The 5 Most Expensive Fancy Color Diamonds Ever Sold at Auction

by Daniel Namdar

Diamond Talk: The 5 Most Expensive Fancy Color Diamonds Ever Sold at Auction

When it comes to the world of high jewelry, nothing commands attention—or record-shattering prices—quite like natural fancy color diamonds. These ultra-rare geological wonders account for a tiny fraction of a percent of all diamonds mined on Earth, making them the ultimate treasures for the world’s most elite collectors.

When these legendary stones hit the auction blocks at Sotheby's and Christie's, history is made. Here is a look at the top 5 most expensive fancy color diamonds ever sold at auction, their mind-boggling price tags, and the fascinating stories behind them.

1. The CTF Pink Star – $71.2 Million

The Color: Fancy Vivid Pink (Internally Flawless, Type IIa)
The Size: 59.60 Carats
Where It Was Mined: South Africa (Mined by De Beers in 1999)

The Story: The undisputed king of the auction block, the Pink Star is the most expensive jewel ever sold in history. Originally a massive 132.5-carat rough diamond, it took the Steinmetz Diamond Group two full years of meticulous cutting and polishing to reveal this breathtaking oval mixed-cut masterpiece.

Its journey to the record books wasn't without drama. It originally sold for $83 million in 2013, but the buyer defaulted on the payment. In April 2017, it went back on the block at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. After a fierce bidding war, it was acquired by the Hong Kong-based luxury conglomerate Chow Tai Fook, who renamed it the CTF Pink Star in honor of the company's founder. Today, it remains a crowning jewel of their private collection.

2. The Williamson Pink Star – $57.7 Million

The Color: Fancy Vivid Pink (Internally Flawless)
The Size: 11.15 Carats
Where It Was Mined: Tanzania (The Williamson Mine)

The Story: While it holds the number two spot for total price, the Williamson Pink Star holds the definitive world record for the highest price-per-carat ever paid for any diamond at auction—a staggering $5.17 million per carat. This cushion-cut gem was named after the legendary Williamson mine in Tanzania, the very same mine that produced the famous pink diamond gifted to Queen Elizabeth II for her wedding.

Sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2022, the stone was purchased by an anonymous private collector in Asia. Because of its intense saturation and pristine clarity, it is considered one of the purest pink diamonds ever to exist.

3. The Oppenheimer Blue – $57.5 Million

The Color: Fancy Vivid Blue
The Size: 14.62 Carats
Where It Was Mined: South Africa (The Cullinan Mine)

The Story: Named after its previous owner, Sir Philip Oppenheimer (the legendary diamond magnate whose family ran De Beers), this spectacular stone is the most expensive blue diamond ever sold at auction. Blue diamonds owe their color to rare trace elements of boron, and finding one over 14 carats with a perfectly even color distribution is nearly impossible.

The diamond is cut into a classic rectangular emerald step-cut—a daring choice for a cutter, as step-cuts require a stone to have flawless color saturation from top to bottom. It was auctioned by Christie’s Geneva in May 2016 in a beautiful platinum ring setting by Verdura. It was purchased by an anonymous private collector and remains in a private collection today.

4. The Winston Pink Legacy – $50.4 Million

The Color: Fancy Vivid Pink
The Size: 18.96 Carats
Where It Was Mined: South Africa

The Story: Another legendary stone with incredible pedigree, this rectangular-cut diamond was also once owned by the Oppenheimer family. Most pink diamonds under a carat exhibit a soft hue, but the Pink Legacy stunned the gemological world with its deep, chemically pure Type IIa structure and vibrant pink saturation.

When it hit the auction block at Christie’s Geneva in November 2018, the renowned luxury house Harry Winston snapped it up for over $50 million. They immediately renamed it the Winston Pink Legacy, and it remains one of the premier museum-quality showpieces in Harry Winston's corporate vault.

5. The Blue Moon of Josephine – $48.5 Million

The Color: Fancy Vivid Blue (Internally Flawless)
The Size: 12.03 Carats
Where It Was Mined: South Africa (The Cullinan Mine)

The Story: Discovered as a 29.6-carat rough stone in 2014, this cushion-shaped blue diamond is celebrated for its poetic beauty and extraordinary internal clarity. When it went up for auction at Sotheby’s Geneva in November 2015, it caught the attention of Hong Kong billionaire property tycoon Joseph Lau.

Lau won the diamond for $48.5 million and immediately renamed it The Blue Moon of Josephine in honor of his 7-year-old daughter. Fun fact: Just the day before, Lau had purchased a 16.08-carat vivid pink diamond for $28.5 million and named it Sweet Josephine. Today, both masterpieces are held safely in a private family trust for his daughter.

Inspired by History?

While these legendary auction stones are safely tucked away in private collections and vaults, their iconic styles don't have to be out of reach. At Namdar, we specialize in sourcing exceptional, natural fancy color diamonds. Whether you are captivated by the fiery pop of a vivid yellow, the romantic hue of a rare pink, or the cool elegance of a blue diamond, we can custom-recreate any signature ring, earring, or necklace style to help you begin your own collecting legacy.