After a year of new auction records and high-profiles sales, desire for the world's rarest and most unusually colored stones has never been greater.
After a year of new auction records and high-profiles sales, desire for the world's rarest and most unusually colored stones has never been greater.
Courtesy Argyle Pink Diamonds
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhm.org%2Fsite%2Fexplore-exhibits%2Fspecial-exhibits%2Fdiamonds%23" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Diamonds: Rare Brilliance,"</a> a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, highlights four beautiful stones, including the Argyle Violet, owned by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ljwestdiamonds.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">L.J. West Diamonds Inc.</a> of New York.
"Diamonds: Rare Brilliance," a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, highlights four beautiful stones, including the Argyle Violet, owned by L.J. West Diamonds Inc. of New York.
Courtesy Argyle Pink Diamonds
The Juliet Pink from South Africa, also from L.J. West, This rare Fancy Intense Pink weighs whopping 30 carats and is set in a necklace.
The Juliet Pink from South Africa, also from L.J. West, This rare Fancy Intense Pink weighs whopping 30 carats and is set in a necklace.
Courtesy Brian Lazar
The Victorian Orchid, a Fancy Vivid Purple, appears more pink or more purple depending on your perspective.
The Victorian Orchid, a Fancy Vivid Purple, appears more pink or more purple depending on your perspective.
Courtesy Aaron Celestian,Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
The Rainbow Necklace features differently colored stones, including extremely rare blue-gray diamonds.
The Rainbow Necklace features differently colored stones, including extremely rare blue-gray diamonds.
Courtesy Brian Lazar
The year's most talked-about diamonds shined not on the exhibition floor, but on the auction block. The Oppenheimer Blue, the world's largest blue diamond, sold for $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva May 18, 2016, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
The year's most talked-about diamonds shined not on the exhibition floor, but on the auction block. The Oppenheimer Blue, the world's largest blue diamond, sold for $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva May 18, 2016, making it the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
Christies Images Ltd 2016
The 14.62 carat Fancy Vivid stone is mounted on a platinum ring and flanked on either side by a trapeze-shaped diamond.
The 14.62 carat Fancy Vivid stone is mounted on a platinum ring and flanked on either side by a trapeze-shaped diamond.
Christies Images Ltd 2016
The Unique Pink is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.
The Unique Pink is the largest Fancy Vivid pink pear-shaped diamond to ever be offered at auction.
courtesy sotheby's
The diamond was sold for $31.6 million by Sotheby's, at an auction in Geneva in May 2016. The price makes it the most expensive Fancy Vivid pink diamond to sell at auction.<br />
The diamond was sold for $31.6 million by Sotheby's, at an auction in Geneva in May 2016. The price makes it the most expensive Fancy Vivid pink diamond to sell at auction.
courtesy sotheby's
A rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring valued at $25 million will go up for auction on November 16, 2016. The diamond is known as the Sky Blue diamond.
A rare Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ring valued at $25 million will go up for auction on November 16, 2016. The diamond is known as the Sky Blue diamond.
courtesy sothebys
The Aurora Green is the largest Fancy Vivid green diamond ever sold at auction. The stone went under the hammer on May 31, 2016 at Christie's auction house in Hong Kong, selling for $16.8 million.
The Aurora Green is the largest Fancy Vivid green diamond ever sold at auction. The stone went under the hammer on May 31, 2016 at Christie's auction house in Hong Kong, selling for $16.8 million.
courtesy christies
Sotheby's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F03%2F20%2Fentertainment%2Fshirley-temple-ring-auction-sothebys%2F">auctioned</a> this 9.54 carat ring it says belonged to child star Shirley Temple on April 19, 2016. Though it was expected to fetch between $25 million and $35 million, it failed to sell.
Sotheby's auctioned this 9.54 carat ring it says belonged to child star Shirley Temple on April 19, 2016. Though it was expected to fetch between $25 million and $35 million, it failed to sell.
Sotheby's
In April 2016, the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 broke auction records in Asia.
In April 2016, the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 broke auction records in Asia.
CNN
The stone sold for $31.8 million, which makes it the most expensive piece of jewelry sold at an auction in Asia.
The stone sold for $31.8 million, which makes it the most expensive piece of jewelry sold at an auction in Asia.
courtesy sotheby's