The 6 Most Sought-After Pink Gems and Jewels in History
The sparkle and beauty of a lavish gem has the ability to draw in the likes of dedicated collectors, royalty, and stylish admirers. And when those magnificent stones happen to be in a rosy shade, you've got yourself a match made in jewelry heaven.
Recently, the interest and value of pink jewelry has increased due to the limited supply of gems with rare blush colors, which have been increasing in popularity. The desire for pink diamonds, in particular, has grown tenfold due to 2019 closing of the mine responsible for 90 percent of the world’s supply.
Here, we take a fascinating look at the most sought-after pink jewelry and gemstones in the world. From a record-breaking 59,600-carat diamond to a topaz necklace tied to Russian royalty, these drop-dead gorgeous jewels are sure to dazzle.
Graff's Pink Diamond
Described as one of the greatest diamonds ever discovered, the rare 23.88-carat diamond boasts a vivid pink color and is touted as internally flawless. The origins of the brilliant gem are unknown, but it eventually landed in the collection of renowned jeweler Harry Winston in the 1950s. The jewel was never seen in public again until 2010, when it went up for auction by Sotheby’s. Diamond dealer Laurence Graff purchased the stone for an astonishing $46 million.
Jennifer Lopez's Engagement Ring
During the early 2000s, almost every headline surrounded around the whirlwind romance of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. However, nothing sparked such a tabloid frenzy as the 6.1-carat pink diamond engagement ring Affleck gave to Lopez when he proposed. The two never walked down the aisle together, but J.Lo still reminisces about the ring to this day, telling Apple Music host Zane Lowe in April 2020 she "loved getting it."
The CTF Pink Star
This sparkling 59.60-carat pink diamond went for a record-breaking $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in 2017. Found in Africa during 1999, the Pink Star came in around 132.5 carats as a rough diamond and was cut and polished for over two years to transform into the oval beauty it is today. After it was purchased by the Hong Kong–based jewelry company Chow Tai Fook, the gem became known as the CTF Pink Star in honor of the chairman’s late father.
Louis Vuitton's Riders of the Knights Imperial Topaz Necklace
Little Women actress Florence Pugh turned heads on the 2020 Oscars red carpet with a striking diamond necklace with a mysterious pink gem from Louis Vuitton. The teardrop stone so happens to be Imperial Topaz, a variety discovered in the Ural Mountains during the 19th century; the Russian Czars claimed to have exclusive rights to it.
Artemis Pink Diamond
Perfectly matched in size, cut, and tonality, the Apollo Blue and Artemis Pink are among the rarest of natural-colored diamonds. The stones were mounted as a set of earrings and sold together for $57.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in 2017. David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewelry Division, called the set “by far the most important pair of earrings ever offered at auction.” The cherry-blossom pink stunner from the set represents great power and beauty, much like the Greek goddess for whom it is named.
Winston Pink Legacy Diamond
This dazzling 18.96-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa around 1918 and quickly became a prized possession of the Oppenheimer family, who operated De Beers. Its hue was graded at “fancy vivid,” meaning it has the most vivid and saturated color possible for a gem. The Pink Legacy shook the jewelry world in 2018, when it was put up for auction by Christie’s and sold at a jaw-dropping $50.66 million to Harry Winston, Inc.
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