Menu
-
-
Close
arrow-up-right
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay informed with the best tips, trends, and news — straight to your inbox.

Subscribe Now
chevron-right
chevron-left
Insightschevron-rightchevron-rightBusinesschevron-rightTop 10 Most Expensive Phones Ever: The World’s Most Luxurious, Diamond-Encrusted Smartphones

Top 10 Most Expensive Phones Ever: The World’s Most Luxurious, Diamond-Encrusted Smartphones

In the world of luxury tech, a $1,000 flagship smartphone feels like a drop in the bucket. Over the years, elite designers and jewelers have transformed ordinary phones into diamond-encrusted phones and gold phones worth millions. These limited-edition iPhones and other bespoke handsets are studded with precious gems and exotic materials, making them the most luxurious phones ever made. Below, we rank the top 10 most expensive phones in the world ever recorded – from custom-made, one-of-a-kind creations to ultra-high-end models – complete with their jaw-dropping price tags and opulent details.

1. Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond – $48.5 Million (2014)

The Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond Edition tops the list as the most expensive phone in the world. Crafted by U.S. luxury firm Falcon in 2014, it’s essentially an iPhone 6 plated in 24-carat gold (also available in rose gold or platinum) and studded with a massive pink diamond on its back. This one-of-a-kind device was reportedly purchased by Nita Ambani, wife of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. It even boasts special security measures like hack protection to safeguard its ultra-rich owner. The Pink Diamond edition costs an astonishing $48.5 million, and Falcon also offers slightly “cheaper” versions with an orange diamond ($42.5 million) or a blue diamond ($32.5 million). Extras include matching solid-gold EarPods and options for further gemstone customization.

  • Maker/Designer: Falcon (USA)
  • Materials: 24 K gold casing (also rose gold or platinum); large pink diamond; platinum plating; custom firmware security
  • Special Features: World-record price; only one unit made; hack-proof tech; luxury accessories
  • Year Released: 2014 (custom iPhone 6)

2. Stuart Hughes iPhone 5 Black Diamond – $15 Million (2013)

Commissioned by a Chinese billionaire, luxury designer Stuart Hughes rebuilt an iPhone 5’s chassis in 24-carat gold and encrusted it with 600 white diamonds. The highlight is the home button, replaced by the client’s own 26-carat deep-cut black diamond valued at over $14 million. The iPhone 5 Black Diamond took nine weeks to complete and is valued at $15 million, making it the most expensive smartphone of its time.

  • Maker/Designer: Stuart Hughes (UK)
  • Materials: 24 K gold frame; 26-carat black-diamond home button; 600 white diamonds; sapphire-crystal screen
  • Special Features: One-of-one commission; nearly the entire cost is in the gemstones; fully functional iPhone 5
  • Year Released: 2013
Stuart Hughes iPhone 5 Black Diamond – $15 Million
Image Credits: SH

3. Stuart Hughes iPhone 4S Elite Gold – $9.4 Million (2011)

This diamond-encrusted iPhone boasts a bezel set with 500 flawless diamonds totaling 100 carats. Its 24-carat gold back carries an Apple logo formed by 53 diamonds. The home button is an 8.6-carat diamond (with a 7.4-carat spare). The phone ships in a solid platinum chest inlaid with real T-Rex dinosaur bone and rare gemstones.

  • Maker/Designer: Stuart Hughes (UK)
  • Materials: 24 K gold; 500 diamonds; 53-diamond Apple logo; 8.6-carat diamond button
  • Special Features: Dinosaur-bone and gemstone presentation box; only two units produced
  • Year Released: 2011
Stuart Hughes iPhone 4S Elite Gold
Image Credit: SH

4. Stuart Hughes iPhone 4 Diamond Rose – $8 Million (2010)

Created for Australian businessman Tony Sage, this rose-gold iPhone features 500 diamonds (100 carats) on the bezel, a 7.4-carat pink-diamond home button (with an 8-carat alternate), and 53 diamonds in the logo. It arrives in a massive 7-kg granite presentation box lined with Nubuck leather.

  • Maker/Designer: Stuart Hughes (UK)
  • Materials: Rose-gold body; 500 diamonds; 53-diamond Apple logo; pink-diamond button
  • Special Features: Only two units; granite and leather chest; custom commission
  • Year Released: 2010
Stuart Hughes iPhone 4 Diamond Rose – $8 Million
Image Credit: SH

5. Goldstriker iPhone 3GS Supreme – $3.2 Million (2009)

Hughes’s Goldstriker brand encased an iPhone 3GS in 22-carat solid gold with platinum bezel and 136 diamonds. Four rare pink baguette diamonds decorate the sides, while a 7.1-carat diamond serves as the home button. Delivered in a granite box lined with gold and leather, the phone cost $3.2 million.

  • Maker/Designer: Stuart Hughes / Goldstriker
  • Materials: 22 K gold; platinum; pink diamonds; 7.1-carat diamond button
  • Special Features: Ten months of handcrafting; custom granite box; one unit made
  • Year Released: 2009

6. iPhone 3G King’s Button – $2.5 Million (2009)

Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson blended 18-carat yellow, white, and rose gold and added 138 brilliant-cut diamonds around the frame. A colossal 6.6-carat diamond replaces the home button, “crowning” this phone fit for royalty.

  • Maker/Designer: Peter Aloisson (Austria)
  • Materials: Tri-color gold; 138 diamonds; 6.6-carat diamond button
  • Special Features: Former world-record holder; regal design theme
  • Year Released: 2009

7. Diamond Crypto Smartphone – $1.3 Million (2006)

Designed by Aloisson for Russian firm JSC Ancort, this platinum handset carries 50 diamonds, including 10 rare blue diamonds, plus rose-gold accents and ebony wood inlays. It was also promoted as having advanced voice/data encryption for ultra-secure communication.

  • Maker/Designer: JSC Ancort / Peter Aloisson
  • Materials: Platinum; rose gold; 50 diamonds with blue-diamond highlights; ebony wood
  • Special Features: Early $1 million phone; built-in encryption
  • Year Released: 2006

8. Goldvish Le Million – $1 Million (2006)

Swiss brand GoldVish created this boomerang-shaped phone from 18-carat white gold set with 120 carats of VVS-1 diamonds. Only three units were made, and it earned a Guinness World Record in 2006 for its price.

  • Maker/Designer: GoldVish (Switzerland) – Emmanuel Gueit
  • Materials: 18 K white gold; 120-carat diamonds
  • Special Features: Guinness record; three units worldwide; iconic curved design
  • Year Released: 2006
Goldvish Le Million
Image Credits: phonearena

9. Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot – $1 Million (2010)

This phone pairs 180 grams of gold with 45.5 carats of black diamonds on the front. The back is crafted from 200-year-old African Blackwood, and each key is cut from sapphire crystal. Only three were produced.

  • Maker/Designer: Gresso
  • Materials: Gold; black diamonds; African Blackwood; sapphire keys
  • Special Features: Las Vegas-inspired styling; individually numbered; three units only
  • Year Released: 2010
Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot – $1 Million
Image Credits: zdnet

10. Goldvish Revolution – $488,150 (2009)

A fusion of phone and Swiss timepiece, this 18-carat pink-and-white gold handset carries about 29 carats of diamonds and a detachable mechanical watch by Frédéric Jouvenot. Just nine were made.

  • Maker/Designer: GoldVish / Frédéric Jouvenot
  • Materials: Pink and white gold; diamonds; sapphire glass; fine leather
  • Special Features: Integrated Swiss watch; nine units worldwide; hybrid of haute horology and tech
  • Year Released: 2009

Would you invest in any of these phones?

From gold phones encrusted with hundreds of diamonds to smartphones bearing rare gemstones and even dinosaur bones, these devices redefine extravagance. The most expensive phone in the world – Falcon’s $48.5 million iPhone 6 – and its elite peers are far more than communication tools; they are status symbols, collectibles, and works of art. Each of the top 10 luxury smartphones above showcases a marriage of cutting-edge gadgetry with the planet’s most precious materials, resulting in creations that command astonishing prices. While mainstream flagship phones push the envelope in technology, this exclusive tier pushes the boundaries of luxury and craftsmanship. Ultimately, these most luxurious phones ever made prove that in the realm of luxury tech, excess truly knows no limits.

FAQ

What is the most expensive phone in the world?

The Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond tops all lists at $48.5 million, featuring 24-carat gold plating and a massive pink diamond on the back.

Why are diamond-encrusted phones so expensive?

Prices skyrocket due to rare gems, precious metals, artisan craftsmanship, and extreme exclusivity—often just one or two units are produced.

Which luxury smartphone brands dominate the top 10 list?

Falcon, Stuart Hughes, GoldVish, Gresso, and Peter Aloisson lead the rankings with ultra-limited runs of gold phones and jewel-studded iPhones.

Do these expensive phones offer better tech specs?

Usually no; the core hardware mirrors standard flagships. Their million-dollar value comes from materials like gold, platinum, and large flawless diamonds.

Can I still buy the world’s most expensive phones today?

Most were one-off commissions or limited to a few units, so they’re held by private collectors. Occasionally, a luxury phone resurfaces at auction for multimillion-dollar bids.

Disclosure: This list is intended as an informational resource and is based on independent research and publicly available information. It does not imply that these businesses are the absolute best in their category. Learn more here.

This article may contain commission-based affiliate links. Learn more on our Privacy Policy page.

This post is also related to

Company Name

Location
450 Wellington Street West, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5V 1E3

Arash F

Junior JournalistBrand Vision Insights

Arash F. serves as a Research Specialist and Junior Journalist at Brand Vision Insights. With a background in psychology and scientific writing, he offers practical insights into human behavior that shape brand strategies and content development. By blending data-driven approaches with a passion for storytelling, Arash creates helpful insights in all his articles.

Subscribe
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

By submitting I agree to Brand Vision Privacy Policy and T&C.

home_and_garden com