight: 530.2 carats
Current Location: Sovereign’s Sceptre, British Crown Jewels.


5. Cullinan II (Second Star of Africa)

Cullinan II (Second Star of Africa)

Weight: 317.4 carats
Current Location: Imperial State Crown.


6. Centenary Diamond

Centenary Diamond

Weight: 273.85 carats
Found: Premier Mine, South Africa
Polished By: Master cutters employed by De Beers

One of the most perfect large diamonds ever cut.

Estimated Value: US$100 million+.


7. Koh-i-Noor

Koh-i-Noor

Weight: 105.6 carats
Current Location: British Crown Collection

Perhaps the most famous diamond in history, originating in India and passing through Mughal, Persian, Afghan and British hands.

Estimated Value: Effectively priceless.


8. Hope Diamond

Hope Diamond

Weight: 45.52 carats
Current Location: Smithsonian Institution

The world’s most famous blue diamond.

Estimated Value: US$250 million to US$350 million.


9. Lesedi La Rona

Lesedi La Rona

Rough Weight: 1,109 carats
Found: Botswana

One of the largest gem quality rough diamonds ever discovered. Purchased by Laurence Graff for US$53 million.


10. SewelĂ´

SewelĂ´

Rough Weight: 1,758 carats
Found: Botswana

Second largest rough diamond ever recovered. Acquired by Louis Vuitton and HB Antwerp.


11. Excelsior

Excelsior diamond

Rough Weight: 995.2 carats
Found: South Africa

Largest diamond before the discovery of the Cullinan. Cut by the Asscher family.


12. Lesotho Promise

Lesotho Promise

Rough Weight: 603 carats
Current Location: Cut into 26 diamonds by Graff.


13. Regent Diamond

Regent Diamond

Weight: 140.64 carats
Current Location: Louvre Museum

One of the finest historic diamonds in existence.


14. Orlov Diamond

Orlov Diamond

Weight: 189.6 carats
Current Location: Russian Diamond Fund


15. Daria-i-Noor

Daria-i-Noor

Weight: Approximately 182 carats
Current Location: Iranian Crown Jewels.


16. Tiffany Yellow Diamond

Tiffany Yellow Diamond

Weight: 128.54 carats
Current Location: Tiffany & Co.


17. Taylor-Burton Diamond

Taylor-Burton Diamond

Weight: 69.42 carats

Purchased by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor.


18. Dresden Green

Dresden Green Diamond

Weight: 41 carats
Current Location: Dresden Treasury, Germany

One of the world’s largest natural green diamonds.


19. Pink Star

Pink Star Diamond

Weight: 59.60 carats

World auction record holder among diamonds.

Sale Price: US$71.2 million.


20. Wittelsbach-Graff

Wittelsbach-Graff

Weight: 31.06 carats

Rare deep blue historic diamond.


21. Moussaieff Red

Moussaieff Red

Weight: 5.11 carats

Largest known red diamond.


22. Oppenheimer Blue

Oppenheimer Blue

Weight: 14.62 carats

One of the most valuable blue diamonds ever sold.


23. The Enigma

The Enigma diamond

The Enigma diamond

Weight: 555.55 carats

Largest faceted black diamond ever sold publicly.


24. Black Falcon

black falcon diamond

Weight: 612.34 carats
Polished By: Peter Herbosch

The largest cut black diamond known today.


The Most Valuable Diamonds Today

DiamondEstimated Value
Cullinan CollectionUS$2 billion+
Hope DiamondUS$250m to US$350m
Golden JubileeUS$100m to US$250m
CentenaryUS$100m+
Pink StarSold for US$71.2m
Lesedi La Rona RoughUS$53m sale
Oppenheimer BlueUS$57.5m sale
Koh-i-NoorPriceless

DCLA Commentary

The greatest diamonds are not always the largest. The Cullinan remains the most important diamond ever recovered because it transformed royal jewellery and demonstrated the highest standards of large diamond cutting. The Koh-i-Noor shaped centuries of political history, while the Hope Diamond became the world’s most famous coloured diamond.

From the Asscher family’s revolutionary work on the Cullinan in 1908 to Gabriel Tolkowsky’s masterpiece cutting of the Golden Jubilee, these extraordinary stones represent the pinnacle of both nature’s achievement and human craftsmanship. Together they form a unique record of diamond history and remain benchmarks for gemological excellence today.

DCLA Disclaimer: Diamond valuations shown are broad market estimates based on historical sales, insurance valuations, rarity and current market conditions. Many historically significant diamonds are considered priceless because they are held in national collections, museums or royal treasuries and would be unlikely ever to be offered for public sale.

De Beers London launches Vibrations

  De Beers London presents Vibrations: a High Jewellery universe inspired by the quiet yet enduring power of inland water. The collection ce...