A piece of well-made jewelry can serve as an adornment, whether it is intricate and delicate or big and bold. The most prized of all jewelries is usually made of diamonds, and these seem to follow the rule that the bigger, fancier, and more rare the piece is, the better and more expensive it becomes. Furthermore, the most interesting jewelry usually has an equally interesting history, making it more mysterious and adding to its charm. Take a look at a rundown of the most expensive jewelries known in the world.
Wallis Simpson Panther Bracelet, $12.4 million
This onyx and diamond panther bracelet, made by Cartier Paris in 1952, was commissioned and owned by American socialite and Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson, who was known for her elegance, sophistication, and classic fashion sense. The bracelet was bought for three times its estimated price by an anonymous buyer during an auction at Sotheby’s even if it was not in its best condition (i.e., it was missing some small stones). It was rumored that Madonna, who directed a movie about Simpson and her lover King Edward VII, was the one who bought the coveted item.
Emerald and Diamond Tiara, $12.7 million
This stunning emerald and diamond tiara, whose equally previous owner is Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck, features 11 very rare Colombian emerald pear-shaped drops weighing around 500 carats. The tiara is said to be part of the personal collection of Empress Eugenie. The tiara was commissioned in 1900 by Guido Count von Henckel for his second wife. It was sold for $2 million more thatn its estimated price at $12.7 million during the Sotheby’s Magnificent and Noble Jewels sale.
Heart of the Kingdom Ruby, $14 million
One of the oldest and most respected jewelry companies in the world, Garrard, has a most prized jewelry piece that is currently valued at $14 million. This huge 40.63-carat, heart-shaped Burmese ruby mounted on a 155-carat diamond necklace can also be transformed into a tiara. The ruby is very rare and comes with Swiss laboratory reports that verify its authenticity and rarity.
Bulgari Blue Diamond Ring, $15.7 million
This Bulgari two-stone ring is unique for many reasons, thus commanding a very high price. First, it features a triangular-cut vivid blue diamond that weighs 10.95 carats; second, its other stone is another triangular shaped diamond that weighs 9.87 carats; third, it is a Bulgari original made in 1972. This fine piece of jewelry comes with a true report from the Gemological Institute of America, which verifies the diamonds’ weight, clarity, color, and flawlessness.
Chopard’s Blue Diamond Ring, $16.26 million
Blue diamonds are very rare and are the most sought after pieces in the industry. This exquisite piece by Chopard is among the cream of the crop. It features a flawless, blue oval-shaped diamond ring with triangle-shaped diamond around it set in 18-carat white gold. All these special characteristics make the item a top-prized piece with a current value of $1.7 million per carat.
Heart of the Ocean Diamond, $20 million
This necklace is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of expensive jewelry as it is the exact imitation of the necklace used in the movie Titanic. Who can forget the scene when it was the only thing worn by the character Rose for a still drawing session? “I want you to draw me wearing this, only this,” goes her famous line. The Heart of the Ocean Diamond necklace was created by jeweler Harry Winston and features a 15-carat blue diamond. It was the most expensive piece to be ever be worn at the Academy Awards in 1998 by actress Gloria Stuart, who played the elderly Rose in Titanic. In fact, even replicas of this necklace sell for $3.5 million at auctions.
The Perfect Pink, $23.2 million
Diamonds are expensive, but even more expensive are the colored diamonds. This Perfect Pink diamond ring earned its name from its perfectly pink-tinged coloring. With a rectangular cut, it weighs 14.23-carats and is flanked on each side by same-shaped flawless diamonds weighing 1.73 and 1.67-carats, respectively. To make it even more perfect, the three diamonds are mounted on an 18-karat rose and white gold ring.
Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond $24.3 million
This beautifully crafted piece has some interesting history. Its origin is traced from the mines of the Indian Kingdom of Golkonda. According to legend, this was purchased by King Philip IV of Spain for his daughter’s dowry. Whether this was true or not, it came under the possession of the Habsburg family and then transferred to the Wittelsbach family of Bavaria. It was passed on to the family until 2008, when Laurence Graff purchased it and cut it into three to remove flaws, making a new 4-carat diamond that is now called Wittelsbach-Graff.
Diamond Bikini, $30 million
In 2006, super model Molly Sims wore a diamond bikini in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This was claimed to be the most expensive bikini in the world. The fact is, it is also one of the most expensive jewelry pieces to date, with a price tag of $30 million. The bikini has over 150-carat diamonds all set in platinum. It was designed by Susan Rosen and Steinmetz Diamonds.
The Graff Pink, $46.2 million
Little is known about the origins of this very rare 24.78-carat pink diamond. This was purchased by a private collector from famous American jeweler Harry Winston and then sold at auction to another famous diamond collector and jeweler Laurence Graff. The price for which it was sold was the highest ever spent on a piece of jewelry. It is dubbed to be the greatest diamond ever discovered with a classification of Diamond type.