​​Top 10 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World: Record-Breaking Gems Ranked

Exploring the most expensive diamonds in the world takes you inside a world where luxury, history, and rarity collide. These diamonds worth the most combine vivid color, flawless clarity, massive carat size, and unique provenance. From record‑shattering auction outcomes to iconic museum jewels, each gem defines what it means to be one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold. Whether you're a collector, investor, or admirer of brilliance, these stones represent the peak of gemstone value and cultural prestige.

1. The Pink Star (aka CTF Pink Star) – $71.2 Million (2017)

The Pink Star remains the top record holder among most expensive diamonds ever sold—28 months of meticulous cutting turned a 132-carat rough into a 59.60-carat internally flawless Fancy Vivid Pink that paved the way for future blockbuster auctions. Its Sotheby’s Hong Kong 2017 sale at $71.2 million set a global benchmark and confirmed it as the most valuable gem in modern history. This diamond’s perfect blend of size, color, and clarity firmly secures its place in the list of diamonds with most value, coveted by collectors and institutions alike.

• Defines the apex of auction achievement among most expensive diamonds in the world
  
  
• Legendary for both investment allure and unmatched visual impact

2. Oppenheimer Blue – $57.5 Million (2016)

The Oppenheimer Blue, a 14.62-carat Fancy Vivid Blue emerald cut, held the title of the most expensive diamond ever sold before being eclipsed by the Pink Star. Its 2016 sale at Christie’s Geneva for $57.5 million made it the most expensive gem at that time—a record defined by its GIA-graded intensity and historical prestige. With VVS1 clarity and vivid saturation, it’s one of the most striking examples of diamonds with most value tied to the De Beers and Oppenheimer legacy.

• Holds the record as the largest Fancy Vivid Blue ever put to auction
  
  
• A jewel-icon in the pantheon of globally coveted, high-investment gemstones

3. Winston Pink Legacy (Centennial Pink Legacy) – $50.3 Million (2018)

Known originally as the “Pink Legacy,” the Winston Pink Legacy is an 18.96-carat Fancy Vivid Pink of VS1 clarity with storied provenance tied to Oppenheimer and Harry Winston. Sold for $50.3 million in 2018, it redefined high per-carat values and cemented its legacy among the most expensive diamonds in the world. Its consistent color and rare size make it one of the strongest contenders among diamonds with most value ever sold or collected.

• Set a global benchmark for pink diamond pricing per carat
  
  
• Enshrined in both auction history and private collector prestige

4. Blue Moon of Josephine – $48.4 Million (2015)

This 12.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue cushion-cut gem sold at $48.4 million in 2015, placing it among the top entries for most expensive diamonds ever sold. Purchased by Joseph Lau and named after his daughter, the Blue Moon of Josephine perfectly blends emotional narrative with world-class gemstone quality. Its supreme color intensity and flawless polish make it one of the most collectible diamonds worth the most.

• Established the world record for price per carat at the time (over $4M per ct)
  
  
• One of the most iconic colored diamonds in auction history
  

5. Graff Pink – $46.1 Million (2010)

With 24.78 carats of Fancy Intense Pink, the Graff Pink sold for $46.1 million in 2010 and held the title of one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold for several years. Belonging to the ultra-clean Type IIa category and VVS clarity, this remarkable emerald-cut pink diamond is a benchmark in both most expensive diamonds in the world and premium collectors’ classification.

• Owned by Laurence Graff, building on its aura in private luxury circles
  
  
• A vivid testament to how Type IIa purity drives gem value

6. Williamson Pink Star – $57.7 Million (2022)

The magnificent Williamson Pink Star, an 11.15-carat Fancy Vivid Pink cushion-cut diamond, sold for $57.7 million in 2022—making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold per carat. Mined in Tanzania’s Williamson pool, its rich color and high clarity redefined the price thresholds for pink diamonds post-Argyle mine era. It remains a prime example of diamonds with most value in the modern collectible gemstone market.

• Holds world record for price per carat of any diamond sold
  
  
• Catalyzed renewed demand for high‑end pink diamonds worldwide

7. The Princie Pink – $39.3 Million (2013)

This 34.65-carat Fancy Intense Pink from the legendary Golconda mines sold for $39.3 million in 2013, making it one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold and one of the largest vivid pink gems in existence. Its antique origin, regal size, and standout color position it among the rarest diamonds worth the most, blending history and gemstone perfection.

• Among the largest vivid pink diamonds ever sold at auction
  
  
• Revered for both its historic origins and premium auction price

8. The Orange Diamond – $35.5 Million (2013)

This 14.82-carat Fancy Vivid Orange pear-shaped diamond shattered records when sold for $35.5 million in 2013. Until surpassed by later creations, it held the title for highest price-per-carat in colored diamonds. Its fiery hue and auction surprise landed it among the most expensive diamonds ever sold and one of the most unusual, vibrant diamonds with most value outside traditional pinks and blues.

• A standout for both its color rarity and record auction performance
  
  
• Helped spark broader appreciation for non-pink/blue fancy-colored diamonds

9. Magnificent Oval (Hong Kong Mystery Oval) – $30.6 Million (2013)

This flawless colorless D‑graded Type IIa oval diamond weighing 118.28 carats sold for $30.6 million in 2013 at Christie’s Hong Kong. Though not named, its sheer size and purity rank it among the most expensive diamonds ever sold and one of the few diamonds worth the most that isn’t colored—demonstrating that clarity and scale still command global premium attention.

• The largest colorless diamond ever auctioned in modern memory
  
  
• Symbolizes the upper echelon of diamond perfection beyond vivid colors
  

10. Moussaieff Red Diamond – $20 Million+ (Private Sale)

The ultra-rare Moussaieff Red is a 5.11-carat Fancy Red Type IIa diamond, considered the rarest color in all gemology. Though never sold at public auction, its estimated private sale value exceeds $20 million, placing it among diamonds with most value in private collections. It’s the only known sizable Fancy Red diamond of its award-winning quality—earning constant demand among collectors and securing its place among the most expensive diamonds in the world.

• The only significant Fancy Red diamond ever certified by GIA
  
  
• Its extreme rarity and color make it a benchmark in gemstone valuation

Priceless Diamonds Worth the Shine

From the record-setting brilliance of the Pink Star to the breathtaking rarity of the Moussaieff Red, these ten gems embody the most expensive diamonds ever sold or privately held. With exceptional color, unmatched clarity, and stories tied to legendary mines and families, they represent true benchmarks among most expensive diamonds in the world. For gemstone enthusiasts, investors, and luxury collectors, these diamonds continue to define the pinnacle of rarity, prestige, and cultural value.

FAQ

Which diamond currently holds the record for the most expensive sale ever?

The Pink Star, sold for $71.2 million in 2017, still ranks as the single most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.

Why are pink, blue, or red diamonds so much more valuable than colorless diamonds?

Fancy-colored diamonds—especially vivid pink, blue, and red—are extraordinarily rare, often representing fewer than 0.1% of global production, which drives their status as diamonds with most value.

Does the Moussaieff Red qualify as one of the most expensive diamonds ever?

Yes—although its sale was private, industry estimates place it above $20 million, making it among the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world, particularly for its unique Fancy Red color.