The world's most expensive diamonds

From ancient diamonds to new discoveries, the stones featured below showcase some of the most fascinating natural creations in the world today. And if the record-breaking sales achieved by auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s are any indication, it would appear that they’re also highly sought after.

Classic white diamonds still do make the record books but it’s coloured diamonds that have been generating headlines in the past few years. Travelling from China, London and everywhere in between, budding buyers prove the demand for coloureds is increasing.

Here, Jeweller has summarised the diamonds that have garnered the highest prices at auction in the past four years. 

The Orange

Type: Almond-shaped, 14.82-carat vivid orange diamond

Price: US$35 million (AU$38m)
Buyer: Anonymous
Auctioneer: Christie’s
Date sold: November 2013
Click here to read more

Graff Vivid Yellow ring

Type: 100.1-carat vivid yellow diamond
Price: US$16.3 million (AU$17.4m)
Buyer: Anonymous
Auctioneer: Sotheby’s
Date sold: May 2014
Click here to read more

The Blue

Type: 13.22-carat, vivid blue diamond
Price: $US23.8 million (AU$25.4m)
Buyer: Harry Winston
Auctioneer: Christie’s
Date sold: May 2014
Click here to read more

Graff Pink

Type: 24.78-carat pink diamond
Price: US$50million (AU$53.3m)
Buyer: Laurence Graff
Auctioneer: Sotheby’s
Date sold: November 2010
Click here to read more

Yet to be determined

Type: Oval-cut, 118.28-carat, D flawless white diamond
Price: HKD$238.7 million (AU$32.5m)
Buyer: Anonymous
Auctioneer: Sotheby’s Hong Kong
Date sold: October 2013
Click here to read more

Princie

Type: Cushion-cut, 34.65-carat fancy pink diamond
Price: US$39.3 million (AU$38m)
Buyer: Anonymous
Auctioneer: Christie’s
Date sold: April 2013
Click here to read more

Yet to be determined

Type: 28.86-carat brilliant cut D-colour diamond
Price: US$6.9million (AU$$6.56m)
Buyer: Anonymous
Auctioneer: Sotheby’s Hong Kong
Date sold: April 2013
Click here to read more

The Star of China

Type: 75.36-carat, D-coloured, briolette diamond
Price: US$11.2million (AU$12.8m)
Buyer: Tiffany Chen
Auctioneer: Christie’s Hong Kong
Date sold: June 2013
Click here to read more

Pink Star

Type: Oval-cut 60-carat fancy pink diamond
Price: US$83 million (AU$89m), sale since fallen through
Buyer: Isaac Wolf
Auctioneer: Sotheby’s
Date sold: November 2013
Click here to read more

More reading
The World's Most Famous Diamonds
Coloured Diamonds: The Facts