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12 Times Extraordinary Diamonds Broke Guinness World Records
From the world’s largest diamonds and the rarest colored stones to movie jewels, music video grillz, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway, diamonds have shaped some of pop culture’s most unforgettable moments. Here, discover the most fascinating diamond creations and cultural milestones to set Guinness World Records.
Extraordinary natural diamonds have long been present across art, film, music, and pop culture, and their appearances on the Guinness World Records list signify their lasting impact and widespread influence. From the largest diamond in history to the most valuable necklace, bra, teapot, grill, handbag, and more, the inclusion of diamonds ranges from the pinnacle of luxury to the truly absurd.
Pascal Mouawad is no stranger when it comes to the Guinness World Record list. As the fourth-generation leader of the renowned luxury jewelry brand, Mouawad, the Lebanese jeweler is in the business of breaking records. With more than five Guinness World Records under the brand’s belt, Mouawad tells Only Natural Diamonds, “It is, of course, a tremendous honor. However, for us, these records have never been pursued simply for recognition — they are the natural result of an uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship, creativity, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in high jewelry.”
He says, “Every Guinness World Record represents far more than a title. It reflects the extraordinary savoir-faire, dedication, and artistry of the craftsmen and teams behind the House, as well as our enduring desire to create pieces that leave a lasting emotional legacy.”
Meet the Experts
Pascal Mouawad is the fourth-generation leader of the renowned luxury jewelry brand, Mouawad. The House has set more than five Guinness World Records, from the most valuable necklace to the most valuable handbag, jewelry box, and bra.
Stefano Canturi is an acclaimed Australian jeweler and designer renowned for his bold, architectural settings and modern heirloom creations. Responsible for one of the most expensive jewels ever created for a film, he created the Satine necklace Nicole Kidman wore in Moulin Rouge.
“The process is extremely rigorous, as it should be,” Mouawad says of the record-breaking process. ” Every detail — from gemstone specifications and valuations to craftsmanship and technical measurements — is independently reviewed and verified by Guinness World Records before any official recognition is granted.”
He says, “What many people do not see is the years of dedication behind these creations. Some pieces require countless hours of sourcing extraordinary gemstones from around the world, while others involve years of design development, engineering, and meticulous hand craftsmanship before they are finally completed. So, when we receive the official confirmation, there is naturally a sense of pride — but above all, gratitude. Gratitude toward the artisans, gemologists, designers, and craftsmen whose passion and precision make these extraordinary achievements possible.”
“For us, those moments are deeply emotional because they represent far more than records,” says Mouawad. “They symbolize generations of hands-on mastery, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that has defined Mouawad for more than a century.”
Here, discover the 12 best diamond moments to set a Guinness World Record.
1. The Cullinan Set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Diamond Ever Found
The Cullinan Diamond was discovered on January 26, 1905, at the Premier Mine in South Africa, weighing an astonishing 3,106 carats as a rough stone. It remains the largest diamond in the world ever found in gem-quality rough form and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest diamond. Named after Thomas Cullinan, the mine’s owner, the stone’s discovery marked the beginning of one of the most extraordinary journeys in diamond history.
Two years after its discovery, the Transvaal Colony government purchased the Cullinan Diamond as a gift for King Edward VII as a gesture of unity between South Africa and the British Crown. The king then selected the famed diamond-cutting house Joseph Asscher & Co. in Amsterdam to transform the rough diamond into polished gems. The monumental rough stone was divided and meticulously cut into nine principal diamonds, along with a number of smaller stones, each destined for royal jewels worn by generations of British monarchs.
The Cullinan I diamond, also known as the Great Star of Africa, is the largest of the nine at 530.2 carats and currently resides in the Royal Sceptre, while the Cullinan II diamond (The Second Star of Africa) sits within the Imperial State Crown.
2. The Blue Moon of Josephine Set the Guinness World Record for Price Per Carat
The Blue Moon of Josephine diamond is a 12.03-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary blue diamonds ever discovered. Recovered from South Africa’s Cullinan Mine in 2014, the diamond was cut into a cushion shape that maximizes its intense color and brilliance.
The stone achieved global fame in November 2015 when it sold at Sotheby’s Geneva for $48.4 million, setting a record price at the time for a diamond sold at auction. The Guinness World Record was set for the “Most Expensive Diamond Per Carat,” landing at $4,028,940 per carat.
Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau purchased the gem and renamed it the “Blue Moon of Josephine” in honor of his daughter, Josephine Lau, giving the diamond both a personal legacy and a place among the most celebrated colored diamonds in history. Before the Blue Moon of Josephine, Guinness previously recognized the Polar Star Diamond‘s price of $4.6 million as a world record per-carat for a diamond sold at auction at 41.28 carats.
3. The Dresden Green Set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Green Diamond
The Dresden Green Diamond is the world’s most famous natural green diamond—and one of the rarest diamonds of any color. The 41-carat stone boasts a natural apple-green hue from exposure to natural radiation. It falls into the rare Type IIa category—a designation that identifies the most chemically pure diamonds, which make up only 1–2% of all diamonds. Guinness World Records has honored the stone as the “Largest Green Diamond.”
The Dresden Green Diamond’s known history dates back to at least 1722, when a London newspaper first reported on it. The diamond was reportedly offered to Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, but it was his son, Frederick Augustus II, who ultimately acquired it from a Dutch merchant at the Leipzig Fair in 1741.
With its rare natural color, royal provenance, and narrow evasion from one of history’s most daring jewel heists, the Dresden Green Diamond is permanently housed at the New Green Vault within the Royal Palace in Dresden, Saxony, Germany, and remains one of the world’s most extraordinary and resilient natural treasures.
4. The CTF Pink Star Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Expensive Diamond Sold at Auction
The CTF Pink Star Diamond was uncovered by De Beers in Africa in 1999. Over two years, the original 132.5-carat rough diamond was meticulously cut and polished into a fancy vivid pink internally flawless Type IIa diamond. At 59.60 carats, the oval-shaped stone became the single most expensive diamond or jewel ever sold at auction when it was offered by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on April 4, 2017.
There was a bidding war among three players, but Hong Kong jeweler Chow Tai Fook came out on top. It was previously titled the Steinmetz Pink, and then the Pink Star, before it took the name of the CTF Pink Star Diamond after its new owner’s initials.
5. The Mouawad Splendor Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Valuable Pear-Shaped Diamond
“Our first Guinness World Record was indeed with the Mouawad Splendor in 1990,” reveals Mouawad. “The diamond was originally acquired by my father, Robert Mouawad, who represented the third generation leading the Maison.” The 11-sided 101.84-carat D-Internally Flawless pear-shaped mixed-cut diamond broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s “Most Expensive Single Pear-Shaped Diamond” when purchased by Robert Mouawad for $12.76 million.
“Beyond its remarkable size and rarity, what truly distinguished the stone was its exceptional color, clarity, and elegance,” he says. “It marked an important milestone for the House and reflected Mouawad’s enduring passion for extraordinary gemstones.”
6. L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace Set a Guinness World Record for the World’s Most Valuable Necklace
The Mouawad L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s “Most Valuable Necklace,” as of January 9, 2013. Worth $55 million, the jewel featured the flawless yellow 407.48-carat L’Incomparable Diamond (now recut and known as The Golden Canary Diamond), gracefully suspended from a 229.52-carat white diamond necklace, featuring 102 round, emerald-cut, pear-shaped, oval, and heart-shaped stones, intertwined by rose gold vines.
“The L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace represents an extraordinary convergence of gemstone rarity and haute joaillerie craftsmanship,” remarks Mouawad. “Holding the Guinness World Record as the world’s most valuable necklace at $55 million, it is centered around the legendary 407.48-carat L’Incomparable yellow diamond — one of the largest internally flawless diamonds ever discovered.”
He continues, “Suspended with remarkable balance and elegance, the central stone is paired with a 229.52-carat white diamond necklace, intricately intertwined with delicate 18-karat rose gold branchlets, creating a composition inspired by natural organic movement. Bringing such a piece to life required years of expertise, precision, and artistic vision — where engineering and artistry meet in perfect harmony. It stands as one of the most exceptional creations of Mouawad, redefining the limits of what is possible in high jewelry.”
7. The Satine Necklace in Moulin Rouge! Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Valuable Piece of Jewelry Made for a Film
Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Academy Award-winning cinematic adventure Moulin Rouge! features one of the most prominent pieces of diamond jewelry in film history. Set in 1899 Paris during the Bohemian Revolution, Nicole Kidman stars as the courtesan Satine, also known as the “Sparkling Diamond.” When the evil Duke tries to claim her for himself, he places an intricate diamond bib necklace around her neck to win her affections, representing his possession of her.
Designed by Australian jeweler Stefano Canturi and named after Nicole Kidman’s character in Moulin Rouge!, the Satine necklace entered the Guinness World Records as one of the most expensive jewels ever created for a motion picture.
Company and Brand Director, Patricia Canturi, found herself captivated with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s Romeo + Juliet. The film’s avant-garde instinct keeps the classic intact. That vision felt perfectly aligned with the direction Canturi was pursuing. After Patricia approached costume designer Catherine Martin with a portfolio of Stefano Canturi’s jewelry designs, Stefano and Patricia met with Martin and Luhrmann to discuss the role the necklace might play in the film.
Patricia and Stefano proposed that the narrative-driven jewel be made with real natural diamonds rather than paste. Handcrafted over four months using century-old techniques, the elaborate piece was inspired by the opulent lace-like designs of the Louis XVI era.
“I wanted Satine to be an authentic period piece,” Stefano Canturi tells Only Natural Diamonds. “The Louis XVI style gave me the language – the openwork lace, the scrolls, the splendor of bodice jewelry – but I was also drawn to the broader spirit of the late 1800s, when fine jewelry was designed, crafted, and worn with passion. Nicole’s neckline and décolletage were exquisite to design for. The piece had to belong to her.”
Set with 1,308 diamonds totaling 134 carats, the largest stone is a 5-carat emerald-cut diamond set in 18ct white gold. Finished with a 2.5-carat cabochon-cut Sri Lankan blue sapphire clasp, the necklace embodied both period authenticity and cinematic extravagance, cementing its place as one of film’s most legendary jewels.
Canturi shares, “On set, [the necklace] became known as ‘she.’ Nicole would ask, ‘Is she here?’” He says, “Nicole has a swan-like neck and décolletage. It was exquisite to design Satine for her — she was the ideal canvas for a piece in the Louis XVI tradition. What I loved most was her authenticity. She genuinely appreciated the care, the skill, and the work that went into Satine. That meant a great deal.”
8. The Mouawad 1001 Nights Purse Set the Guinness World Record for Most Valuable Handbag
Valued at $3.8 million, the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse was dubbed the “Most Valuable Handbag” in the world by Guinness World Records in 2010 and still holds the record. The heart-shaped purse was handcrafted from 18-karat gold, featuring 4,517 natural diamonds, totaling 381.92 carats, with 105 yellow diamonds, 56 pink diamonds, and 4,356 colorless diamonds. Designed by renowned jeweler Robert Mouawad, the blinged-out diamond purse took over 8,800 hours to create.
Robert’s son, Pascal, says, “Shaped as a heart, the creation required thousands of hours of meticulous craftsmanship and an exceptional level of detail, blurring the line between high jewelry and object d’art. It remains one of the most iconic creations of Mouawad — a piece where imagination, heritage, and craftsmanship come together in a singular expression of luxury.”
Whether tucked under the arm of a duchess or dangling from the wrist of a modern-day style icon, the diamond purse has always been more than just a place to stash your lipstick, existing at the intersection of fashion and fine jewelry.
“The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse was a true celebration of artistry and imagination, inspired by the romance and richness of Middle Eastern heritage,” explains Mouawad. “More recently, it was also showcased at the 2024 opening of the Mouawad London Boutique, where it stood as a centerpiece celebrating the House’s heritage and most iconic creations.”
9. The Victoria’s Secret “Very Sexy” Fantasy Bra Set the Guinness World Record for Most Expensive Bra
Mouawad broke its own Guinness World Record when it came to the Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra. The Lebanese jeweler has been responsible for eleven decadent diamond Fantasy Bras throughout the history of the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show. In 2001, Heidi Klum strutted down the runway during the brand’s first televised presentation, wearing the “Heavenly Star” Fantasy Bra, valued at $12.5 million, which broke the record at the time.
According to Pascal Mouawad, “The 2001 ‘Heavenly Star’ Fantasy Bra marked our debut in this extraordinary collaboration. Designed for the incomparable Heidi Klum, it had to be as unforgettable as the woman who would bring it to life.” He explains, “Valued at $12.5 million, the bra was adorned with over 3,500 gemstones, including an astonishing 90-carat D-Internally Flawless emerald-cut diamond at its center — a stone so rare it deserved its own stage. That moment set the tone for everything that followed, transforming jewelry into spectacle and carving a permanent place in the collective fashion memory.”
Mouawad says, “After the Heavenly Star Fantasy Bra in 2001, Mouawad went on to create the ‘Very Sexy Fantasy Bra’ in 2003. Unveiled by Heidi Klum at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, the creation was valued at US $11 million and certified by Guinness World Records as the most expensive bra ever made at the time.”
The ombré rainbow masterpiece was valued at $11 million and required 370 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. According to the jeweler, the look was inspired by the bright lights of Broadway. The German supermodel appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno alongside Martin Short to reveal the stunning showstopper a month before the fashion show took place.
Encrusted with 2,809 stones, the bra was made up of exquisitely cut white natural diamonds, yellow-orange sapphires, rhodolite, and amethysts, totaling 2,200 carats. The matching bottoms were embellished with 3,236 diamonds and colored gemstones, for a total weight of 200 carats.
From the center of the bra, two strands of diamonds came together to dangle the famed 69.68-carat pear-shaped Mouawad Excelsior Diamond. Cut from the second-largest diamond in the world, the diamond was a huge help in earning the Fantasy Bra the Guinness World Record as the “Most Expensive Bra” in the world.
Mouawad describes the 2003 “Very Sexy” Fantasy Bra as both “a fashion spectacle and a tribute to diamond history.” He says, “When Heidi Klum walked the runway, the diamonds danced with her every step, a breathtaking reminder that jewelry is not only an adornment but also history, storytelling, and the power to mesmerize.” Mouawad adds, “Beyond its technical brilliance, the creation embodied a moment where craftsmanship met spectacle — bringing high jewelry into a global cultural stage. These Fantasy Bras were not only records, but defining expressions of creativity for Mouawad — where artistry, imagination, and exceptional gemstones converge to push the boundaries of contemporary luxury.”
10. Elizabeth Taylor Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Expensive Jewelry Collection Sold at Auction
When Christie’s presented The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: The Legendary Jewels auction in December 2011, the result was monumental. The New York auction generated over $137 million for the 269 items of jewelry. In addition to jewelry, lots included art, fashion, and movie memorabilia. On December 13, the first evening sale generated $115.9 million of the total, making it the “Most Expensive Jewelry Collection Sold” in a single day, according to Guinness World Records.
Many pieces sold for multiples of their estimates, showing the emotional power of Elizabeth Taylor’s role as custodian of historic and beautiful jewels. Top lots included La Peregrina, the legendary natural pearl and diamond necklace designed by Taylor with Cartier, which sold for nearly $12 million, and the historical Taj Mahal diamond necklace, featuring an inscribed table-cut diamond, which brought almost $9 million. The famous 33.19-carat Asscher-cut Krupp Diamond ring also achieved close to $9 million. A portion of the proceeds went towards the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
11. The Mouawad Flower of Eternity Coffer Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Valuable Jewelry Box in the World
Valued at $3.5 million, the Mouawad Flower of Eternity Jewelry Coffer was named the “Most Valuable Jewelry Box” in the world by Guinness World Records in 2016. “Conceived as a celebration of heritage, symbolism, and extraordinary craftsmanship,” Mouawad tells OND that the jewelry coffer was “inspired by Mouawad’s signature Flower of Eternity motif — three heart-shaped petals representing the past, present, and future — the piece embodies a deeply poetic narrative of time and continuity.”
Crafted in 18-karat gold and sterling silver, Mouawad says its “adorned with an exceptional composition of gemstones.” The jewelry box features white and yellow diamonds totaling 542.39 carats, white and pink sapphires of 293.24 carats, rubies of 20.06 carats, and 1,799.75 carats of lapis lazuli stones.
“Each element was meticulously selected and set to create harmony between color, symbolism, and form,” he says. “Beyond its rarity and value, what makes the creation remarkable is the level of artistry and precision required to transform a functional object into a true object d’art. It reflects Mouawad’s philosophy of elevating everyday forms into timeless works of high jewelry.”
12. Katy Perry’s Custom “Dark Horse” Grillz Set the Guinness World Record for the Most Valuable Grill
The million-dollar set of diamond grillz Katy Perry wore in her “Dark Horse” music video in 2013 has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Most Valuable Grill,” when valued in August 2017. The milestone was achieved by Dr. William Dorfman, the celebrity cosmetic dentist known for his appearances on Extreme Makeover.
He worked with DaVinici Labs and XVI Karat Jewelers from Beverly Hills to complete the intricate, precious gemstone and diamond dental accessory. At the time, Perry’s stylist, Johnny Wujek, first reached out to Dr. Dorfman with a request for the custom piece for the music video.
Featuring an oval-shaped diamond encircled by a diamond halo, diamond and gemstone flower cluster motifs, and a pear-shaped sapphire, the defining dental implant shimmered in her smile.
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