Top Famous Diamonds over 50 Carats

Only a small fraction of very large diamonds ever become truly “famous.” This list focuses on cut stones of 50 carats and above that carry a recognized name and a traceable story—gems that have been mounted, worn, exhibited, or sold at public auction, with documented provenance and enduring cultural visibility. In other words, size alone isn’t enough: the diamonds here are notable because people can point to where they were, who owned them, how they were cut, and where they are (or were) on display.

Deliberately excluded are most oversized rough stones held as state or institutional assets. While important economically, many of those uncut crystals lack public histories, are seldom displayed, and have not influenced jewelry design or collecting in the way named, finished gems have. Where famous diamonds were re-cut over time, entries reflect the most widely cited modern weight and note earlier weights when relevant.

Each entry prioritizes quick, comparable facts—carat, color/type, cut, origin (when known), notable owners or settings, and current location or last known status—so readers can scan for the essentials before diving deeper. The result is a curated, narrative overview of the best-documented, most visible diamonds over 50 carats, rather than an exhaustive inventory of large stones.


See: Countries mining histories for more on mine locations and the diamonds found there.


The Polar Star Diamond
01 The Enigma (carbonado) 555.55 ct

Entered Guinness World Records as the largest cut black diamond; sold for ~£3.16m.

02 Cullinan I (Great Star of Africa) 530.20 ct

Cut from 3,106.75 ct Cullinan rough (1905); in Sovereign’s Sceptre (UK).

03 Unnamed Black Diamond 489.07 ct

Sold June 28, 2001 at the Salle des Fêtes, Dole (Jura), France, for 12,000,000 French francs (~€1,829,388) to a telephone bidder; certified “natural black” by the Gübelin lab and offered in a palladium mounting. Measurements (Gübelin): 46.88 × 42.28 × 31.25 mm. Promoted then as the largest known faceted black diamond; later surpassed by the 555.55 ct “Enigma” (2022). Carbonado occurrences are documented in Brazil and the Central African Republic.

04 Cullinan II (Lesser Star of Africa) 317.40 ct

Also from Cullinan rough; set in Imperial State Crown (UK).

05 Spirit of de Grisogono (black carbonado) 312.24 ct

Carbonado reportedly from Central African Republic; moghul cut.

06 Golden Canary 303.10 ct

One-lot sale; renamed on recut.



07 Graff Lesedi La Rona 302.37 ct

Largest square-emerald D/Type IIa ever certified; unveiled 2019.

08 Centenary (De Beers Centenary) 273.85 ct

09 Oppenheimer (uncut crystal) 253.70 ct

253.7 ct uncut yellow octahedron; Smithsonian.

10 Jubilee (Reitz) 245.35 ct

650.8 ct rough from Jagersfontein; polished 245.35 ct.

11 De Beers (Patiala Necklace centre) 234.65 ct

Missing stone; Cartier reconstructed necklace with replicas.

12 The Rock 228.31 ct

Largest white diamond ever sold at auction.

13 Red Cross Diamond 205.07 ct

Fancy intense yellow cushion; sold 2022 (Christie’s).

14 Millennium Star 203.04 ct

D/FL pear; cut from 777 ct rough from DRC; De Beers collection.

15 Orlov 189.62 ct

16 Darya‑i‑Nur 186.00 ct

17 Jacob Diamond (aka “Victoria” / “Imperial” / “Great White”) 184.50 ct

Acquired in the 1890s by the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad via dealer A. M. Jacob after a legal dispute; famously used as a paperweight and later rediscovered by the 7th Nizam. The Nizam’s Jewels were purchased by India in 1995.



18 Moon 183.00 ct

Referenced in GIA Gems & Gemology notes in 1943–44 after the 1942 Sotheby’s sale.

19 Star of Peace 170.49 ct

Frequently cited as the largest flawless diamond at the time of sale (1981 press reports).

20 The Art of de GRISOGONO, Creation I 163.41 ct

Largest D-color Flawless diamond ever offered at auction at the time; mounted by de GRISOGONO in an emerald-and-diamond necklace.

21 Table of Islam 160.18 ct

Frequently listed among the largest black diamonds; most literature only records the finished 160.18 ct square emerald-cut stone and leaves discovery details unknown. Several trade references attribute origin to the Central African Republic; many note “little else is known.”

22 Regent 140.64 ct

Golconda origin; in the Louvre (French state).

23 Florentine (Tuscan) 137.27 ct

Historic yellow 9‑sided rose; lost after WWI.

24 Premier Rose 137.02 ct

Recovered at the Premier Mine and purchased by Mouw Diamond Cutting (Johannesburg) in partnership with William Goldberg. Polishing led by David du Plessis; dimensions approx. 43.40 × 23.20 × 18.93 mm (GIA D-Flawless). Discovery anecdotes note it reached the grease tables before being noticed. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

25 Queen of Holland 135.92 ct

Exhibited by F. Friedman & Co. at the 1925 Paris Exposition; later owned by the Maharajah of Nawanagar and set by Cartier in a ceremonial necklace. Cartier acquired it from the princely family; around 1990 it reportedly sold for ~$7 million and subsequently entered the Mouawad collection. Origin remains debated in the literature. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

26 Algeiba Star 135.03 ct

Originally the 139.38 ct yellow “Mahjal,” sold in 1983 at Christie’s Geneva to an anonymous buyer; slightly recut and renamed after the star Algieba (Gamma Leonis). GIA has documented the stone at ~133.03–133.04 ct, Fancy Vivid Yellow, VS2, following recut. Carat figures in secondary sources vary; most authoritative modern references cite ~133 ct. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

27 Golden Empress 132.55 ct

Unveiled 2015.

28 Sarah 132.43 ct

Announced by Graff in 2000; described as the largest Fancy Vivid Yellow at the time; GIA graded; reportedly cut by Belgian master Jean Chandisias.

29 Zale Light of Peace 130.27 ct

30 Tiffany Yellow 128.54 ct

31 Star of the South 128.48 ct

First Brazilian diamond to gain international acclaim; discovered by an enslaved woman who was granted freedom and a pension; Type IIa, VS2.

32 Niarchos 128.25 ct

Cutter: Bernard de Haan for Harry Winston; the 39.99 ct emerald “Ice Queen” sold at Sotheby’s (1991) to Sheikh Ahmed Hassan Fitaihi.

33 Portuguese 127.02 ct

Octagonal step cut; Smithsonian; strong blue fluorescence.

34 Jonker 125.35 ct

35 Stewart 123.00 ct

Also called the “Star of Spalding.” Two prospectors credited: Robert Spalding & Antonie Williams.

36 Graff Venus 118.78 ct

Largest D-Flawless heart ever certified.

37 Delaire Sunrise 118.08 ct

38 Meister 118.00 ct

Described as Fancy Intense Yellow in later references.

39 Vainer Briolette 116.60 ct

GIA reported Excellent polish & symmetry; second-largest briolette cut at the time.

40 Hope of Africa 115.91 ct

Frequently listed among Graff’s suite of major fancy-yellow diamonds.

41 Al-Nader 115.83 ct

Appears in multiple reference lists of large diamonds; little else is published.

42 Gruosi Diamond 115.34 ct

Mounted in white gold with black/white diamonds and tsavorites; largest heart-shaped black diamond.

43 Taj-i-Mah 115.06 ct

Often referenced as a sister stone to the Darya-i-Nur; long documented in the Iranian regalia.

44 Edna Star 115.00 ct

Period records place it briefly in the Winston inventory before private sale.

45 Mouna 112.50 ct

GIA described it as the largest Fancy Intense Yellow they had graded up to Nov 1995; mounted by Bulgari before sale.

46 African Yellow 112.00 ct

Appears in historical lists of large yellow diamonds; detailed provenance is scarce.

47 Earth Star 111.59 ct

Often described as fancy deep orange-brown; famously mounted by David Webb.

48 Cross of Asia 109.26 ct

Sometimes described as “champagne”/fancy yellow; the modern stone is the 79.12 ct radiant.

49 Koh-i-Noor 108.93/105.6 ct

Older sources list 108.93 ct; the accepted modern weight is 105.60 ct after the 1852 recut.



50 Mouawad Magic 108.81 ct

Official Mouawad data lists a 244.6 ct rough discovered in 1991, cut in Antwerp.

51 Anon 108.04 ct

Appears in multiple reference tables as an anonymously owned 108.04 ct yellow emerald-cut.

52 Rojtman 107.46 ct

Originates from the 123 ct “Stewart” (from 296 ct rough); later repolished and named for the Rojtmans.

53 Cartier 107.07 ct

Often called the “Louis Cartier” diamond; press at the time noted D-color, flawless.

54 Golden Sun (Soleil d’Or) 105.54 ct

Also known by its French house name “Soleil d’Or.”

55 Star of Egypt 105.51 ct

Historic Khedival diamond; literature places early ownership with the Khedive of Egypt.

56 Golden Door 104.95 ct

Appears in >100-ct yellow-diamond lists; scholarly ref. notes unknown origin and describes a shield cut.

57 Great Chrysanthemum 104.15 ct

Standardized to 104.15 ct; commonly listed dimensions ~39.10 × 24.98 × 16.00 mm with 189 facets (67 crown / 65 girdle / 57 pavilion).

58 Light of Africa 103.49 ct

Cut from a 299.3 ct Type IIa rough recovered in 2021.

59 Graff Constellation 102.79 ct

D IF 102.79 ct round; cut from 478 ct Letšeng rough (Lesotho).

60 Ashberg 102.48 ct

One of the few historic 100 ct+ amber-hued diamonds with European provenance.

61 Beluga Diamond 102.00 ct

A showcase William Goldberg 100 ct-class diamond (often listed as 102.23 ct).

62 Mouawad Splendour 101.84 ct

Guinness-recognized as the most expensive single pear-shaped diamond after selling at Sotheby’s Geneva (Nov 1990) for CHF 15,950,000 (~US$12.76M; ~US$125,295/ct), purchased by Robert Mouawad. Later used as the 101.84-ct centerpiece of Victoria’s Secret’s 2005 “Sexy Splendor” Fantasy Bra.

63 Spectacle 100.94 ct

Largest ever diamond cut in Russia at the time.

64 Star of America 100.57 ct

Frequently cited in compiled lists of 100 ct+ colorless diamonds.

65 Sunrise 100.52 ct

Public auction materials list color/clarity/estimate but no discovery details.

66 The Juno Diamond 101.41 ct

Sotheby’s catalog lists GIA report and Type IIa letter; no discovery details given.

67 Star of Happiness 100.36 ct

Sold as a 100.36-ct D/IF rectangular modified brilliant; primary sources don’t state mine or discovery year.

68 The Allnatt 101.29 ct

69 Golden Star 101.28 ct

Cut from a Finsch Mine crystal and unveiled by Laurence Graff in 2005; frequently described as Type Ib. Cut credited to master cutter Antonio Nino Bianco.

70 “Ultimate Emerald-Cut Diamond” 100.20 ct

First 100 ct+ “perfect” classic emerald-cut diamond sold at auction in New York.

71 Star of the Season 100.10 ct

72 Graff Vivid Yellow 100.09 ct

Detachable ring/pendant mounting by Graff; accompanied by GIA report.

73 Star of the East 94.78 ct

74 Cullinan III (“Lesser Star of Africa”) 94.40 ct

75 Briolette of India 90.38 ct

76 Spoonmaker’s Diamond (Kaşıkçı Elması) 86.00 ct

77 Archduke Joseph 76.02 ct

78 Lesotho I (from the “Lesotho Brown”) 71.73 ct

79 Idol’s Eye 70.21 ct

80 French Blue (Blue Diamond of the Crown) 69.0 ct

Worn by Louis XIV; set into the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1749. Widely accepted as the direct precursor to the Hope Diamond.

81 Excelsior I 69.68 ct

82 Taylor–Burton 68.07 ct

83 Black Orlov (“Eye of Brahma”) 67.50 ct

Frequently cited as “cursed” (stolen from a Brahma idol; owners’ tragedies). Early history is unsubstantiated, and trade writers note no evidence of black diamonds of that size from India; much of the pre-20th-century story is likely lore. Exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History (1951) and the Natural History Museum, London.

84 CTF Pink Star 59.60 ct

85 The Sancy 55.23 ct

86 Star of Sierra Leone (largest polished) 53.96 ct

87 Hope Diamond 45.52 ct

Computer modeling and a historical lead cast confirm the Hope was recut from the 17th-century French Blue crown jewel.