Rare Gemstones that are more Precious than Diamond

 

Diamond has been a forever friend of woman but there are many gemstones rarer than diamonds. Bored of having regular diamonds and looking for something unique for your next jewelry purchase, check out these ten stunning gemstones that are rarer and more precious than diamonds.

Tanzanite

One of the first rare stones in the list is a rival of fine sapphire and diamond and the stone that may be wins by a fraction of a price by both- Intense violet-blue hues of tanzanite! It was discovered in 1967 and arises only in a small area of Tanzania, this variety of zoisite has become quite prominent and it quickly rose in popularity. Gem cutters orient these gems to feature blue, violet, or green-yellow to brown, depending on the viewing angle. All tanzanite undergoes heat treatment to produce its attractive blue hues and that makes this stone so desirable.

Burma Ruby

All rubies are rare, but those from Myanmar that are exceptionally scarce set the standard for quality and color. The geological conditions in Myanmar generally produce rubies with very little trace iron unlike the ones in Thailand that contain relatively high iron content which can result in overly dark reds with brownish or purplish overtones . Coz of the little trace iron, these gems often have more vivid reds with much stronger fluorescence than their Thai counterparts. Nicknamed “pigeon blood,” Burma Ruby is always in demand. At KGK Group, they have some of the best collections of Burma Ruby.

Jadeite

Jadeite occurs in many colors, including lavender, yellow, orange-red, blue, black, and colorless but is known for the bright electric green of imperial jade. Jadeite value depends on its translucency and texture. Determining the price of a piece of jade involves more prejudice than most gemstones. The artistry of the piece plays a very important role and that’s why it is said “Gold has value; jade is invaluable.”

Alexandrite

Revealed in 1830 in Ural Mountains, Alexandrite has one of those rare gemstones which have remarkable color-changing abilities. This stone appears emerald green to peacock blue in daylight and ruby red to purple under incandescent light, all thanks to the trace amounts of chromium in its crystal structure. Named after Czar Alexander, this variety of chrysoberyl is a rare stone. Also known as a modern June birthstone, alexandrite remains popular and is often synthesized for jewelry use.

Paraíba Tourmaline

Discovered in 1980s in the Brazalian state of Paraiba, these brightly saturated blue-green hues of paraíba tourmaline stunned the world. The per carat price of these rare gemstones rose quickly and continues to grow. However, apart from Brazil it is also found in Mozambique and Nigeria. Still, this tourmaline variety remains among the rarest gems. At KGK Group, they have some of the best collections of Paraiba Tourmaline.

Ammolite

In 1981, the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) declared ammolite a new organic gem. Occurring in limited deposits in the Rocky Mountains, this gem material is much rarer than diamond. Ammolite is made of the aragonite shells of marine mollusks more than 65 million years old, which display bright, iridescent colors. Any color of the rainbow, or even the entire rainbow, may appear in a single specimen. The value of these unique gems increases for rare colors, more intense iridescence and play of color, and how much the stone can be rotated with the color still visible. Today, Korite International mines most of the ammolite on the market.

Kashmir Sapphire

Soft, velvety, saturated blue hues characterize Kashmir sapphires. These gems contain very fine inclusions of rutile that create this soft look. The mines that once produced them high in the Himalayas ran dry in the 1930s. As a result, the price of these extremely scarce stones rises ever higher. While few will ever have the privilege of owning one of these gems, museums have many pieces on display. They’re well worth a visit.

Natural Pearl

Pearls are ubiquitous, but without the cultured pearl industry, they would be nearly non-existent. Natural pearls are extremely rare and become rarer every year. Due to overfishing, pollution, and ocean acidification, naturally occurring pearls appear more frequently in antique jewelry than in our planet’s oceans. Natural pearls are rarely round and often off-color. So, while the standard for matching round pearl jewelry is very high in cultured pearls, natural pearl strands will have more imperfections.

Red Beryl

A cousin of emerald, aquamarine, and morganite, the red variety of beryl contains manganese, which imparts a bright red hue. Once called bixbite, red beryl is one of the rarest and most desirable gems. With good wearability, this gem can make an excellent jewelry stone — if you can find one! Gem-quality red beryl occurs only in Utah’s Wah Wah mountains, and most specimens are kept by mineral collectors and never faceted.

Benitoite­­

This rare stone exceeds diamond’s rarity as well as its “fire” or dispersion. Combined with its often sapphire-blue color, it’s no wonder this is a highly sought rare gem. Gem-quality benitoite occurs only in San Benito County, California (and thus a natural choice for the California state gem). When choosing a benitoite gem, consumers must decide between a dark and saturated sapphire blue with somewhat less visible dispersion or a gem with lighter tone but sparkling fire.