Some Of The Rarest Gemstones In The World
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but there’s a huge range of gemstones that are just as beautiful and, in some cases, much rarer.
When it comes to precious stones, diamonds, emeralds and rubies are usually the first that come to mind. However, despite their fame and price tag, they’re far from being the rarest in the world. In fact, there are several gemstones around which are even rarer than diamonds! From alexandrite to painite, some of these incredibly scarce and valuable stones may not be as visually captivating as we’d expect – rarity is what truly makes them unique. It’s important to keep in mind however that prices of gemstones can often vary depending on availability, timing and sellers’ willingness to part with them.
Here are eight:
Grandidierite
In 1902, a French mineralogist was working in Madagascar and discovered a blue-green stone. He named it “grandidierite” after Alfred Grandidier, a French explorer who specialized in Madagascar’s natural history. Since then, only a few examples have been found and the only gem-quality stones are found in Madagascar and Sri Lanka. The rarest grandidierite is transparent; most are translucent. Because it looked so different, experts thought it was another gem, but after analysis, its true identity was revealed. It was sold for an undisclosed price, but we’re betting it was pretty high. It was most likely put into a piece of jewelry, because grandidierite 7.5 hardness makes it very scratch resistant.
Benitoite
Found only in California, benitoite was first identified in 1907. It’s a little unclear who was involved exactly, but we know that the stone was first believed to be volcanic glass, but then after inspection by George Louderback and other experts, it was declared an entirely new mineral. It was named benitoite because it was found near the San Benito River. A mine opened up, but it closed in 2006, so the deep-blue stone is even more rare. It’s the official state gemstone of California, though some small samples have been found as far-ranging as Japan and Australia. A gem-quality stone can cost as much as $10,000 per carat.
Serendibite
If you’re looking for one of the rarest gemstones out there, look no further than serendibite. Found in Sri Lanka back in 1902 and named after its original country of origin (Serendib, the old name for Sri Lanka), it is typically found either almost colorless or black. Its rarity can be attributed to the fact that there are only three known faceted Serendibites in existence today. Therefore, if you manage to come across one – consider yourself among the privileged few! As you’d expect with such a rare find, these gems are priced highly; serendibite sells for as much as $2 million per carat!
Painite
In 1951, Arthur Charles Davy Pain came into possession of a dark red crystal from Myanmar. It had been plucked from a riverbed known for its deposits of sapphires, rubies, and spinels, but something unfamiliar was hiding there, too. He sent a batch to the Natural History Museum in London in 1957, where experts realized the crystal was brand-new to classification. It was named “painite.” For years, that was the only example of the stone and it was carefully guarded at the British Museum in London. Why so rare? It contains an unusual chemical combination of zirconium and boron. Eventually, another high-quality crystal was found, and it joined its older sibling. In 2005, a new source was finally uncovered, and thousands of stones were found. However, most of them are not gem-quality, so getting an actual cut gem is expensive at about $60,000 per carat.
Musgravite
Musgravite is considered the rarest of all gemstones, even more so than diamond. It was discovered in 1967 in South Australia’s Musgrave Range and since then small amounts have been found in Greenland, Antarctica, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. Despite this, it remains incredibly hard to come by as there are still only eight known musgravite stones in the world to date. As a result of its scarcity, musgravite commands an incredibly steep price tag – about $35000 per carat.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite, one of the rarest gemstones in the world, has been prized for centuries by the Russian royal family. First discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1830, alexandrite is also found in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and East Africa. This highly sought-after stone is hard to come by and fetches an average price per carat of up to US$12,000. Alexandrite displays two different colors depending on its lighting: peacock blue and emerald green in natural light and ruby red or purple under incandescent light.
Taafeite
An Australian gemologist bought a violet-colored gemstone in 1945, and though it was classified as spinel, he saw some differences. He sent it to a lab, where it was eventually revealed to be a totally new stone. It was named “taafeite,” after the gemologist. This was the first time a gemstone had been identified in a faceted form and not as a rough stone. Today, high-quality samples are found in Sri Lanka and Tanzania, usually by deposits of mica, spinel, and tourmaline. It’s over 1 million times rarer than a diamond. In addition to violet, it’s hues come in red, green, blue, or even clear, though it’s most commonly-found in light purple. Deeper red and purple, which means the stone has iron and chromium, are the rarest.
Black Opal
When it comes to precious and rare gemstones, the black opal may just be at the top of the list. Found primarily in Australia, this unique gemstone features mesmerizing colors from across the rainbow, a sight that has captivated viewers for centuries. Further still, there is the even rarer fire opal which can come in deep reds, oranges and yellows and are mined in Mexico’s Mexican States of Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Michoacan and Hidalgo – an alluring commodity that is worth up to $2,350 per carat.
Did you know that the pearl is the oldest example of a sought-after gemstone? Click here to learn about its historical and fashionable significance.