Famous Diamonds

A Diamond is a type of jewel which anyone would surely dream to have, especially women. The sparkling beauty and unique form of this gem are the two main reasons why it is sought by individuals, male and female alike. The great demand for this jewel gives rise to its commanding price in the world market and it is still the most precious stone given as gifts by the wealthiest people on earth to their love ones.

In choosing the right diamond, there are certain criteria to be considered in order to obtain the best value for your money.

Some of the most famous, most expensive and rarest types of diamonds are listed below:

· The Agra

This is a 32.34 carats diamond which has a natural color of fancy light pink. It was in 1990 when this diamond was sold for a whopping $6.9 million. Immediately after its sale, the weight was reduced to 28.15 carats as a result of modification process turning its shape to cushion-type shape.

· Conde Pink

King Louis XIII of France formerly owned this diamond which is pear-shaped and weighs 9.01 carats. He then presented it to the Prince of Conde where it acquired its famous name.

· Dresden Green

This large diamond is green in color with a light-blue overtone, historically. Its natural green color stands out from the rest of the diamonds with natural color. It is considered as the largest diamond in the world with green color which has a weight of 40.70 carats.

· Great Chrysanthemum

This brown diamond was thought to be in slight honey color in the rough edges, but after its discovery in a diamond field located in South Africa in 1963, it turned out to be rich golden brown, with sienna and burnt orange overtones.

· Hope

This 45.52 carat diamond is the most internationally known diamond. People believed that those who possess this diamond will suffer the bad fortune curse it carries. Legends say that this flat, rough diamond was given to the Smithsonian Museum as donation in 1958. Since that time, it has been on display at the Smithsonian. Its original weight was 110 carats.

· Koh-I-Noor or the Mountain of Light

This diamond weighs 105.60 carats and is now in the possession of the British Crown jewels. Since its discovery in 1304, the myth surrounding it states that it was one of the peacock's eyes in the famous peacock throne of Shah Jehan.

· Taylor-Burton

This is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond which Richard Burton gave as a gift to Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. The former owner of this diamond was Cartier of New York who bought it at an auction in 1969 and named it after his name, Cartier. In 1978, the diamond was put in auction by Elizabeth Taylor where prospective buyers had to pay $2,500 each as auction fee. The diamond was finally sold in 1979 for almost $3 million.

· Tiffany Yellow

This was formerly the largest golden yellow diamond in the world. This brilliant diamond weighs 287.42 carats, in the rough edges. It was discovered in 1878 in South Africa and it originally weighed 287.42 carats.

· Transvaal Blue

This blue diamond was found in the Premier Diamond fields in Transvaal, South Africa. It is pear-cut and weighs 25 carats.

Diamonds are categorized in different colors. The price is not necessarily based on the color grading of the diamond but the actual color of the finished stone is a factor in determining how much it can be sold to consumers.