World’s most expensive car, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport - $2.3 million! World’s most expensive dress, Scott Henshall’s diamond dress – $5 million!! World’s most expensive jewel, the Wittelsbach diamond - $24.3 million!!! Yes it’s true; the world’s most expensive jewel till date is the 17th century grayish-blue diamond, the Wittelsbach diamond. The jewel, also known as Der Blaue Wittelsbacher, is a magnificent 31.06 carat blue diamond.
The diamond is supposed to be originated from the Golconda mines in India and was a part of the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels. The diamond came into market in the year 2008; 80 years after it was last seen publicly. It was purchased by Lawrence Graff, an English jeweler, in 2008 for $24.3 million at an auction. The purchase was the highest ever price for a diamond or jewel in the history! Graff, who renamed the diamond as Wittelsbach-Graff diamond, recut the original 35.56 carat diamond, altering it to 31.06 carats. There was huge criticism from around the world when Graff revealed in 2010 that he had recut the diamond to improve its clarity.
Before the diamond was recut, the diamond had measured 0.961 inches in diameter and 0.326 inches in depth having 82 facets. But, in spite of being recut, the diamond is still considered to be very rare and of very high quality. This diamond is likely to be used as a piece of jewelry in a ring or pendant. The diamond has a 350 years history, creating a unique legacy of its own.
