Gem History
The idea that precious and semi-precious gemstones are distinguished in a customary manner that dates back many centuries is one that is frequently held. In actuality, it is a relatively modern invention from the nineteenth century. Only in 1858 was the term “semi-precious” first used to denote something having “less commercial value than a precious stone.”
Another myth concerns the lengthy history of the list of the four precious stones. In actuality, there are a few unexpected additions to the usual list of precious jewels. Opal and pearl were regarded as precious gems.
Amethyst is one of the oldest precious stones, with a background dating back to ancient Greece. After significant amounts were discovered in Brazil and Uruguay in the first half of the nineteenth century, amethyst was categorised as semi-precious. The latest amethyst discoveries line up with the addition of the phrase “semi-precious” to the English language.
What Gem Cost The Most?
Some of the most precious natural riches on the planet are gemstones. Throughout history, people from all over the world have valued them for a variety of reasons. They are noted for their religious symbolism even though they are most frequently used as ornaments.
Such stones have long been prized for their purported therapeutic properties. All gemstones, whether they be diamonds, rubies, or sapphires, have a unique charm. Each is made unique in its own manner by it.
In spite of this, certain gems are actually rarer than others. That has a huge impact on how much they are worth. Size, quality, and color are further significant determinants. The top ten gemstones in the world are listed here.
Tanzanite—$1,200 per carat
The first gem on our list is Tanzanite, which was found for the first time in 1967. Tanzanite is only discovered in northern Tanzania, in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, as you would have inferred from its name.
After Tiffany and Co. started employing the stone in their jewelry, tanzanite gained popularity. The intense blue-violet tint of this gemstone sets it apart from a sapphire. Even while $1,200 may not seem like a large amount (particularly when compared to the other gems on this list), the market anticipates a massive increase in the price over the next 20 to 25 years. That is mostly brought on by the declining tanzanite supply.
Black Opal—$9,500 per carat
The most sought-after and expensive opals in the world are black ones. The stone’s body is dark, which serves as the ideal backdrop for the remarkable play of colors. Nearly all black opals come from the Lightning Ridge region of New South Wales.
They are in fact regarded as a national treasure of Australia. The “Royal One,” a $3 million black opal, is the most valuable one in existence. The elusive stone is 306 carats in weight. In fact, the miner who had discovered it opted to sell after a 14-year period during which it remained undetected.
Red Beryl—$10,000 per carat
However, only the red beryl extracted especially in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah has been of gem-quality. Red beryl has also been discovered in parts of New Mexico, Mexico, and Utah. They display several various darker red hues, all of which very enthralling.
In the beryl family, which also includes emeralds, this type is one of the rarest. As a result, collectors occasionally refer to red beryl as the “red emerald”. Red beryls frequently have inclusions and fractures, just like emeralds. If you can discover one for sale, the price per carat for this unusual gemstone might go as high as $10,000.
Musgravite—$35,000 per carat
Another gem that was first found in Australia in 1967 is musgravite. The area where it was discovered, Musgrave, gave it its name. Only eight musgravite stones of gem quality were extracted in 2005. That demonstrates just how uncommon it is.
The few colors discovered ranged from a translucent olive green to a greyish purple. This gemstone is extremely rare, making a price estimate difficult. However, most experts estimate it to be worth around to $35,000 per carat.
Alexandrite—$70,000 per carat
A rare stone that can change color is called alexandrite. This makes Alexandrite both incredibly attractive and precious. Although they were initially discovered in Russia in 1833, they have also been mined in Tanzania, India, and Sri Lanka. It’s interesting to note that they are almost never found larger than one carat.
As a result, the purchase value increases exponentially when a larger stone is up. For instance, a single carat may cost $15,000, but a larger stone may cost up to $70,000 per carat. The Smithsonian Institute is home to the 65.08-carat cushion-cut Alexandrite that is thought to be the largest faceted specimen in the entire world. It is worth over $4 million.
Emerald—$305,000 per carat
Emeralds are among the most well-liked gemstones in the world and are prized for their vivid green hues. primarily found in the following four nations: Brazil, Colombia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The majority of emeralds on the market have slight flaws.
As a result, when a flawless natural emerald becomes available for purchase, it can fetch astounding prices. Experts predicted the historic “Rockefeller Emerald” auction would set records when Christie’s announced it.
John D. Rockefeller bought the 18.04-carat rock for his wife. It was afterwards passed down to their son before being privately sold. It was purchased for $5.5 million, or $305,000 per carat, at the Christie’s auction. The price per carat made it the most costly emerald ever sold.
Ruby—$1.18 million per carat
Rubies, sometimes known as the “King of Gemstones,” come in a variety of vivid red tones. They range from pink to a deeper shade of crimson. The blazing diamond represents zeal for life and desire. Through the ages, cultures have carried down this interpretation that the red signified blood.
A remarkably rare Burmese ruby sold for over $30 million in 2015 at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva. As a result, the 26-carat stone, known as “The Sunrise Ruby” after a poem by the eminent Rumi, a poet who lived in the 13th century, sold for $1.18 million per carat. The price is astounding, making it the most costly diamond ever sold.
Pink Diamond—$1.19 million per carat
Pink diamonds are undoubtedly the rarest of all colored diamonds, while all colored diamonds are uncommon. These pink-hued diamonds make up less than 0.1 percent of the entire annual production of diamonds in the world.
The price per carat of the exquisite pink gemstones routinely exceeds $1 million when they reach auction. A magnificent pink diamond weighing 59.60 carats was purchased for a record-breaking $71.2 million in 2017 at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.
Each carat costs $1.19 million. The largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ever given an Internally Flawless rating by the Gemological Institute of America is known as the “Pink Star” diamond.
Jadeite—$3 million per carat
The most pure, scarcest, and vibrant gemstone in the jade family is called jadeite. Although it comes in a range of hues, including red, yellow, and black, the stone is most frequently found in green. The most sought-after emerald green in the world is a particular shade known as “Imperial Jade,” which is semitransparent.
In Chinese tradition, jadeite has a special significance as a symbol of status and awe. Everyone anticipated that a jadeite necklace originally owned by American millionaire Barbara Hutton would become the most expensive piece of jadeite jewelry ever sold in 2014.
This was accomplished by the “Hutton-Midivani Necklace,” which has 27 big, excellent-quality jadeite beads. The item sold to Cartier, the original purchaser, for $27.44 million after twenty minutes of competitive bidding from eight interested parties.
Blue Diamond—$3.93 million per carat
The blue diamond, one of the world’s most storied gemstones, brings our list to a close. Due to its scarcity, the most prestigious collectors in the world gather in line whenever a blue diamond is scheduled to be offered at auction.
Millions of money will be spent by them to make it happen. When a stunning emerald-cut Vivid Blue diamond measuring 14.62 carats arrived at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva in 2016, this was unquestionably the case.
In honor of its previous owner, the diamond was given the moniker “The Oppenheimer Blue” and sold for a total of $57.5 million. The blue diamond now holds the record for the most costly jewel ever sold, albeit the Pink Star diamond broke that mark.
Conclusion
The top 10 gemstones in the world are listed here. Which one would you chose, if you could only pick one? It’s important to keep in mind that even while certain gemstones may be the most expensive, they may not necessarily be the most unique.
As an illustration, pearls are the only gemstones that originate from a living thing. One of the most timeless accessories that may completely complete any ensemble is a pearl necklace.
Next, though turquoises are not as scarce as red beryls, they have a unique beauty. Last but not least, topaz is a remarkable gemstone in its own right despite not being the most expensive. Choose the stone that has special meaning to you, whatever you decide to do.