Priciest Family Jewels, From Least to Most Expensive

Some of the most stunning examples of family jewels can only be admired from afar.

The 25 Priciest Family Jewels of All Time

Obscure clumps of stone are turned into sparkling jewels that we treasure and pass down through our families. For most of us, some of the most stunning examples of family jewels can only be admired from afar. But, in some cases, we can visit and adore these sparkling gems up close in museums across the globe.

These extravagant pieces are worth fortunes and are sometimes deemed even more valuable because of the family that owns them, which can make it hard to estimate said jewels accurately. Royal families aren't keen on letting gemologists access their stones just to assign a price since, for most families, they are considered priceless.

Despite their best attempts, the world has compiled copious amounts of information on the most expensive family jewels. Here are 25 of them and the stories behind what makes them so grandiose.

25. Kate Middleton's Engagement Ring

Price tag: $500,000+

Kate Middleton's stunning sapphire and diamond engagement ring made headlines for multiple reasons, including its gorgeous and unique look and the fact that it belonged to Lady Diana Spencer.

The Story Behind It

According to royal folklore, Diana picked it out of a catalog when she became engaged to Prince Charles. The 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire is surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold.

Though Charles only reportedly paid $37,000 for it, it is worth at least $500,000, but many jewelry experts agree that it would likely go for much more at auction. But don’t get too excited — the royal family would never let that happen.

24. The Spencer Tiara

Price tag: $675,000+

For her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, Princess Diana chose to wear a tiara from her family's jewels collection. Diana's sisters and mother also wore the Spencer Tiara.

The Story Behind It

Diana's grandmother, Lady Cynthia Hamilton, received the tiara as a gift for her wedding to the 7th Earl Spencer in 1919. The gorgeous and famous piece has diamond-encrusted shapes of tulips, scrolls and stars.

While it is hard to estimate how much it would sell for at auction, jewelry experts say it is worth about $675,000 or more.

23. Marie Antoinette's Diamonds

Price tag: $855,000

The last Queen of France had a variety of jewels that have captured the interest of the world. But one of the more famous pieces from her family collection is this set that consists of a brooch, earrings and a necklace.

The Story Behind It

This famous set was actually created using pieces from Marie Antoinette's collection, which was hidden when the Queen was arrested and later executed during the French Revolution.

While neither she nor King Louis XVI or their son made it after the arrest, their daughter, Marie-Therese, did and was released in 1795. She was the last survivor of the French monarchy and reclaimed her mother's jewels in Vienna, passing them down to her children. Sotheby's put up several jewels from the French monarchy for auction in 2018.

22. Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

Price tag: $500,000-$1 million

The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara is estimated to be worth between $500,000 and $1 million but could sell at auction for a much higher price, as this specific tiara has quite the backstory.

The Story Behind It

During the Russian Revolution, the tiara left its place with Russian royalty and was smuggled out of the country. The Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, also the mother of Princess Marina of Greece, who later became the Duchess of Kent, allegedly sold the family jewel to Queen Mary (the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth) in 1921.

While the original design featured diamonds and pearls, Queen Mary updated it to include 15 Cambridge emeralds. The jewelry designer crafted it in such a way that the original pearls can be switched back in.

21. The Poltimore Tiara

Price tag: $1.28 million

Princess Margaret wore the Poltimore Tiara during her wedding ceremony to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. Unlike most royal wedding tiaras, this one was purchased specifically for the day and not borrowed from a family member.

The Story Behind It

Princess Margaret in the Poltimore Tiara on Her Wedding Day

Princess Margaret bought the tiara at auction, only paying about $7,570 for the gorgeous piece (although it’s up for debate as to whether or not she actually paid for it). It was originally made in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the wife of Queen Victoria’s treasurer from 1872 to 1874, and Princess Margaret was its second owner.

The tiara has diamond clusters and scroll motifs in silver and gold. Its decadence earned it a whopping $1,275,154 when it was sold at auction in 2006.

20. Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara

Price tag: $1 million-$1.5 million

While the famous jeweler Cartier made the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara, it is part of the British Royal Family's jewel collection.

The Story Behind It

Kate Middleton Wearing the Cartier Halo Tiara

Weeks before he became king in 1936, Queen Elizabeth's father bought the tiara. When Elizabeth turned 18, she was given the piece. Since Queen Elizabeth has plenty of jewels, she often lent the tiara to Princess Margaret and Princess Anne.

Most famously, though, the tiara was worn by Kate Middleton during her 2011 wedding.

19. Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Princess Diana in the Lover's Knot Tiara

Price tag: $1 million-$2 million

The Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara is one of the most photographed pieces of family jewelry. It was made in 1913 when Queen Mary asked Garrard & Co. to make a replica of a tiara her grandmother had worn.

The Story Behind It

It was one of Princess Diana's favorite accessories, and she wore it often to various events. She received it as a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth. Following Diana's death, it was returned to the royal collection.

Nowadays, you'll often see it on Kate's head at various events and state dinners at Buckingham Palace.

17. Kate Middleton's Emerald Set (tie)

Kate Middleton's Emerald Necklace Closeup

Price tag: $2.5 million

As previously mentioned, it is notoriously hard to estimate the cost of all of the jewels the British Royal Family has since they're famously tight-lipped about the details of each piece. Thankfully, some truly stunning accessories are known to the broader world, including Kate Middleton's emerald set that she wore to the 71st British Academy Film Awards.

The Story Behind It

While the emeralds were photographed extensively and written about by various press outlets, Middleton stayed quiet on the details like where they came from and who designed them.

Royal officials would only confirm to reporters that they were a private gift, i.e., not given to her by a foreign government. The set, which has been valued at $2.5 million, includes a necklace, large stud earrings and a bracelet with a total of seven large emeralds.

17. Queen Mary's Bandeau Tiara (tie)

Price tag: $2.5 million

The design of this tiara centers around the middle piece, which is actually a detachable 10-diamond brooch that can be worn separately, according to Chris Tag, owner of Pompeii3, which ethically sources, designs and manufactures diamonds and gemstones. The bandeau is made of 11 diamond and platinum sections.

The Story Behind It

Queen Mary was actually the one to commision the creation of this tiara in 1932, according to Tag.

But the tiara became famous once again when Meghan Markle wore it during her wedding to Prince Harry.

16. Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara

Price tag: $6.4 million

Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara was once a necklace and is now a necklace and a tiara. Queen Victoria gave Queen Mary the necklace on her wedding day.

The Story Behind It

"Ever the fashionista, [Queen Mary] had those gems fashioned into this gold and silver tiara in 1919," says Tag. “It features 47 diamond bars, as well as smaller diamond spikes. "When Queen Elizabeth attempted to wear this piece to her wedding to Prince Philip, one of the bars snapped and it had to be hastily repaired."

Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice also both wore the tiara on their wedding days. The tiara doubles as a necklace if removed from its frame.

15. The Hope Ruby

Price tag: $6.7 million

The Hope Ruby, a Burmese ruby and diamond ring weighing in at a whopping 32 carats, belonged to Lily Safra, a Brazilian-Monegasque billionaire, philanthropist and socialite who amassed a $1.3 billion fortune during her four marriages.

The Story Behind It

Safra (pictured) decided to sell her ring for a good cause in May 2012. Selling for a whopping $6,742,440, its auction price made it a historical phenomenon — the priciest ruby ever sold at auction, according to Puneet Agrawal, CEO & Founder at AZEERA, where they sell distinctive pieces using conflict-free gemstones.

It’s reported that 100 percent of the proceeds ($38 million) from “Jewels for Hope: The Collection of Mrs. Lily Safra” went to a combined 32 different charities.

14. The Duchess of Windsor's Panther Bracelet

Price tag: $7 million

American socialite Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, was a lucky lady. With the help of Cartier, her husband Edward gifted her what is considered one of the most expensive bracelets in the world.

The Story Behind It

The Duchess of Windsor's Panther Bracelet was created in 1952 and measures about 6.5 inches in length. It features pavé-set with brilliant- and single-cut diamonds and calibré-cut onyx.

The panther's eyes are marquise-shaped emeralds.

13. Golden Jubilee Diamond

Price tag: $4 million-$12 million

The Golden Jubilee Diamond is a whopping 545.67 carats of fancy yellow-brown color. It originally belonged to Henry Ho of Thailand, received a Papal Blessing from Pope John Paul II in Rome, and was blessed by the Supreme Imam and the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch in Thailand.

The Story Behind It

Warren Buffett with Golden Jubilee Diamond on Display

It is the most significant cut and faceted diamond in the world. But before being cut, experts considered it to be hideous. However, after its fire rose cushion cut made it sparkle, it earned a new name, the Golden Jubilee.

The famous stone was given to King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand for his 50th coronation anniversary in 2000.

11. La Peregrin (tie)

Price tag: $11 million

Aptly named La Peregrina, Spanish for “the pilgrim” or “the wanderer,” this pearl was the largest ever found at its time of discovery in 1579, weighing in at 223.8 grains, according to Agrawal.

The Story Behind It

This is the only pearl jewel that has a 500-year history, having belonged to eight kings of Spain, Napoleon Bonaparte's elder brother, actress Elizabeth Taylor and (for a few stressful minutes) Liz Taylor's pet puppy.

"In 2011, La Peregrina was auctioned off by Christie's as part of Liz Taylor's collection for over $11 million," Agrawal says.

11. The Vanderbilt Rose (tie)

Price tag: $11 million

The piece is entirely made of diamonds and is one of a kind. It’s said to be as large as an average hand.

The Story Behind It

The Vanderbilt Rose brooch was initially made for Napoleon Bonaparte's niece in 1855 and was once part of Empress Eugénie's collection.

As financial markets were collapsing in 2008, the Musée du Louvre bought the spectacular brooch for $11 million. Previous owners also included Princess Mathilde and Cartier.

10. Diana's Swan Lake Set

Price tag: $12 million

When Princess Diana wore the stunning necklace from this set to a performance of Swan Lake, the coordinating earrings were not yet finished, according to Tag.

The Story Behind It

The complete set, however, features five cultured 12-millimeter pearls as well as 178 diamonds, which is more than 50 carats.

The set has been auctioned off a few times to different families around the world and is currently valued at $12 million.

9. The Henckel von Donnersmarck Tiara

Price tag: $12.7 million

The Henckel von Donnersmarck Tiara is a rare specimen: formerly owned by royals but made available outside of royal, state and museum collections. Sotheby's handled both sales, one in 1979 and one in 2011.

The Story Behind It

The tiara was created as "a crown of foliate and floral inspiration," according to Sotheby's. It has 11 rare Colombian pear-shaped emeralds that weigh 500 carats at the top. The base has 11 large cushion-shaped diamonds with a hint of yellow to their color. The rest of the tiara is filled with rose and brilliant-cut diamonds.

German prince Guido Henckel Von Donnersmarck had the piece made for his second wife, Russian aristocrat Katharina Slepzow. The Henckel Von Donnersmarcks were one of the wealthiest families in Germany during the 19th century.

8. The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara

Price tag: $13 million

The star of this Russian-inspired tiara is the 93.7-carat emerald that is set in platinum and framed by five additional emeralds and diamonds, according to Tag.

The Story Behind It

Made in Paris in 1919 by the French jeweler Boucheron, the tiara came into the British Royal Family in 1942 after Dame Margaret Greville (a member of high society) died and gifted the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth’s mother) the tiara.

The tiara went to Queen Elizabeth, but it wasn’t worn by a member of the royal family until 2018 when Princess Eugenie donned it as her "something borrowed" for her wedding.

7. Austrian Crown Jewels

Price tag: $16 million+

When in Vienna, head to the Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg Palace, and check out the Austrian Crown Jewels. The collection is one of the most extensive sets of royal objects still in existence today.

The Story Behind It

The crown of Rudolf II, the Holy Roman Emperor of the House of Hapsburg, became the Imperial Crown of Austria in 1806.

The crown jewel set includes royal robes, an orb, scepter, cross and ring. But the showstopper is the expensive crown consisting of a 36-carat diamond valued at $16 million.

6. Crown Jewels of Bavaria

Price tag: $17 million+

Before being the largest German state by land area, Bavaria was a kingdom. One of the oldest parts of Europe earned its kingdom status in 1806 from Napoleon. To celebrate, Maximilian I commissioned a set of crown jewels.

The Story Behind It

The set includes the King's Crown of Bavaria, the Crown of the Queen of Bavaria, the 96-centimeter-long State Sword, the Royal Orb, the 89-centimeter-long Royal Scepter and the Palatinate Pearl. The King's Crown has diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and pearls.

While it’s difficult to correctly estimate crown jewels, as access to royal jewels is extremely limited, jewelry experts have valued the King's Crown alone at more than $17 million.

5. Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

Price tag: $21 million

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is a 31.06-carat, deep-blue diamond. It has internally flawless clarity and is worth $21 million.

The Story Behind It

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond originates from the Kollur Mine in India. It was initially part of Philip IV of Spain's collection.

In 2010, English jeweler Laurence Graff purchased the diamond and reportedly had three diamond cutters work on it to remove flaws — talk about perfectionism!

4. Blue Moon Diamond

Price tag: $48.4 million

The most expensive gemstone by carat weight is the Blue Moon Diamond. In November 2015, it sold at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva for $48.5 million.

The Story Behind It

This is one of the newer gems on this list, having been cut from a 29.6-carat diamond discovered in 2014 in South Africa.

While it does not belong to a royal family, it was purchased by Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau for his then 7-year-old daughter. It’s since been renamed the Blue Moon of Josephine in honor of her.

3. The Cullinan III and IV Brooch

Price tag: $65 million

The Cullinan III and IV Brooch is also known as “Granny's Chips,” says Tag. The piece features two stones cut from the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond (we'll see several other stones cut from this diamond later on).

The Story Behind It

In 1911, Queen Mary had the 94.4-carat, pear-shaped stone and the 63.6-carat, cushion-shaped diamond set in the platinum brooch.

Queen Elizabeth inherited the stunning brooch in 1953.

2. The Hope Diamond

Price tag: $200 million-$300 million

Even folks who aren't fans of jewelry have likely heard about The Hope Diamond. Not only is it worth a lot, but it is also one of the oldest known stones.

The Story Behind It

The diamond weighs 45.52 carats and originates from the Kollur Mine in India. Its fancy dark grayish-blue comes from trace amounts of boron atoms. Ownership records go back almost four centuries, but we know its name comes from owner Henry Philip Hope, who was a London banker and gem collector.

Eventually, Jeweler Harry Winston donated the largest deep blue diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. It now lives at the Natural History Museum, where an average of 6 million people visit it annually. The rare gem is surrounded by 16 white pear-shaped and cushion-cut diamonds and hangs from a chain with an additional 45 diamonds.

1. Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom

Price tag: $3.5 billion

When Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth, more than 20 million people around the world watched on television. The June 2, 1953, coronation ceremony centered around St. Edward's Crown being, of course, placed on her head.

The Story Behind It

Of course, the Crown Jewels include much more than the crown — 142 royal ceremonial objects to be exact — and represent 800 years of the monarchy. It’s the most historically complete collection of any regalia in the world and includes a whopping 23,578 stones.

Perhaps the most famous in the collection is the Cullinan I diamond (cut from the same 3,106-carat stone as the previously mentioned brooch). At 530 carats, it is considered to be the largest clear-cut diamond in the world and was set in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross. But on the crow is Cullinan II (at 317 carats) as well as the Stuart Sapphire, St. Edward’s Sapphire and the Black Prince’s Ruby.

While the British Crown Jewel collection is valued at around $3.5 billion, it’s truly considered priceless and lives in the Jewel House and Martin Tower at the Tower of London.