Legendary Fancy Colour Diamonds: 5 Famous Gems That Captivated the World
Introduction: Gems of History and Mystery
Throughout history, certain diamonds have transcended their status as mere gemstones to become cultural icons, symbols of power, and objects of fascination. These legendary fancy colour diamonds have adorned royalty, broken auction records, and captured the public imagination for centuries. Let's explore five of the most famous fancy colour diamonds and the extraordinary stories behind them.
1. The Hope Diamond: From Curse to Crown Jewel
The Specs:
- Weight: 45.52 carats
- Colour: Fancy Deep Greyish Blue
- Current Location: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
- Annual Visitors: Millions
The Story: The Hope Diamond's journey began in 17th-century India, where French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier purchased the original 112-carat stone. He sold it to King Louis XIV, who had it cut and named the "French Blue."
The diamond vanished during the French Revolution after Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette surrendered it to the government shortly before their execution. It resurfaced in the early 1800s, recut into its current shape, and eventually entered the collection of Henry Philip Hope, whose name it still bears.
American heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean later owned the diamond, having it set into the iconic necklace we recognize today. In one of history's most unusual deliveries, jeweller Harry Winston donated it to the Smithsonian in 1958 – by mailing it via the US Postal Service!
Unique Feature: The Hope Diamond glows red after exposure to ultraviolet light, adding to its mystique.
2. The Pink Star (CTF Pink Star): Record-Breaking Beauty
The Specs:
- Weight: 59.60 carats
- Colour: Fancy Vivid Pink
- Clarity: Internally Flawless
- Sale Price: $71.2 million (2017)
The Achievement: The CTF Pink Star holds the record as:
- The world's most expensive diamond ever sold at auction
- The largest internally flawless Fancy Vivid pink diamond
- The highest price for any auctioned work in Asia
The Journey: Discovered in 1999 as a 132.5-carat rough diamond in a De Beers South African mine, this breathtaking gem underwent nearly two years of meticulous planning and expert craftsmanship. The diamond traveled the world, making appearances at:
- The Monaco Grand Prix
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Natural History Museum in London
- A royal viewing by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolrattana in Bangkok
When acquired by leading Chinese jewellery house Chow Tai Fook in 2017, it was renamed to honor the late Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung and celebrate the brand's 88th anniversary.
What Makes It Special: Only 0.0001% of diamonds exhibit the romantic pink shade seen in the CTF Pink Star.
3. The Tiffany Diamond: Yellow Brilliance
The Specs:
- Weight: 128.54 carats (polished from 287.42-carat rough)
- Colour: Fancy Yellow
- Discovery: 1877, Kimberley Mine, South Africa
- Purchase Price: $18,000 (1878)
The Exclusive Club: Only four women have ever worn this legendary yellow diamond:
- Mary Whitehouse (1957) - Debut at the Tiffany Ball
- Audrey Hepburn (1961) - Promoting "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
- Lady Gaga (2019) - At the Oscars
- Beyoncé (2021) - Tiffany & Co. brand campaign
Why It Matters: According to Victoria Wirth Reynolds, Chief Gemologist at Tiffany & Co.: "When the diamond was discovered, few had witnessed a yellow diamond so remarkable. Today, the Tiffany Diamond remains unrivalled in scintillation and beauty. Its exceptional sparkle can be seen from far across the room."
4. The Dresden Green: Survivor of Thieves
The Specs:
- Weight: 41 carats
- Colour: Fancy Green
- Shape: Modified pear-shaped brilliant
- Age: First mentioned in 1722
Historical Significance: Acquired in 1741 by Frederick Augustus II of Saxony for approximately 400,000 thaler (worth about four tonnes of gold at the time), the Dresden Green has resided in Dresden Castle's Green Vault for centuries. Remarkably, it remains in its original 18th-century setting – a Golden Fleece hat ornament created by Viennese goldsmith Pallard.
The Great Escape: In 2019, thieves executed one of the largest art heists in history at the Green Vault. Incredibly, the Dresden Green survived because it was on temporary loan to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The thieves have since been caught and many jewels recovered.
Scientific Value: When examined by GIA in 1988, the Dresden Green's age and origin offered rare insight into naturally irradiated green diamonds, proving valuable for distinguishing natural from treated stones.
5. The Hope Diamond's Cousin: The Blue Moon
The Specs:
- Weight: 12.03 carats (polished from 29.62-carat rough)
- Colour: Fancy Vivid Blue
- Clarity: Internally Flawless
- Cut: Cushion Modified Brilliant
- Sale Price: $48.5 million
The Mine: The Blue Moon was recovered at South Africa's Cullinan Mine in January 2014 – the same mine that produced the world's largest rough diamond, the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond.
Record-Setting Sale: When it sold at Sotheby's, the Blue Moon set a record price per carat for a gem sold at auction, demonstrating the exceptional value placed on rare blue diamonds.
What Makes These Diamonds Legendary?
Several factors elevate certain fancy colour diamonds to legendary status:
1. Exceptional Size Large fancy colour diamonds are extraordinarily rare, making stones over 10 carats especially noteworthy.
2. Vivid Colour The most intense colour grades (Fancy Vivid, Fancy Intense, Fancy Deep) combined with perfect hue distribution create unforgettable visual impact.
3. Historical Provenance Connections to royalty, historical events, or famous owners add layers of significance beyond the stone itself.
4. Public Display Diamonds exhibited in major museums become part of our shared cultural heritage, viewed by millions.
5. Record-Breaking Sales Auction results that set new benchmarks capture public attention and validate the extraordinary value of these natural treasures.
The Museum Experience
You can view some of these legendary diamonds in person:
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.)
- The Hope Diamond
- The Winston Collection (41 fancy colour diamonds including the Winston Red)
Natural History Museum (London)
- Aurora Pyramid of Hope (296 natural-colour diamonds, 267 carats)
Tiffany & Co. (New York)
- The Tiffany Diamond (on display at the flagship store)
Conclusion: Timeless Treasures
These legendary fancy colour diamonds remind us that some of nature's most extraordinary creations cannot be replicated, only discovered. Each stone represents a unique convergence of geological forces, human history, and artistic craftsmanship that will never be exactly duplicated.
While owning a legendary diamond may be beyond reach for most of us, the beauty of fancy colour diamonds is available at many sizes and price points. Explore our curated collection of fancy colour diamonds to find your own piece of natural wonder, or speak with our gemstone experts to learn more about these extraordinary treasures.
