Diamonds are rare and precious, but some are truly extraordinary. Discover the ten largest and most famous paragons on the planet.
A diamond is a symbol of purity, elegance, and wealth. The most valuable gemstone in the world moves mountains and the luxury industry.
Throughout history, there have been a few diamonds that stand out for their size and significance.
They are not only valuable, but they also carry a rich history and cultural significance.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the largest diamonds ever discovered, from the legendary Cullinan to the more recent discoveries, such as the Lesedi La Rona and the Excelsior gems.
We will explore where they were found, how they were used, and their current whereabouts.
From mining to ownership and its significance in history, join us on a journey of some of the world’s biggest diamonds.
Last but not least, remember that the physical weight of diamonds is measured in carats – the largest and more flawless, the better.
Here are the ten largest precious jewels ever mined:
1. The Cullinan Diamond | Weight: 3,106.75 carats
The Cullinan is the largest diamond ever found, weighing in at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams).
It was discovered in 1905 at the Premier No. 2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, which is now owned by Petra Diamonds.
The jewel was named after the mine’s chairman, Thomas Cullinan.
The gemstone was bought by the Transvaal Colony government and was presented to King Edward VII as a birthday present.
The diamond was then cut into several smaller gems, the largest of which is called the Great Star of Africa and is set in the British Crown.
The remaining smaller diamonds, collectively known as the Lesser Stars of Africa, are also set in the British Crown and other royal jewels.
The Cullinan is currently part of the British Crown jewels and is on display in the Tower of London.
2. The Sewelô | Weight: 1,758 carats
The Sewelô, also known as the Carat Rough, is a large, uncut diamond that was mined at the Karowe mine in Botswana.
It was discovered in 2019 and is one of the largest diamonds ever found, weighing 1,758 carats.
The Karowe mine is operated by Lucara Diamond Corp, a Canadian mining company that also owns it.
The mine is one of the largest and most modern diamond mines in the world and is known for producing large, high-quality gemstones.
The Sewelô is considered one of the largest uncut diamonds ever found.
The mining company announced that it was sold for $63 million in an auction in 2020 to Graff, a luxury jeweler.
The gem is still in its rough form, and it’s not known yet how it will be cut and polished, but it’s expected that it will be cut into several smaller gems.
3. The Lesedi La Rona | Weight: 1,111 carats
The Lesedi La Rona is a large, uncut diamond that was mined at the Karowe mine in Botswana.
It was discovered in November 2015 and is one of the largest uncut diamonds ever found, weighing 1,111 carats.
It was also the largest diamond found in more than 100 years.
The name “Lesedi La Rona” means “our light” in the Tswana language; it’s the name given by the Lucara Diamond Corp.
The diamond was put up for auction by Sotheby’s in 2016 with an asking price of $70 million.
However, it failed to sell, and later it was sold privately to Graff for an undisclosed sum.
The gem is still in its rough form, and it’s not known yet how it will be cut and polished, but it’s expected that it will be cut into several smaller gems.
4. The Excelsior Diamond | Weight: 995.2 carats
The Excelsior is a large, uncut diamond that was discovered in 1893 in the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa.
It weighed 995.2 carats (199.04 grams) and was the largest diamond found at the time.
The Excelsior was named after the mine where it was discovered and the Latin word “excelsior,” which means “higher” or “superior.”
The Jagersfontein mine was one of the most productive diamond mines in South Africa in the late 19th century. It was operated by the Jagersfontein Mining Company.
The mine was closed in 1971, and the Jagersfontein mine was later owned by De Beers Consolidated Mines.
The Excelsior was cut into several smaller gems and sold to a private buyer.
The largest of the gems cut from the Excelsior is a pear-shaped stone weighing 69.68 carats. It was sold to a private collector, and the current whereabouts of it is not known.
Some of the other gems cut were sold to jewelers and used in various pieces of jewelry.
5. The Star of Sierra Leone | Weight: 968.9 carats
The Star of Sierra Leone is a large, uncut diamond that was discovered in 1972 in the Koidu mine in Sierra Leone.
It weighed 968.9 carats (193.78 grams) and was the largest diamond found at the time.
The Star of Sierra Leone was named after the mine where it was discovered and the country of Sierra Leone.
The Koidu mine is one of the largest diamond mines in Sierra Leone. It’s operated by Koidu Holdings, which is a subsidiary of the Octea Group.
The mine is located in the Kono District of Sierra Leone, near the border with Guinea.
The Star of Sierra Leone was sold to Harry Winston and cut into several smaller gems.
6. The Lesotho Legend | Weight: 910 carats
The Lesotho Promise was found in 2006 in the Letseng mine in Lesotho, which is owned by Gem Diamonds.
It is the sixth-largest diamond ever found, weighing 910 carats.
The diamond was sold in 2018 for $40 million to a private buyer, and its current whereabouts and ownership are unknown.
The Letseng mine is known for producing large, high-quality diamonds, and the Lesotho Promise is one of the largest diamonds ever found at the mine.
The mine is located in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho.
7. The Incomparable Diamond | Weight 407.48 carats
The Incomparable is a diamond that weighed 890 carats (178 grams) in the rough when it was found in the Mbuji-Mayi district of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the 1980s.
It is the third-largest diamond ever found and was cut into several smaller gems.
The largest of which is the Incomparable weighing 407.48 carats which is considered one of the largest cut diamonds in the world.
It was found by a young girl and sold to a businessman who had it cut by a team of experts led by the famous cutter Gabi Tolkowsky.
The gem was later sold to New York jeweler Martin Katz in 1984, who brought the diamond to public attention, and it was exhibited in many places around the world.
The current whereabouts and ownership of the Incomparable Diamond are unknown.
It was last seen on public display in 2002, and it’s not known if it’s still in possession of Martin Katz or if it’s been sold to a private collector.
8. The Golden Jubilee Diamond | Weight: 545.67 carats
The Golden Jubilee is the largest cut and faceted diamond in the world, weighing 545.67 carats.
It was discovered in 1985 at the Premier Mine in South Africa, which is now owned by Petra Diamonds.
The diamond was originally named “Unnamed Brown” because of its brownish color. It was then bought by Thai businessman Henry Ho.
He then sent it to be cut and polished by the famous diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky, who was able to remove the brown color and bring out the yellow color of the gem.
The gem was renamed the Golden Jubilee Diamond after the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s ascension to the throne of Thailand.
It was presented to King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a gift from the people of Thailand, and it is now part of the Crown jewels of Thailand.
It is on display at the Royal Thai Palace as part of the “King Bhumibol Adulyadej: The Story of the King” exhibition, which was launched in 2017.
9. The Koh-i-Noor | Weight: 793 carats
The Koh-i-Noor is a large diamond that weighs 106 carats (21.6 grams).
It is said to have been mined in the 13th century in the Kollur mine in Andhra Pradesh, India.
The name “Koh-i-Noor” is Persian for “Mountain of Light,” and it is known as one of the most famous and historically significant diamonds in the world.
The diamond was passed through many hands over the centuries.
It was owned by various Indian rulers, and later it was taken by the British East India Company as a spoil of war and gifted to Queen Victoria in 1850.
Since then, it has been part of the British Crown jewels, and it is currently on display at the Tower of London.
The ownership of the diamond has been a source of controversy. There have been various claims made by the government of India for the return of the gem.
The British government has stated that the diamond was obtained legally and will not be returned.
10. The Great Mogul Diamond | Weight: 787 carats
The Great Mogul is a famous diamond that was discovered in the 17th century in the Kollur Mine in India.
It is believed to be one of the largest diamonds ever found, weighing an estimated 787 carats.
The gem was gifted by Emir Jemla to Shah Jahan, the 5th Mughal emperor.
Gemologists and historians believe that the Great Mogul is actually the Orlov Diamond, featured in the Kremlin’s Catherine the Great’s imperial Russian scepter.
