GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
SourcingAug 06, 2018
Mouawad Buys Biggest ‘Dynasty’ Diamond
The 51.38-carat stone was one of five diamonds cut from a 179-carat piece of rough mined in Russia.
The Mouawad Group paid $10 million for the D color, VVS1 clarity “Dynasty” diamond, purchasing via an auction Alrosa held on its online trading platform last Thursday.
Moscow—Mouawad Group has purchased the 51.38-carat “Dynasty” diamond, the largest of the five stones Alrosa cut from a 179-carat rough diamond.
The price paid for the diamond, a round brilliant the GIA graded as D color and VVS1 clarity with a triple excellent cut, was not disclosed, though Alrosa did say that the sale of all five diamonds totaled $10 million.
It is the highest quality diamond of its size ever cut and polished by Alrosa and is also now the most expensive stone ever sold by the diamond mining company.
Alrosa unearthed the 179-carat rough diamond in 2015 at the Nyurbinskaya kimberlite pipe in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and called it “The Romanovs,” a nod to Romanov-era ruler Peter the Great, who ordered the development of the country’s diamond deposits.
It cut and polished the stone at its facilities in Moscow, placing cutters on week-long leaves from time to time because of the stress and intensity of the job, and unveiled the five resulting stones last August. (The entire collection has the same name as its largest stone, “The Dynasty.”) 
In December, the diamond miner announced that four out of the five smaller Dynasty diamonds, which ranged in size from 16.67 to 1.39 carats, found buyers, but it pulled the 51.38-carat diamond from the sale because it did not receive a bid for the stone that it deemed to be high enough.
In a joint statement provided by Alrosa, Fred and Pascal Mouawad said the company plans to add the Dynasty to its collection of historic diamonds, which is described on the Mouawad website as “museum quality.”
Among the historic diamonds once owned by the family is the famous Taylor-Burton diamond, which Robert Mouawad bought in the 1970s. It has since been sold to a private collector, a company spokesperson told National Jeweler back in 2011.
“What attracted us to the Dynasty is not only its exceptional quality but the transparency of its history and the fact it’s the largest and most valuable diamond ever sold by Alrosa,” the Mouawads said. “It’s a rare gem with a remarkable record.”
Editor’s note: This story was corrected post-publication to reflect the fact that $10 million was the price paid for the entire collection, not just the 51-carat Dynasty
diamond, as previously stated.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
Weekly QuizMay 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
Supplier BulletinMay 29, 2025
Inoveo Platinum Grain, Exclusively Distributed by StullerSponsored by Stuller
SourcingMay 29, 2025
Grizzly Auctions 6,620-Carat EmeraldIt was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.
TechnologyMay 29, 2025
GemFind Launches AI Product Description SoftwareGemText AI uses artificial intelligence to generate tailored product titles, descriptions, and tags with jewelry-specific language.
MajorsMay 28, 2025
Graff Unveils New Las Vegas FlagshipThe 3,300-square foot location is the jeweler's largest store in North America.
CrimeMay 28, 2025
8 Convicted in Kim Kardashian Jewelry Heist TrialAging and with myriad health issues, none will serve time for their roles in robbing the billionaire celebrity at gunpoint in 2016.
CollectionsMay 28, 2025
NY Liberty’s 2024 Championship Rings Honor Historic WinThe WNBA team received rings imbued with meaning, from leaf motifs and its Liberty torch to the number of diamonds used.
MajorsMay 28, 2025
Andrew Rickard Named JBT PresidentA longtime executive at RDI Diamonds, Rickard has served on the JBT board for the past five years.
MajorsMay 27, 2025
MJSA to Become Part of Jewelers of America The two organizations have signed an affiliation agreement that’s expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
AuctionsMay 27, 2025
Al Capone’s Patek Philippe Pocket Watch Back Up for AuctionThe platinum and diamond watch is part of Sotheby’s upcoming Important Watches sale.
AuctionsMay 27, 2025
182-Carat Paraíba-Type Tourmaline Sells for $487K Recovered in Mozambique, “The Kat Florence Lumina” was part of Bonhams’ Hong Kong jewelry auction held last week.
TrendsMay 27, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Candy-Colored GemstonesGet a taste of the delicious candy-like gemstones in this Amanda’s Style File.
CrimeMay 23, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
CollectionsMay 23, 2025
Piece of the Week: Bliss Lau’s ‘Bright’ RingFrom Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.
GradingMay 23, 2025
GIA Updates Pearl Classification SystemThe lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.
Supplier BulletinMay 22, 2025
How to Put Natural Diamonds Back in the SpotlightSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
CrimeMay 22, 2025
NY Jeweler Sentenced in Shoving Death of Colleague at IJO ShowDavid Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.
FinancialsMay 22, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s Full-Year U.S. Sales Climb 14% The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.
IndependentsMay 22, 2025
Adeler Jewelers Celebrates 50 YearsThe family-owned jeweler in Great Falls, Virginia, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with a year’s worth of events.
