Red diamonds are among the most extraordinary gemstones on Earth, not just for their breathtaking beauty but also for their extreme scarcity. Unlike blue or yellow diamonds, which owe their colour to the presence of specific chemical elements, red diamonds derive their hue from structural distortions in their crystal lattice. This distortion, caused by immense pressure during formation, results in light being refracted in a way that produces a striking red appearance.
The rarity of these diamonds is so pronounced that only a handful of pure red diamonds have ever been discovered, with most weighing under one carat. Unlike other coloured diamonds, which can be found in multiple regions, the majority of red diamonds originate from a single source—the now-closed Argyle mine in Australia. Because of their limited supply and striking hue, red diamonds consistently command some of the highest prices per carat in the gemstone world.
Below we profile ten of the world’s most famous real red diamonds, detailing their carat weight, clarity, cut, origin, historical significance, and notable sales. A summary table is provided first, followed by individual descriptions.
Summary of Top 10 Red Diamonds
| Diamond | Carat Weight | Clarity | Cut (Shape) | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moussaieff Red | 5.11 ct | IF (Internally Flawless) | Triangular Brilliant (Trilliant) | Brazil (1990s) |
| Kazanjian Red | 5.05 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Emerald cut (Asscher) | South Africa (1927) |
| DeYoung Red | 5.03 ct | VS2 | Modified Round Brilliant | Unknown (estate find, USA 1980s) |
| Winston Red | 2.33 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Old Mine cut (early brilliant) | Unknown (likely old mine, pre-1900s) |
| Graff Purplish-Red | 2.26 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Modified Octagonal Brilliant | Unknown (S. Africa/Brazil likely) |
| Argyle “Everglow” | 2.11 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Radiant cut | Argyle Mine, Australia (2016) |
| Argyle “Enigma” | 1.75 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Modified Radiant cut | Argyle Mine, Australia (2019) |
| Argyle “Phoenix” | 1.56 ct | – (Not disclosed) | Round Brilliant | Argyle Mine, Australia (2013) |
| Hancock Red | 0.95 ct | – (Not public) | Round Brilliant | Brazil (mid-20th c.) |
| Rob Red | 0.59 ct | VS1 | Pear shape Brilliant | Unknown (2000s) |
(Clarity “–” indicates no public grading available. All listed diamonds are certified natural fancy red or purplish-red.)
The Moussaieff Red Diamond
The Moussaieff Red is the largest known red diamond in the world at 5.11 carats. It is graded Fancy Red and was found as a 13.9 ct rough crystal by a Brazilian farmer in the 1990s. The William Goldberg firm cut the rough into a triangular brilliant (trillion) known as “The Red Shield,” and in the early 2000s it was purchased by Shlomo Moussaieff. Now owned by Moussaieff Jewellers, it was graded Internally Flawless (IF) by GIA, an extraordinary clarity for a colored diamond. This gem has been exhibited (e.g. Smithsonian’s 2003 “Splendor of Diamonds”) and carries an estimated value in the tens of millions (approximately $20 million), though it has never been sold at public auction.
The Kazanjian Red Diamond
The Kazanjian Red (5.05 carats) is the second-largest known red diamond. Discovered in 1927 in Lichtenburg, South Africa, it was simply called “The Red Diamond” for decades. This stone has a dramatic history – it was cut in Amsterdam (into an emerald-cut/Asscher shape) and later seized by the Nazis during WWII. It was recovered from a salt mine by U.S. General Joseph McNarney after the war (initially mistaken for a ruby). The diamond vanished into a private collection until 2007, when Kazanjian Brothers Inc. acquired it for an undisclosed sum. Renamed the Kazanjian Red, it remains in Kazanjian’s collection and is occasionally displayed. Its clarity isn’t publicly reported, but given that the rough was 35 carats and was cut down 85% to 5.05 ct, the result is a stone of outstanding color and improved clarity. The Kazanjian Red’s value has been speculated to exceed $50 million, reflecting its rarity and storied past.
The DeYoung Red Diamond
The DeYoung Red is a 5.03 carat Fancy Deep brownish red diamond with VS2 clarity. Uniquely, this gem was mistaken for a garnet in a flea market estate sale – Boston jeweler Sydney DeYoung purchased a hat pin with a large “garnet” that turned out to be this rare diamond. The stone is a modified round brilliant cut (with unusual horizontal split-facets on the crown). Upon realizing its true identity, DeYoung kept the diamond in his vault and never sold it; he bequeathed it to the Smithsonian, where it became part of the National Gem Collection in 1987. The DeYoung Red is the third-largest known red diamond and notably the only natural red diamond on public display in the world (at the Smithsonian Museum). Its country of origin remains unknown due to the way it was acquired, but it showcases a slightly brownish-red hue less pure than some other famous reds.
The Winston Red Diamond
The Winston Red is an exceptional 2.33 carat Fancy Red diamond recently gifted to the Smithsonian in 2025 by Ronald Winston (son of famed jeweler Harry Winston). This stone ranks among the largest diamonds ever certified with the pure “Fancy Red” grade. It features an old mine brilliant cut (an antique style predating the modern round brilliant) with large facets, suggesting the diamond was likely cut in the 19th or early 20th century. Indeed, Harry Winston’s son noted that his father “never saw a red diamond” in his lifetime, underscoring the rarity – Ronald Winston acquired this stone (sometimes referred to historically as the “Raj Red” diamond of ~2.2 carats) decades ago. The Winston Red’s exact origin is unconfirmed, but early alluvial sources like India or Brazil are possible. It is now on public view, and a forthcoming GIA study is expected to reveal more about its history and formation. Its clarity grade has not been publicly disclosed, but it’s described as one of the finest red diamonds known.
The Graff Purplish-Red Diamond
The Graff Purplish-Red Diamond is a 2.26 carat Fancy purplish red diamond cut in a distinctive modified octagonal shape. Little is known of its early history – gemologists infer its origin was likely South Africa or Brazil based on its characteristics. Laurence Graff, renowned for dealing in extraordinary gems, set this diamond as the centerpiece of a unique ring (mounted in 18k pink gold with white diamond “petals”). The Graff Purplish-Red made headlines when it appeared at Christie’s Geneva in November 2007; it was the largest red diamond ever to be auctioned up to that time. It sold for about $2.65 million, which was approximately $1.17 million per carat – a record price per carat for a red diamond at that date. This sale helped cement the Graff Purplish-Red’s status. The diamond’s clarity isn’t publicly reported (red diamonds often contain some internal features), but its vibrant purplish-red hue and Graff provenance make it one of the most celebrated red diamonds in existence.
The Argyle “Everglow” Diamond
The Argyle Everglow is a 2.11 carat Fancy Red diamond and holds the title of the largest red diamond ever found at Australia’s famous Argyle mine. Unveiled in 2017, this radiant-cut gem was the star of Argyle’s final Pink Diamonds Tender that year. The Everglow’s color was so intense and vivid that it was named to evoke a “constant radiance.” It was assessed by GIA as a notable Fancy Red of exceptional quality and is among the most valuable diamonds Rio Tinto ever produced. In the 2017 tender, Optimum Diamonds (a US-based specialist in rare colored diamonds) won the Argyle Everglow for an undisclosed price, setting a record as Argyle’s highest-value tender diamond in 33 years. With Argyle mine’s closure in 2020, the Everglow represents a “last and largest” legacy of that mine’s red diamond production.
The Argyle “Enigma” Diamond
The Argyle Enigma is a 1.75 carat Fancy Red diamond from the Argyle mine, notable for being one of the final large red diamonds from Argyle’s output. It was one of the hero stones of the 2019 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, where it was given the name “Enigma.” The diamond is a modified radiant cut with richly saturated red color. Argyle Enigma was one of only three Fancy Red diamonds in the 2019 sale and was among the last reds offered before the mine’s closure. While the winning bid and buyer were not publicly disclosed (tender results are often private), it undoubtedly commanded a very high price given its size and color. At 1.75 ct, Enigma is larger than nearly all other Argyle red diamonds except the Everglow.
The Argyle “Phoenix” Diamond
The Argyle Phoenix is a 1.56 carat Fancy Red round brilliant diamond that has achieved legendary status by setting world auction records. Discovered at the Argyle mine and sold in the 2013 Argyle tender, the Phoenix is the largest known round brilliant red diamond ever from Argyle. It was named “Phoenix” symbolically (as Argyle’s red diamonds are as rare as a phoenix). In May 2024, the Argyle Phoenix was offered at Phillips Geneva, where it shattered records – selling for $4.2 million, more than double its high estimate. This price equated to about $2.68 million per carat, the highest ever price-per-carat for any red diamond at auction. The buyer was Laurence Graff, further adding to the stone’s prominence. The Phoenix’s color is a pure Fancy Red, and its clarity, while not public, did not deter bidders from valuing it above all previous reds.
The Hancock Red Diamond
The Hancock Red is famed not for its size (0.95 ct) but for its outsized impact on the gem market. This Fancy Purplish Red diamond was mined in Brazil and owned by Montana rancher Warren Hancock, a prolific collector of colored diamonds. In 1987, decades after Hancock had purchased it for just $13,500 in the 1950s, the Hancock Red went up for sale at Christie’s New York. The result was historic: it sold for $880,000 (about $926,000 per carat), at that time the highest price per carat ever paid for any gemstone at auction. This staggering 6500% increase over its original price stunned the industry. With a rich purplish-red hue and virtually inclusion-free appearance, the Hancock Red remains one of the most famous red diamonds. Its sale is often cited as a pivotal moment that ushered in greater appreciation for rare colored diamonds.
The Rob Red Diamond
The Rob Red is a small but extraordinary red diamond weighing 0.59 carats. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in color intensity – it has been described as “the most saturated and purest red diamond” ever evaluated. The Rob Red is a pear-shaped diamond of VS1 clarity. Uniquely, it is said to be the only red diamond given a “Fancy Intense Red” grade by gemologists. (Typically, GIA uses only “Fancy Red” as the category, indicating how exceptional this stone’s saturation is.) While details of its origin and history are not widely publicized, it likely emerged in the late 20th or early 21st century. The Rob Red has not appeared at major auction, but among connoisseurs, it is legendary for its color quality – essentially the benchmark for the reddest of red diamonds.
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Meta Title: The Rarest Red Diamonds and Their Histories
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