Gold is among the most sought after elements in the world, but it is often the setting placed inside gold that makes up the jewelry piece. We will look at the most expensive pieces of jewelry on the planet today. Where did they come from and what infamous lore surrounds them even in our modern times.
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond now sits in the Smithsonian and remains as the most expensive diamond on the planet. The blue hue has attracted royalty and thieves alike. The 45.52 carat diamond was, at one time, much larger. Through the years, it has been cut and placed in various gold settings to portray true opulence.
Originally, the Hope Diamond was mined from the Golkonda mines located in India and was sold to a French Gem Merchant. The stone was cut and shaped and given the name French Blue. It was then stolen from the royal family and turned up sometime later, 1839 in the Hope Family’s jewel collection. Although the Hope Diamond has changed hands many times, it is said to be cursed as those who have owned it have endured very tragic lives.
Peacock Broach
Coming in second to the Hope Diamond is the Peacock Broach. This stunning piece is worth just a mere 100 million and is just 20.02 carats. It is also a more recent piece. The Peacock Broach was presented by Gaff Diamonds in 2013. Although it was sold, the buyer remains anonymous and the location of this amazing broach is unknown.
Pink Star
The Pink start is a 59.6 carat pink diamond and although it is larger than the Hope, it is worth just 71.2 million. The Pink Star has been featured at the Smithsonian, but was auctioned to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises located in Hong Kong in 2017. It remains as a part of their private collection today.
Oppenheimer Blue
As the largest Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond, the Oppenheimer Blue is a highly sought after piece. This 14.62 carat diamond is shrouded in mystery. No one seems to have a clear indication of where it came from, but it was auctioned for 57.5 million in 2016. However, the buyer’s name has never been released, so the mystery lives on with this unique and striking piece.
L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace
Although not a single diamond, this amazing diamond necklace comes in at 407.48 carats and is worth an amazing 55 million. The history of this necklace surrounds the center diamond it has become famous for. Where most diamonds are mined out of famous mines, this one was actually found by a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo 30 years ago. The name of the girl was not released, so it is safe to say, she didn’t get to keep her unique find.
The perfect stone placed in the ideal gold setting can be unmatched beauty. When you find the right piece of jewelry for the one you love, it will match their personality perfectly. Even if you cannot afford the most expensive pieces in the world, it doesn’t matter. Buy the jewelry that fits your person best!
