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.
