The Hope Spinel
Top 10 in Top 10 Most Expensive Gemstones
In 2015, a rare gemstone sold for about $1.5 million. That astronomical price was reduced to around $30,000 per carat.
Henry Philip Hope, a banker, was the owner of the Hope Spinel. Before his death in 1839, Henry owned around 700 gems. Before 2015, a portion of Henry's collection had not been sold in 98 years.
The Hope Spinel was placed among rose-cut diamond claws and framed by larger brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 6.5 carats as if that wasn't enough.
The auction house Bonhams auctioned this gemstone. Bonhams sold an 18-carat stone set in an art deco-inspired ring for more than $70,000 in 2012, prior to the Hope Spinel.
Price: $1.47 million
Year Sold: 2015
Number of Carats: 50.13
Interesting Fact: Set among other precious stones
