The Rarest Diamond: Earth’s Most Elusive Gem

Diamonds are often celebrated for their brilliance, beauty, and symbolism, but within this glittering world there exists a category so rare, so elusive, that most people will never see one in their lifetime. We’re talking about the rarest diamond in the world: the red diamond.

While pink, blue, and yellow diamonds have made headlines at auctions for their record-breaking prices and star-studded provenance, red diamonds remain in a class of their own. They are defined not only by their color but by their profound scarcity.

What Makes a Diamond Rare?

It’s important to understand what makes a diamond rare in the first place. Most diamonds mined across the globe are colorless or near-colorless. These are the diamonds you commonly see in engagement rings and fine jewelry.

Fancy colored diamonds, however, form under unique geological conditions that cause trace elements or distortions in the crystal lattice to reflect specific colors. The more vivid and pure the color, and the larger the carat weight, the rarer the diamond.

Rare diamond colors like pink, blue, green, and orange are all considered rare, but natural red diamonds are the rarest of them all.

The Red Diamond: A True Geological Enigma

Red diamonds are so scarce that only a handful of certified natural red diamonds are known to exist worldwide, most of them under one carat. In fact, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), less than 30 true red diamonds have ever been discovered. Most are small and housed in private collections or museums.

Unlike other colored diamonds, the red hue is not caused by trace elements such as boron (blue) or nitrogen (yellow). Instead, scientists believe that red diamonds owe their color to a rare lattice distortion in the crystal structure. These anomalies occur under extreme pressure during formation.

This mystery only adds to their value. Unlike pink or purple diamonds, which may show color zoning or secondary hues, true red diamonds are pure in tone. They have no modifier colors like orange or brown making them exceedingly rare.

The Most Famous Red Diamond: The Moussaieff Red

The most famous red diamond history is the Moussaieff Red Diamond, the largest known natural red diamond in the world, weighing 5.11 carats. This stunning triangular brilliant-cut stone is graded by the GIA as Fancy Red with internally flawless clarity, a designation so rare that it defies comparison.

Discovered by a Brazilian farmer in the 1990s in the Abaetézinho River region, the rough diamond weighed 13.9 carats before being expertly cut and polished. It was originally named the “Red Shield,” but after its purchase by the House of Moussaieff, it was renamed the Moussaieff Red.

Today, it’s one of the most important diamonds on Earth and has appeared in prestigious exhibitions, including the Smithsonian’s “The Splendor of Diamonds.”

Its estimated value? Upwards of $20 million, although experts agree that if it ever returned to the auction block, it could fetch significantly more due to its singularity.

Why Red Diamonds Are So Expensive

Red diamonds command some of the highest prices per carat in the world and for good reason. Their combination of extreme rarity, pure color, and strong investment potential places them in a category all their own.

• Unmatched Scarcity: With fewer than 30 confirmed natural red diamonds globally, the supply is almost nonexistent.
• Small Sizes: Most are under 1 carat, and anything over that threshold is considered museum-worthy.
• Pure Color: True red diamonds lack any brown, purple, or orange undertones, making them exceptionally rare even among fancy colored diamonds.
• Investment Potential: These stones tend to appreciate steadily over time, making them coveted assets for serious collectors and investors.

Can You Buy a Rare Red Diamond?

Technically, yes, but the chances are slim. Red diamonds rarely come to market and when they do, prices are astronomical. Most sales happen privately between elite collectors and investment firms. Occasionally, smaller stones under one carat appear at auction, but even those can command hundreds of thousands of dollars per carat.

While a rare red diamond may be hard to come by, choosing a different fancy colored diamond or selecting a ruby, red spinel, or garnet is another good option for creating one of a kind fine jewel with a stunning red gemstone. Reach out to our certified gemologist to find the gemstone or diamond you are searching for.