Most Expensive CS2 Skins: The #387 Karambit Blue Gem
In our series of the most expensive CS2 skins, we have featured some of the game's most iconic and extravagant skins, but we have yet to feature the single most expensive item in the entire game.
The Karambit | Case Hardened (Factory New) in the #387 paint seed is CS2's most expensive skin, with an absolutely unfathomable price tag of over $1.5 million. But why is the blue gem Karambit so expensive? Why is it so sought after? In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the most expensive CS2 skin, the Karambit | Case Hardened #387 Blue Gem.
$1,500,000 in Pixels
For those unfamiliar with the CS2 skin economy, the insane price tag of this knife may be hard to believe. Frankly speaking, it is nothing but a blue knife in a video game; a digital asset with essentially no value. But the skin is more than that, it is a piece of digital history and the ultimate way to flaunt one's wealth.
The skin is currently in the inventory of "青い王," and it has been in that inventory for as long as records show. The inventory and profile are private, so clearly the owner isn't exactly desperate for attention.
Why is the Karambit Blue Gem so Expensive?
The main reason for Karamit Blue Gem's icon status is simply the fact that it is blue. Case Hardened weapon finishes are pattern-based, meaning everyone looks different, and certain ones are more sought after than others. When it comes to case-hardened skins, blue rules, and "blue gems," or finishes with a lot of blue, are extremely sought after and expensive. There are 1000 total patterns, and they are sorted into tiers based on how blue they are. Paint seed #387 happens to be the bluest possible on the karambit, with an almost completely blue play side.
Along with this, the skin is extremely rare. Only 9 Case Hardened Karambits exist in pattern #387, and this one is the only Factory New one. The next best float is Field Tested, meaning that this version is significantly better than the second-best option.
How Much is the Karambit Blue Gem Worth?
This question is slightly difficult to answer for a variety of reasons. Officially and legally speaking, the skin is nothing but a digital asset and holds no real-world value. But I can personally name a few thousand people who would disagree, and in total, millions of people understand the actual value of the knife. After all, isn't that all currency is? It only holds value because people accept that it holds value, and if the acceptance goes away, so does the currency.
The most recent offer for the Karambit Blue gem was for 1,200,000 Euros in Bitcoin in 2021, at the time equivalent to roughly 1.5 million USD. Today, that amount of Bitcoin would be worth over 1.9 million Euros or 2.1 million USD. The offer was quickly rejected by "青い王," who felt that it was too low.
Now, more than 2 years after the offer, the price of the skin has likely only gone up. Current estimates place the value of the knife at close to $2,000,000, making it easily the most expensive CS2 skin in existence.