We have been wearing jewellery for thousands of years, with findings that date back to 100,00 years or more, when people wore crude necklaces made from animal parts, and as you can imagine, there have been some stunning creations made over the centuries. Here is our top list of the most highly prized jewellery items ever made.
- The Hope Diamond – Just about everyone has heard of the Hope Diamond, which weighs a staggering 45.4 carats, and this dark blue cushion cut stone is rumoured to be worth 200-250 million dollars at today’s prices. The stone was discovered in India in 1666 and was purchased by Louis XIV in 1668 and given the name ‘French Blue’, where it remained until the French Revolution, when it was looted by protesters. The stone reappeared in 1839 in the gem collection of a man named Henry Hope and has changed hands many times since then, with the stone now sitting at the Smithsonian Institution.
- Peacock Brooch by Graff Diamonds – This stunning piece was first seen in 2013, at an exhibition in the Netherlands, this amazing brooch has a total carat weight of 120.81. The brooch contains more than 1,300 gemstones and is 10cm in height, with the central diamond weighing in at 20 carats, and spreading out from that blue diamond, are diamonds of white, yellow, pink and orange colour. The craftsmanship is what really makes this piece special.
- The Pink Star – Valued at a cool $72.1 million, the Pink Star was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 2017, and at 59.6 carats, this stunning Vivid Pink diamond is said to be the highest grade stone ever valuated by GIA. If you are looking for something more affordable, you can easily find an online antique store that has an impressive list of antique jewellery items at affordable prices. If what you need is an antique jewellery repair and remodelling service, the store can also help you out.
- The Oppenheimer Blue – This gorgeous stone fetched $57.5 million at a Christies auction in 2016, and the 14.6 blue stone was once owned by Sir Philip Oppenheimer, and at the time, this was the most expensive gem in the world.
- L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace – The world’s most valuable necklace created by Mouawad, the premier jeweller, contains the most valuable single stone that was found by a young girl in The Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1980s, which was lodged in a pile of mining rubble. This massive 407-carat diamond is attached to a rose gold chain that has another 230 carats of smaller diamonds, a stunning item that is indeed priceless.
- The Blue Moon of Josephine – A Hong Kong billionaire bought this diamond ring for his daughter, who was only 7 at the time, and the 12-carat stone was discovered in South Africa in 2014.
If all of the above are a little out of your price range, an online search will take you to a leading antique dealer, where you can view a large collection of quality antiques at affordable prices. Fine antique jewellery doesn’t have to cost millions of dollars, and by dealing with a reputable antique dealer, you can be sure that the item is genuine and priced according the market value.
