Sapphires have been adored for centuries, used throughout history in crown jewels, engagement rings and rare high-end jewellery pieces. Read on to learn about the top 12 most expensive sapphires in the world, from historical treasures to the beloved gifts of Hollywood legends!
12. The Logan Sapphire – $2.5 Million
We’re kicking off our most expensive list with the magnificent 423 carat Logan Sapphire. As one of the largest faceted sapphires in the world, the gem is set into a substantial brooch surrounded by 20 round brilliant cut diamonds. The brooch has exchanged hands through a series of well-known and wealthy owners. Originally possessed by Sir Victor Sassoon, the sapphire was then purchased by M. Robert Guggenheim as a gift for his wife, who later donated the sapphire to the Smithsonian Institute in 1960. If you’re curious as to where the gem gets its name, it is after Rebecca Guggenheim remarried as Rebecca Logan!
11. The Rockefeller Sapphire Ring – $3.03 Million
In 2011, Christie’s sold The Rockefeller Sapphire for $3.03 million. Originally part of the collection of Nizam of Hyderabad, the sapphire was then bought and owned by John D Rockefeller Jr. for almost 40 years. After exchanging a few hands, the sapphire was eventually set into a platinum ring crafted by Tiffany & Co. The 62.02 carat rectangular cut sapphire, flanked by triangular cut diamonds and considered a masterpiece by many.
10. Kashmir Sapphire Ring – $4 Million
This extraordinary ring features an exceptional and rare 17.16 carat step-cut sapphire, surrounded in a boarder of diamonds totalling 6.00 carats. The sapphire is described to have ‘velvety blue’ colouring, the most desirable colour in sapphires from the Kashmir region. Completely natural and unheated, the gemstone is a true rare beauty, selling at auction for 4 million in 2014.
9. The Kelly Sapphire- $4.2 Million
From the personal collection of business woman and philanthropist, Margaret Adderley Kelly, this stunning Cartier Kashmir sapphire ring was sold for $4.2 million in Christie’s 2015 closing spring auction. Known as ‘The Kelly Sapphire’, the Cartier signed ring features a 21.71 carat Kashmir sapphire, flanked by two trapeze-shaped diamonds. Margaret Kelly along with her husband, the late William R. Kelly, and their son, are famed for shaping the national employment agency and recruitment firm, Kelly Services, Inc., into a Fortune 500 company that now employs more than 550,000 people globally. The iconic “Kelly Girl” became a household name by 1957, synonymous with high-quality temporary employees. As an avid fine jewellery collector, her personal collection was once of the most anticipated auctions of the seasons.
8. ‘Côte D’Azur’ Brooch – $4.6 Million
This unique multi diamond and sapphire brooch by Anna Hu was sold for $4.6million in 2013. Anna Hu’s jewellery is a celebrity favourite worn by style-influencers the likes of Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman and Oprah Winfrey. The 58.29 carat sapphire is set into a floriated design, composed of diamonds, moonstones, tourmalines and coloured sapphires.
Hu’s style is renowned for her East-West fusion pieces and use of signature rare gemstones. Hu worked for famed jewellery houses including Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston before starting her own firm.
7. Elizabeth Taylor Sapphire Bvlgari Necklace – $5.9 Million
As a well-known jewellery queen, it’s no surprise famed actress Elizabeth Taylor owns one of the world’s most expensive sapphires. Received as a 40th birthday gift from her then husband Richard Burton in 1972, the 52.72 carat sugarloaf cabochon sapphire is set on a pavé-set diamond octagonal pendant. The sapphire and diamond sautoir was created by famed jewellery house BVLGARI – one of Taylor’s personal favourite brands.
6. Jewel of Kashmir – $6.7 Million
The jewel of Kashmir set world records for price per carat when sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale. At 27.68 carats of sapphire, the ring sold for a total of $6.7million, making it a record breaking $242,145.00 per carat. The sapphire is a natural true Kashmir sapphire, and holds a velvety cornflower blue colour, enhanced by it’s square emerald cut resulting in deep, internal colour reflections and brilliance.
Kashmir sapphires come from the Zanskar Range, a remote part of the Himalaya mountains. Since the mine’s depletion in 1887, Kashmir sapphires have only increased in rarity in addition to their well-sought after unique velvet blue colouring.
5. Unmounted Oval Sapphire – $7.2 Million
This unmounted oval-cut sapphire fetched an impressive $7.2 million at auction in 2023, celebrated for its remarkable size and vibrant colouring. Originating from the Mogok mines in Burma, known for producing the famed Burmese rubies, this sapphire is a rare find in a region where 80-90% of the gemstones are rubies. Weighing nearly 115 carats, the gem is similar in size to that of a cherry tomato, though it has been cut into an oval shape to best showcase its natural, untreated colour and clarity.
4. The Richelieu Sapphires $8.4 Million
At number In November 2023, a pair of sapphire drop earrings sold at Sotheby’s Geneva for $8.4 million. The earrings each feature a cushion-shaped natural unheated Kasmir sapphire weighing 26.66 and 20.88-carats respectively and are known as the Richelieu Sapphires. Suspended from a star-like diamond mount, the earrings hail from the collection of Odile de Richelieu, Countess Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld, Princess de La Rochefoucauld (1879-1974).
3. The Blue Belle Of Asia – $17.7 Million
The Blue Belle of Asia sapphire is the feature gemstone in a stunning necklace. The cushion-shaped sapphire, weighing approximately 392.52 carats, is suspended in a brilliant-cut diamond tassel pendant that leads into a diamond and gold neck chain.
This exceptional sapphire’s history is shrouded in mystery. Discovered in 1926 at Ratnapura (‘The City of Gems’), Ceylon’s gem mining heartland, the blue sapphire necklace was owned by the well-known gem and jewellery dealers Macan Markar, before being sold to British motor magnate Lord Nuffield in 1937. The gem somewhat disappeared in private hands for years before being rediscovered in the 1970s.
2. The Star of Adam – $300 Million
At number two is the world’s biggest blue star sapphire – the ‘star of sapphire’. Found in a southern Sri Lankan mine in 2015, the sapphire weighs an astonishing 1,404.49 carats.
For context; a star sapphire is a type of sapphire displaying an optical star-like effect or “asterism” – an effect caused by the presence of dioxide impurities (rutile) within the sapphires. The asterism is caused by the difference in refractive index between the host material and the rutile inclusions.
The ‘Star of Adam’ is the largest of its kind and technically considered priceless by many gemmologists though monetarily valued at $300 million. The unique sapphire was named by it’s an anonymous owner in reference to the Islamic belief that Adam arrived in Sri Lanka after leaving the Garden of Eden.
1. The Stuart Sapphire – Priceless
At number one is the Stuart Sapphire, which is considered priceless. This sapphire weighs approximately 104 carats and is famed on account of it’s setting, in prime position of the Imperial State Crown. The Stuart Sapphire is steeped in rich history and well deserved as the world’s most expensive sapphire. The sapphire can be traced back to the 17th century, with many suggesting it’s first owner to be King Charles II – a House of Stuart monarch. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to set the sapphire into her state crown, sitting just below the famed Black Prince Ruby.
After the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond in the early 20th century, the sapphire was replaced by the Cullinan and moved to the opposite side of the crown where it remains today. As a sapphire that has remained as part of the crown jewels for nearly two centuries, the gem is considered priceless. Whilst the crown itself has never been valued, it is thought to be valued at $3-5 billion.
We hope our list of the worlds most expensive sapphire jewels has been both entertaining and useful! If you feel inspired, don’t forget to explore our antique and vintage sapphire jewellery collections for your own piece of history!
