Largest Diamonds in the World: Recent Blog by Outreinfo
Even long before, diamonds have managed to intrigue and inspire humankind by depicting wealth and beauty combined with power. However, within them, the top 10 largest diamonds in the world are recognized among all diamonds found in history.
These striking last diamonds, which were the leaders of big stories of intrigues, are known to the world as the leaders of their kind, recessing all the diamonds in size ever found.
In the following section, the world’s top ten largest diamonds will be considered, their interesting facts, history, and the influence they exerted on the industry of luxury products and gemology will be covered as well.
Sergio Diamond (3,167 Carats)
The Sergio diamond, discovered in Bahia, Brazil, in the year 1895, holds the crown of being the largest diamond ever found. We can say that the Sergio is not quite the traditional clear diamond that most people are accustomed to. Instead, it is a black diamond carbonado, which is a type of diamond that is rarely found and is believed to possess extraterrestrial origins, similar to the largest diamond ever discovered. Its extraordinary weight of 3167-carat diamond has never been seen before, and even how it was formed dimly fascinates, reminiscent of the Thomas Cullinan diamond. Although of huge size, the Sergio is a stone in the rough and not polished, which adds to the worth of the diamond as one of the largest diamonds ever.
Cullinan Diamond (3,106.75 Carats)
The Cullinan diamond is a precious diamond unearthed in 1905 at the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa. This 3,106.75-carat diamond is the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered. After its discovery, the Cullinan diamond was cut into several stones, the most famous being the Cullinan I, the Great Star of Africa. Today, this diamond of 530.4 cts is in one of the British Crown Jewels set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross. Moreover, the discovery of the Cullinan diamond and its subsequent cutting into 96 pieces accounts for its place in the history of significant diamonds.
Lesedi La Rona (1,111 Carats)
Known as the ‘Lesedi La Rona’ meaning ‘Our Light’ in Tswana, it was found in 2015 at the Karowe Mine in Botswana and is considered one of the largest diamonds ever. With a carat weight of 1,111 carats, it is the third-largest diamond in the world and the second-largest gem-quality diamond, often compared to the Millennium Star diamond. The rough diamond did not find a buyer at a Sotheby’s auction in 2016 because of its size, but it was later bought by a private company. The discovery of Lesedi La Rona attracted the world’s attention to diamond mining in Botswana and the role of the region in the diamond sector.
Excelsior Diamond (995.2 Carats)
Excelsior diamond was discovered in 1893 in the Jagersfontein Mine in South Africa, and it was the largest diamond in the world till the discovery of Cullinan. Weighing 995.2 carats, the Excelsior was a pure diamond and was later divided into ten more equal stones because of the difficulty of marketing a stone of that size. The biggest of these stones is the 69.69 carats, which are pear-shaped. The diamond was discovered in South Africa, and the Excelsior diamond is still considered one of the largest and clearest diamonds in the world.
Star of Sierra Leone (969 Carats)
The Star of Sierra Leone was discovered on Valentine’s Day in 1972 and is one of the largest alluvial diamonds that was recovered, and it weighs 969 carats. This diamond was discovered near Koidu in Sierra Leone and was bought by a renowned jeweler by the name of Harry Winston, who proceeded to have it polished into seventeen gemstones, with the biggest being a 53.96-carat pear-shaped gem. The Star of Sierra Leone is still considered an emblem of rich diamond deposits in West Africa; it is famous for its quality and purity.
Incomparable Diamond (890 Carats)
In 1989, the Incomparable diamond was found by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo who was playing in the pile of mining rubble, making it one of the most famous diamonds. It was discovered at Kimberley, South Africa, with a weight of 890 carats before it was polished to a weight of 407.78-carats. The Incomparable is the biggest internally flawless diamond that has been graded by GIA. The diamond is one of the most extraordinary due to its color and its lack of imperfection.
Golden Jubilee Diamond (545.67 Carats)
The remarkable Golden Jubilee diamond is still the most important and heavy-faceted diamond gem, weighing a magic 545.67 Carats. This diamond was discovered in 1985 in the mines found in South Africa and was first handed over to Pope John Paul II, becoming a significant piece in the history of famous diamonds. Thereafter, it was presented to the King of England in the year 1997. The diamond’s most attractive features are the strong yellowish-brown tint every diamond has and its size. It is now one of Thailand’s crown jewels, the treasures of the country and its cultural heritage.
The Spirit of de Grisogono (312.24 Carats)
The Spirit of de Grisogono is the world’s largest cut black diamond, with a weight of 312.24 carats. It is imported from the Central African Republic, and other parameters, including the current owner and current location concerning this famous diamond, remain cloaked in opacity. Moreover, the diamond is engraved using the Mogul cut, which is very rare and accentuates its deep beauty, making it one of the most sought-after cut diamonds. The unusual narrative surrounding the Spirit of de Grisogono and the fact that it is the world’s largest black diamond makes it an interesting and captivating gem.
The Centenary Diamond (273.85 Carats)
The Centenary diamond was unearthed in Premier Mine in South Africa in 1986 and is known as one of the biggest diamonds ever. It is one of the finest D-colored fiddle-cut diamonds that one can find to this day. Following its cutting, the pear-shaped diamond weighed 273.85 carats. The centenary was presented in 1988 to commemorate one hundred years of De Beers Consolidated Mines. The perfect cut and sheer flawlessness in diamonds make this one of the most expensive diamonds ever discovered despite the fact that its present holder is still unknown.
The Jubilee Diamond (245.35 Carats)
The Jubilee diamond, or the Mouawad Jubilee, is a diamond of 245.35 carats discovered in Africa in the year 1895. It is the world’s 4th biggest colorless diamond, which belongs to Robert Mouawad, a well-known jeweler in the industry. It was sold at a Cartier sale, where it was later used to join the Mouawad Collection. The uniqueness of the diamond is highlighted by the fact that it is not only large but perfectly cut and brilliant as well, which is usually the case with luxury stones.
Conclusion
The largest diamonds in the world are not only the miracles of the nature; they are the precious stones that reflect the history and culture of the world and the fascination with the diamonds. Starting from the Sergio which was born in space to the Royal Cullinan and the mystical Spirit of de Grisogono, every diamond on this list has a history to it.
These extraordinary gems remain interesting for collectors, jewelers, and the general public as a reference to the treasures that are hidden under the ground. Moreover, the more we learn about these incredible gems, the more they contribute to the complex story of human interest in these ageless stones.