Article: Diamond Name: The Most Famous and Rare Diamonds in the World

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Jul 26, 2024

Diamond Name: The Most Famous and Rare Diamonds in the World

Diamonds have captivated humanity for centuries due to their exquisite beauty . They didn't wait for de Beers and his clever marketing to be desired by ordinary mortals! Diamonds aren't that rare. However, quality stones are! This is so true that some diamonds have been named. What are the names of the most famous and rarest diamonds ? Price, origin, weight, history, color, origin of the stone's name and anecdotes that made their legend... We tell you everything about the names of the most famous diamonds .

Updated September 23, 2025

Summary

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
The Hope
The Cullinan I (name of the diamond in the crown of England)
The Pink Star Diamond
Josephine's Blue Moon
The Moussaieff Red
The Orlov Diamond
The Oppenheimer Blue
The Pink Graff
Other Famous Diamond Names

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1. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Diamond Name : Koh-i-Noor
Weight : 108.93 carats
Date of discovery : antiquity
Place of discovery : India
Price : priceless
Color : colorless

This is the diamond with the oldest documented history, dating back over 5,000 years ! This diamond has had many names , ending with " Koh-i-Noor ." This means "Mountain of Light" in Persian. Over the millennia, it has passed through many hands, from wealthy Indian ruling families to the British monarchy, among others.

It is probably the most expensive diamond in the world, although its price is difficult to estimate...

Interesting fact : The diamond was first mentioned over 5,000 years ago in a Sanskrit text, where it was called Syamantaka . It is said to bring bad luck. A cholera epidemic broke out in England while the diamond was being shipped from India to Her Majesty's lands. An event that was blamed on this famously named diamond !

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2. The Hope

Diamond Name : Hope
Weight : 45.52 carats
Date of discovery : 17th century
Place of discovery : India
Price : Estimated between $200 and $250 million
Color : deep blue

The Hope Diamond is one of the most legendary diamonds. From its discovery in the early 17th century to the present day, this diamond has traveled extensively. It even disappeared during the French Revolution. In the mid- ^20th century, Harry Winston became the owner of this famous diamond. The deep blue stone was then donated to a museum.

Interesting fact : Legend has it that the Hope Diamond is cursed . It is believed to bring tragedy and misfortune to its owners. The Hope Diamond was once owned by Louis XIV. It is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.

Also read: Ranking of the most popular luxury antique jewelry

3. The Cullinan I (name of the diamond in the crown of England)

Diamond Name : Cullinan
Weight : 530.2 carats
Date of discovery : 1905
Place of discovery : Premier Mine, South Africa
Price : over $2 billion (estimate)
Color : colorless

Until the Golden Jubilee , the Cullinan 1 was the largest cut diamond in the world. It is pear-shaped with 74 facets. Today, it is set on the royal scepter of the British throne. It is jealously guarded with the rest of the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. In its original rough form, when it was first discovered in the Transvaal in South Africa, it weighed 3,106 carats .

Interesting fact : The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond discovered in history. The rough weighed 3,106 carats. It was later cut into 105 diamonds ! The largest stones (above) adorn the British Crown Jewels, including the Cullinan I.

4. The Pink Star

Diamond Name : Pink Star
Weight : 59.6 carats
Date of discovery : 1999
Place of discovery : South Africa
Price : Sold for $71.2 million in 2017
Color : pink

Originally weighing 132.5 carats in its rough form, the Pink Star Diamond was cut into a stunning 59.60-carat mixed-cut oval stone, making it the largest fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

Interesting fact : The Pink Star is the most expensive diamond ever officially sold . Originally, the name of this diamond was Steinmetz Pink .

5. The Blue Moon Josephine

Diamond Name : Josephine's Blue Moon
Weight : 12.03 carats
Date of discovery : 2014
Place of discovery : Premier Mine, South Africa
Price : Sold for $48.5 million in 2015
Color : blue

Weighing 12.03 carats, the Blue Moon is one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world . Its name reflects its rarity, as the phrase "every blue moon" refers to an event that almost never happens in English.

Interestingly , the diamond was purchased in 2015 by Hong Kong billionaire and fugitive criminal in Macau, Joseph Lau Luen-hung. He named it after his then-7-year-old daughter, Josephine.

6. The Moussaieff Red

Diamond Name : Moussaieff Red
Weight : 5.11 carats
Date of discovery : 1989
Place of discovery : Brazil
Price : Estimated at over $20 million
Color : red

The Moussaieff Red may only weigh 5.11 carats, but it is one of the rarest diamonds in the world. It was found in the Abaetezinho River. The name of this diamond was first called the Red Shield. It was later renamed after its purchaser, the famous diamond trader Shlomo Moussaieff . The stone is distinguished by its fascinating color and its significant weight for such a diamond tone.

Interesting fact : The Moussaieff is the largest known red diamond in the world , despite weighing only 5.11 carats. Red diamonds are incredibly rare, making this gemstone one of the most sought-after on the planet.

7. The Orlov Diamond

Diamond Name : Orlov
Weight : 189.62 carats
Date of discovery : end of the 17th century
Place of discovery : India
Price : priceless
Color : colorless

The Orlov Diamond is a stunning diamond weighing nearly 190 carats. The epic story of this stone has more episodes than a television series. Legend has it that at one time, the diamond served as the eye of the idol of Vishnu, the Hindu god. It was allegedly stolen in the middle of the night from the Sriangam temple. The thief, fearing a curse , quickly sold the giant diamond to an English captain for 2,000 pounds.

The diamond's name originated with its acquisition by Empress Catherine of Russia . Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov, one of the empress's lovers, purchased the diamond for a huge sum. With this gift, he hoped to formalize their relationship. In vain. The Orlov Diamond was set on the imperial scepter. Today, it is in the Kremlin treasury.

Interesting fact : During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the Orlov Diamond was hidden in a priest's tomb. Legend has it that a ghost dissuaded the French emperor from taking it!

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8. Oppenheimer Blue

Diamond Name : Oppenheimer Blue
Weight : 14.62 carats
Date of discovery : unknown
Place of discovery : South Africa
Color : bright blue
Value : $57.5 million

This diamond still bears the name of its former owner , Sir Philip Oppenheimer . This diamond is famous for its perfect color, impeccable proportions, and fabulous classic rectangular shape.

The Oppenheimer was sold by Christie's Auction in 2016. At the time, a new world record for a piece of jewelry was set. The Oppenheimer Blue sold for $57,541,779. The sale set the auction room ablaze. It sold well above its low estimate of $38 million. Two collectors fought fiercely to acquire the Oppenheimer Blue.

Interesting fact : The Oppenheimer Blue is the largest blue diamond ever sold at auction. The identity of its current owner is a mystery.

9. Graff Pink

Diamond Name : Graff Pink
Size : 24.78 carats
Date of discovery : unknown (early 20th ^century ?)
Place of discovery : unknown
Color : bright pink
Value : $46 million

The Graff Pink is a rare 24.78-carat fancy vivid pink diamond. The Graff Pink is named after its owner , Laurence Graff. It was set in a ring that became the most expensive ring in the world. The Graff Pink diamond has a classic emerald cut with rounded corners, typical of American jeweler Harry Winston. He set this pink diamond in a platinum ring with two white diamonds. In 1950, he sold the piece to a private collector. The collector held it for 60 years before it was sold through Sotheby's and acquired by its current owner.

Interesting fact : According to Laurence Graff, this stone is " the most fabulous diamond " he has ever seen. He knows a thing or two about diamonds. But the fact that he owns it may have clouded his judgment somewhat! However, it is clearly one of the most beautiful diamonds in the world .