The Most Expensive Gemstones In The World

In the world of precious gemstones there is nothing quite like watching the fine Gemstones auctions of Sotheby's and Christie's. Over the years they have sold some incredibly rare and beautiful gemstones to the rich and famous. This article is going to be a living document that we will update over time. It will track the biggest sales, the world records and the excitement of what goes on in these auctions.

There are two main figures that people get excited about with gemstones. That is the total sale price and the price per carat. Some gemstone like Red Diamonds are incredibly rare and relatively small but they demand a huge price per carat. Other gemstones like Sapphire can be huge and sell for massive prices.

AUCTION RESULTS UPDATE: 13 November 2018

The beautiful 18.96-carat fancy vivid Pink Legacy Diamond has broken the world record price per carat for a pink diamond in a matter of moments. Attendees said that the sale was easily the standout offering at Christie’s fall jewellery auction in Geneva.

It sold for $50 million USD, so the Pink Legacy Diamond now holds the world record price per carat at $2.6 million USD per carat, a whopping $1.4 million USD more than the previous record.

Previously held by the sale of The Pink Star Diamond earlier in 2017, which sold for $71.2 million to Hong Kong-based jewelry retailer Chow Tai Fook, the world record title and diamond is now owned by renowned jeweller, Harry Winston. Following the auction, the diamond was promptly renamed The Winston Pink Legacy by its new owners.

Previous Auction Results Update: 4 April 2017

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new world record breaker: The Pink Star Diamond is a stunning 59.60-carat fancy vivid pink diamond that sold for $71.2 million to Hong Kong-based jewelry retailer Chow Tai Fook. That makes the price-per-carat over $1.19 million USD.

It took just 5 minutes of intense bidding for this Diamond to break the world for the most expensive gemstone ever sold at auction. The new owner used his initials to rename the stone "CTF Pink" after the sale.

The Pink Star Diamond took 2 years to cut after the best gem cutters in the world studied it to reveal the best possible gemstone. It was auctioned last year for $83 million USD; however, the buyer of the gemstone was not able to complete the payment. It has been in Sotheby's inventory ever since.

Blue Diamonds: The Most Concentrated Wealth

Gemstones are undoubtedly the most concentrated form of wealth. Think about the current world record for price per carat. It is held by the Blue Moon Diamond coming in at $4 million per carat. For every gram of blue Diamond there is $20 million in wealth. It is portable and small enough to be hidden. Gemstones really are an incredible vessel for wealth.

Price Per Carat Comparison

The most expensive gemstones in the world and the ones that are most often traded are Diamonds, Sapphire and Rubies. Until recently the magic $1 million per carat mark was only achieved by colored Diamonds. With the sale of the Sunrise Ruby the beautiful red gemstone has joined the exclusive club.

Blue Diamonds

• Blue Moon Diamond - 12.03cts - $4,028,940.81 per ct

• Oppenheimer Blue Diamond - 14.62cts - $3,932,968.54

• Mellon’s fancy vivid blue - 9.75cts - $3,343,589.74 per ct

• DeBeers Millennium Jewel 4 - 10.10cts - $3,148,514 per ct

• Winston Blue - 13.22cts - $1,799,952.50 per ct

• Ocean Dream - 5.5cts - $1,599,752.18 per ct

Red Diamonds

• Moussaieff - 2.09cts - $2,438,216.27 per ct

Orange Diamonds

• The Orange - 14.82cts - $2,398,151.89 per ct

Pink Diamonds

• Pink Legacy - 18.96cts - $2,656,909 per ct

• Unique Pink - 15.38cts -$2,054,616 per ct

• Graff Pink - 24.68cts - $1,863,857 per ct

• Pink Star - 59.6cts - $1,194,603 per ct

Ruby

• Sunrse Ruby - 25.59cts - $1,188,745.60 per ct

• Graff Ruby - 8.62cts - $994,199.54 per ct

• Burmese Ruby - 6.04cts - $546,357.62 per ct

• Burmese Ruby - 32.08cts - $208,852.87 per ct

Sapphire

• Jewel of Kashmir - 27.68cts - $243,702.60 pre ct

• Unamed - 35.09cts - $210,844.17 per ct

• Blue Belle of Asia - 392.52cts - $44,063.48 per ct

Padparadscha Sapphire

• Unnamed - 14.65cts - $52,965.94 per ct

Spinel

• Hope Spinel - 50.13cts - $29,217.26 per ct

Total Price Comparison

When these gemstones sell they are the most concentrated forms of wealth on the planet. The Pink Star Diamond is now the most expensive gemstone ever sold coming in at a whopping $71.2 million.

Pink Diamonds

• Pink Star - 59.6cts - $71,200,000.00

• Pink Legacy - 18.96cts - $50,375,000

• Graff Pink - 24.68cts - $46,000,000.00

• Unique Pink - 15.38cts - $31,600,000

Blue Diamonds

• Oppenheimer Blue Diamond - 14.62cts - $57,500,000

• Blue Moon Diamond - 12.03cts - $48,468,158.00

• Mellon Fancy Vivid Blue - 9.75cts - $32,600,000.00

• DeBeers Millennium, Jewel 4 - 10.10 cts - $31,800,000

• Winston Blue - 13.22cts - $23,795,372.00

• Ocean Dream - 5.5cts - $8,798,637.00

Orange Diamonds

• The Orange - 14.82cts - $35,540,611.00

Ruby

• Sunrise Ruby - 25.59cts - $30,420,000.00

• Graff Ruby - 8.62cts - $8,570,000.00

• Burmese Ruby - 32.08cts - $6,700,000.00

• Burmese Ruby - 6.04cts - $3,300,000.00

Sapphire

• Blue Belle of Asia - 392.52cts - $17,295,796.00

• Unamed - 35.09cts - $7,398,522.00

• Jewel of Kashmir - 27.68cts - $6,745,688.00

Red Diamonds

• Moussaieff - 2.09cts - $5,095,872.00

Spinel

• Hope Spinel - 50.13cts - $1,464,661.00

Padparchasa Sapphire

• Unnamed - 14.65cts - $775,951.00

The Best of The Best

These gemstones are not your typical stone that you would find in your local Jewelry store. To give you an idea the red Diamond is so rare that only a handful exist. Blue Diamonds are also rare but they do come in larger sizes which means buyers get both rarity and size.

The Rubies such as the Sunrise Ruby are becoming more and more valuable. With the rise of China as a superpower the demand for red colored gemstones has sharply increased. Lets take a closer look at some of the stars.

Blue Moon Diamond

Oppenheimer Blue Diamond

DeBeers Millennium Jewel 4

The Unique Pink

Pink Star Diamond

Sunrise Ruby

The Orange Diamond

The Moussaieff Red Diamond

Jewel Of Kashmir

Shop For Your Own Treasure

Colored Diamonds