Diamonds have been fascinating people for hundreds of years, and the Biggest Diamonds in the World are some of the most remarkable specimens of all time. From their origin billions of years ago, in the deep Earth, to their laborious extraction and movement through time, each giant diamond’s odyssey is a fascinating story of rarity, grandeur, and history. Below is the top 17 Biggest Diamonds in the World that will leave your mind blown!
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17. Vargas Diamond: 726.6 carats
The Vargas Diamond was discovered in 1938 in Brazil. The rough weighed 726.6 carats and was cut into 29 diamonds, the largest of which is a 44.17-carat emerald-cut gem. The stone was named after the then-president of Brazil, Getúlio Dornelles Vargas. The Vardas Diamond has changed a couple of owners and gone missing, and some of the smaller stones reappeared on auctions several times.
16. Golden Jubilee Diamond: 755.5 carats
Ironically, the Golden jubilee Diamond was initially called The “Unnamed Brown.” It was discovered in 1985 at the Premier mine in South Africa. The rough diamond weighed 755.5 carats, and after cutting, turned into a 545.65-carat Fancy Yellow-Brown diamond.
The stone was given to the King of Thailand and became part of his sovereign’s jewelry. Now it is permanently set in the Thai Crown Jewels. The Golden Jubilee is often called the largest faceted diamond in the world; however, the Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa is still the biggest.
15. Millennium Star Diamond: 777 carats
The stone is one of the most famous diamonds globally. Discovered in the early years of the 1990s in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Millennium Star is a 777-carat rough. The diamond has an oval color and was cut into a flawless 203-carat pear-shaped stone. De Beers has displayed it in the Millennium diamond collection. And now, the Millennium Star is one of the most high-quality diamonds ever discovered.
14. Constellation Diamond: 812 Carats
The Constellation Diamond was found by the Lucara Diamond Corp., a diamond mining company at the Karowe mine in Botswana in 2015. An 812- carat rough diamond was bought by Nemesis International and de Grisogono, a Swiss jeweler for $63.1 million. This triggered a record in the history of diamonds as the highest price per carat for a rough diamond.
13. Incomparable Diamond: 890 Carats
An Incomparable Diamond of 890 carats was found in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a small girl in 1980. The largest diamond was cut into 15 smaller ones, the largest of which was 407.48- carat Fancy Deep Brownish-Yellow diamond set in a Mouawad Jewelers’ $55 million necklace.
12. Lesotho Legend Diamond: 910 Carats
Letseng mine in 2018 produced one of the world’s largest diamonds, called the Lesotho Legend. The 910- carat diamond was purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels and gave 67 diamonds, including the largest diamond of 51.18-carat emerald-cut gem. These diamonds were used in the maison’s Mystery Set Jewels collection.
11. Star of Sierra Leone Diamond: 969 Carats
The Star of Sierra Leone is the world’s largest alluvial diamond weighing 969 carats and was discovered in 1972. It was bought by the Harry Winston, the King of Diamonds and was cut into 17 smaller diamonds, 13 of which were flawless. The six flawless diamonds were later used in the brooch bearing the name Star of Sierra Leone.
10. Excelsior Diamond: 995 Carats
The Excelsior Diamond was found in 1893 at the Jagersfontein mine and weighed 995 carats. The diamond was cut and sold in 21 smaller diamonds one of which became a 69.69- carat pear-shaped gem. Some pieces of the diamond were also acquired by Tiffany & Co., and Robert Mouawad.
9. Karowe Diamond: 998 carats
The diamond is recovered in 2020 by Lucara Diamond. It is a 998-carat diamond, among the biggest colorless diamonds, which have been discovered by the advanced X-ray technology to promote the preservation of the massive diamonds.
8. Karowe Diamond: 1,080 carats
The diamond is recovered in 2023 from Karowe by Lucara Diamond Corp. It is a 1,080-carat colorless diamond, valued at ($50 million) being among the most expensive diamonds acquired from the mine.
7. Jwaneng Diamond: 1,098 carats
Jwaneng Diamond is discovered in 2021 by the president of Botswana under the owner of the Karowe Mine Botswne Esther Ankaya Mangope. Being a 1,098-carat diamond, the true value of the gem is more than $55 million due to the proceeds used in the Nacnola office and road building of Botswana.
6. Lesedi La Rona Diamond: 1,109 carats
Lesedi La Rona is the name of the diamond discovered in the Karowe Mine by Lucara Diamond Corp. The diamond, weighing 1,109 carats, was sold to Graff for $53 million, consisting of 302.37 carats of grace colored diamonds.
Many jewelry has been produced from the smaller stones of the giant diamond, making it to its current relevant status. It testifies to the Natures wonder and the Human handiwork. The anatomy of this massive diamond speaks to both nature’s wonder and human craftsmanship.
5. Lucara Diamond: 1,175 carats
It is discovered in 2021 by Lucara Diamond Corp in the same Karowe mine. The 1,175-carat diamond may not have the GIA-certified and gem-quality rating, but a sizable proportion of the gem’s white material is of incredibly fine quality showing itself in limited exhibitions.
4. Sewelô Diamond: 1,758 carats
The Sewelô Diamond, meaning “rare find” in Setswana, is fitting for the 1,758-carat stone that was discovered in 2019. It was also one of the most remarkable of the Karowe diamonds. This was because the luxury group Louis Vuitton seized the opportunity to acquire the gemstone and merge it with the innovation of HB Antwerp.
They would create tailor-made diamonds for direct sale to their exclusive customers, proving a synergy between modern luxury and deep-rooted Botswanan resources. If you are interested in other magnificent alternatives, read Moissanite vs Diamonds: What’s the Difference?.
3. Karowe Diamond: 2,492 carats
No 3 spot in this article about Biggest Diamonds in the World is captured by Karowe Diamond. Lucara Diamond Corp. published a groundbreaking discovery that would soon rock the diamond world in August 2024. It was a 2,492-carat-stone that was discovered using the company’s Mega Diamond Recovery technology and was poised to become the most prominent diamond at the Karowe mine and the second-largest globally.
It might soon become a viable competition for the greatest historically produced gem if enough similarly magnificent stones would be cut. Look up a few unbelievable facts about where moissanite is mined, which is an affordable version of diamonds, they often lead to unexpected pieces like this one.
2. Cullinan Diamond: 3,106.75 carats
South Africa was the source of the phenomenal gem known as the Cullinan Diamond. In 1905, this crystal with a mass of 3,107 carats was discovered, making it the Biggest Diamonds in the World history. – of which diamonds are composed. Split into several stones, the Cullinan produced the most prominent among them in 1908.
Cullinan I, also known as the Star of Africa, weighed 530.2 carats and became part of the British Crown Jewels along with Cullinan II and several other stones. Compared to synthetically produced options, it is no surprise why individuals are drawn to such a beautifully executed, naturally produced gem. This giant remains the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered, highlighting the enduring appeal of high-quality diamonds compared to simulated alternatives.
The Unnamed Future Record-Holder: TBD
As we are coping With recent advancements in mining and detection technologies, I am sure infact we all are that an even larger diamond may be discovered soon, potentially dethroning the Cullinan. The search for the next big gem continues, as the industry evolves and the possibilities for finding massive diamonds remain limitless.
Biggest Diamonds in the World: Wrap up
These 17 Biggest Diamonds in the World are not only breathtaking stones but also monumental successes in the field of diamond mining and cutting. The world’s biggest diamonds always create a sensation, and with the advance of technologies, we can hope to find more of these incredible gems soon.