GEORGE V MAGAZINE
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Stories about the opulence, rarity and priceless beauty of gems
Some diamonds stand out for their perfect clarity, others shine in shades of blue, pink or yellow, while the rarest ones are almost mystical in their red or purple color. Each of them carries a story – about the mines where they were discovered, about the masters who polished them, about the kings, stars and collectors who owned them.
Whether set in the necklace that graced Naomi Campbell’s neck at the Donatella Versace show, kept in the safes of the world’s most powerful people, or displayed in museums as witnesses to history, these diamonds are much more than collected stones. They are a reflection of the human obsession with beauty and the pursuit of timeless perfection.
The Graff Pink
This extremely rare 24.78 carat diamond, known as the “Graff Pink”, was originally owned by the famous New York jeweler Harry Winston. Winston was known for his impressive collection of gems, including the famous Hope diamond.
After being in a private collection for more than 60 years, the diamond was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2010 for $46 million to Laurence Graff, a British jeweler known as the “King of Diamonds.” Graff renamed the diamond “Graff Pink” and underwent reshaping to improve its color and clarity, reducing it to 23.88 carats and grading it Fancy Vivid Pink with internal flawlessness.
The Golden Canary
” Golden Canary ” is a fascinating diamond with a rich history. Originally known as “ The Incomparable ”, this diamond was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1980s. It is interesting that it was found by a little girl who was playing in a pile of slag.
The raw stone weighed an incredible 890 carats, making it one of the largest ever found. After cutting, it was transformed into a 407.48-carat diamond and became the center stone of the “L’Incomparable” necklace, which entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most expensive necklace, valued at $55 million. The diamond was later renamed the “ Golden Canary ” and recut to improve its color and brilliance, reducing it to 303.10 carats.
Graff Lesedi La Rona
One of the largest diamonds ever discovered, the Graff Lesedi La Rona redefines the boundaries of the diamond industry. This diamond was found in 2015 in Botswana, and its name, which means “Our Light” in the local language, perfectly reflects its incredible value and meaning. The original rough stone weighed an incredible 1,109 carats, making it the second largest diamond ever discovered.
Graff, a London jeweler, bought this precious stone for 53 million dollars and after two years of hard work, he created the largest diamond in the form of a square emerald in the world, weighing 302.37 carats. Besides being incredibly rare in its size, Lesedi La Rona has achieved perfection in color and clarity, making it one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the jewelry industry. With the status of one of the greatest achievements in the diamond world, this diamond is more than just a gem — it is the light that carries with it history, art and science.
The Orange Diamond
One of the rarest diamonds in the world, The Orange Diamond , is distinguished by its incredible color spectrum and unique appearance. Weighing 14.82 carats , this is the largest known fancy vivid orange diamond , which means that its color is completely natural and extremely intense.
Its provenance remains a mystery, but it is known to have sold at Christie’s auction in 2013 for $35.5 million , setting a record price per carat for any orange diamond. Experts point out that its color, also known as “fiery orange” , is the result of specific structural impurities that are rarely seen in natural diamonds, which makes it almost irreplaceable in the collector’s world.
The Pink Legacy
This 18.96-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond was once owned by the Oppenheimer family, which for decades controlled De Beers , one of the world’s largest diamond traders.
The Oppenheimer family played a key role in shaping the global diamond industry. In 2018, “Pink Legacy” was sold at a Christie’s auction for 50.375 million Swiss francs (about $50 million) to Harry Winston , Inc., who renamed it “Winston Pink Legacy”. The sale set a record of $2.6 million per carat for a pink diamond.
The Oppenheimer Blue
“Oppenheimer Blue” is a 14.62 carat “Fancy Vivid Blue” diamond. It was named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer, a member of the Oppenheimer family that controlled De Beers. Sir Philip was known for his passion for horses and diamonds, and this diamond was one of his most prized possessions.
In 2016, the “Oppenheimer Blue” was sold at a Christie’s auction in Geneva for $57.5 million, making it the most expensive blue diamond ever sold at auction at the time.
Graff Millennium Necklace
The Graff Millennium Necklace, one of the most impressive and recognizable pieces in the world of luxury jewelry, is a true masterpiece in combination with exceptional diamonds. This magnificent necklace contains diamonds worth millions of pounds, and the most famous moment in its history happened during the Donatella Versace fashion show in London in 1999. Naomi Campbell wore this precious piece as Versace presented her first British fashion show, focusing all attention on the diamonds that formed the centerpiece of the show.
Possessing incredible brilliance and elegance, the Graff Millennium Necklace sets new standards in the world of luxury jewelry, cementing its place among the most prized pieces in jewelry history. This piece is not only an expression of luxury, but also a symbol of strong artistic expression and superior design.
The Pink Paradise
“Raj Pink” is a 37.3 carat diamond marked “Fancy Intense Pink”. It was discovered in 2015 and is considered the largest known diamond of this category. In 2017, it was offered at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva with an estimated value of between $20 million and $30 million. However, surprisingly, the diamond did not find a buyer during that auction, sparking speculation about the market for pink diamonds and their value.
The Tiffany Yellow Diamond
The “Tiffany Yellow Diamond” is one of the largest and most famous yellow diamonds in the world, weighing 128.54 carats. It was discovered in 1878 in the Kimberley Mine in South Africa and bought by Charles Lewis Tiffany for $18,000.
The diamond became the trademark of Tiffany & Co. It has been placed in several different pieces of jewelry throughout its history, including the “Bird on a Rock” brooch designed by Jean Schlumberger. The diamond has only been worn four times, including by Audrey Hepburn while promoting Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Lady Gaga at the 2019 Academy Awards.
The Pink Star
One of the most famous pink diamonds in the world, “The Pink Star”, weighs an incredible 59.6 carats and is graded “Fancy Vivid Pink” – the highest possible color intensity classification. It was mined in 1999 in Botswana by the De Beers company, and its rough stone weighed as much as 132.5 carats before being carefully shaped over two years of work.
In 2017, this diamond was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong for a record $71.2 million, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction. The new owner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, renamed it “CTF Pink Star” in honor of the brand’s founder.
The Hope Diamond
Mysterious and legendary, the “ Hope Diamond ” is one of the most famous gems in the world, not only because of its rare blue color but also because of the stories of its supposed curse. The original 115-carat rough stone is believed to have been mined in India in the 17th century and belonged to King Louis XIV of France, before disappearing during the French Revolution.
It later reappeared in London, and at the beginning of the 20th century it ended up in the hands of Harry Winston, who donated it to the Smithsonian Museum in 1958, where it is still today. Its specific dark blue color is the result of the presence of wrinkles in the diamond’s structure, and its weight is now 45.52 carats. Despite the dark stories that accompany it, the “Hope Diamond” remains one of the most spectacular and important gems in history.
The Blue Moon of Josephine
This mesmerizing 12.03 carat blue diamond is one of the most beautiful and expensive blue diamonds ever sold at auction. Mined in 2014 at the Cullinan Mine in South Africa, known for the discovery of some of the most impressive blue diamonds, “The Blue Moon” is graded Fancy Vivid Blue , the highest grade for color intensity.
In 2015, at an auction at Christie’s in Geneva, Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau bought it for $48.4 million , setting a record price per carat for a blue diamond. Lau, known for his expensive gifts, renamed the diamond The Blue Moon of Josephine in honor of his daughter Josephine, to whom he had previously dedicated several other gems.
Each of these diamonds not only illuminates the richness and rarity of colored gems, but also carries stories of royalty, record-breaking auctions and priceless luxury.
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