Painite
Painite was declared the world’s rarest gemstone in 2005. It holds the Guinness World Record for the rarest gemstone (though others are of a similar rarity, like musgravite). In fact, after Painite was discovered in 1951, there remained only 2 known specimens for decades, and presently, there are less than 1,000 known gemstones altogether (many of them not faceted). While it’s primarily known for its rarity, it also has dazzling hues similar to a ruby. Color: Red, pink, brown, and orange-red Luster and transparency: Glassy and transparent to translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 7.5 - 8.0 Chemical composition: Calcium, zirconium, aluminum, boron, and oxygen (CaZrAl₉O₁₅(BO₃)) Average price per karat: $60,000+
Red Beryl
Red Beryl minerals are rarely found in gem quality. They’re valuable because over 95% of the minerals found each year are lower-quality—so only about 1 out of every 150,000 are actually gem-quality. Red beryl gems are in the same family as emerald, aquamarine, and morganite; however, red beryl gems contain manganese, which gives it the rich red color that it’s known for. Color: Reddish-pink to deep red Luster and transparency: Glassy and transparent to translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 7.5 - 8.0 Chemical composition: Beryllium, aluminum, and silica (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈,) Average price per karat: $10,000
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is known for changing color in different levels of light. In fact, it’s often called an “emerald by day, ruby by night,” referring to its blue-green color in full daylight and red-purple color in low light. Alexandrite was discovered in 1830 in the Ural mountains of Russia and named after Czar Alexander II, though it’s now mainly found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. Color: Green in daylight and red in incandescent light Luster and transparency: Glassy, shimmering, and transparent to translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 8.5 Chemical composition: Chrysoberyl (BeAl₂O₄) Average price per karat: $15,000 to $70,000
Black Opal
Black opal is so rare that it’s only found in Australia. Opals come in various colors, with the most common being cream-white, gray, and green (along with the opal’s characteristic rainbow of color inside because of the diffraction of light). Black opals are the rarest and, therefore, most valuable; its dark coloring and vibrant opalescent gleam resemble the aurora borealis! Color: Dark gray to jet black with a rainbow shine Luster and transparency: Glassy to resinous Hardness on the Mohs scale: 5.5 - 6.5 Chemical composition: Hydrated silica (SiO2·nH2O) Average price per karat: $15,000 (with one of the most valuable selling for $763,000)
Tanzanite
Tanzanite can only be gathered from one mine in the world. It’s remarkable for its exceptional trichroism (meaning it shows 3 colors when viewed at different angles). Tanzanite’s colors are blue, violet, and burgundy—although its real value comes from its rarity. Discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, Africa, the gemstone is currently gathered from a single mine there and will likely be mined out in 30 years or so. Color: Blue-violet with shades of burgundy Luster and transparency: Glassy and shining luster, as well as transparent to transluscent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 6.0 - 7.0 Chemical composition: Calcium aluminum hydroxy silicate (Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)₃(OH)) Average price per karat: $500 - $3,000
Benitoite
Benitoite is a deep blue gem only found in San Benito County, California. Discovered in the early 1900s, benitoite is rarer than diamonds and has a greater dispersion (referring to the optical phenomenon when light enters a gem and scatters into a rainbow of colors). Because gem-quality benitoite develops in a very specific location, it’s highly sought-after and quite valuable. Color: Dark sapphire blue with some purple Luster and transparency: Glassy and transparent to translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 6.0 - 6.5 Chemical composition: Barium titanium cyclosilicate mineral (BaTiSi3O9) Average price per karat: $2,000 Fun fact—because of its origins, benitoite is the official state gem of California!
Jadeite
Jadeite is the most expensive and rare variety of jade. Although jadeite comes in a number of different colors, its most well-known (and prized) color is imperial jade. It has tons of folklore attached to it in Chinese and Mayan cultures, so the price tag of a jadeite gem typically varies based on its history and artistry in addition to its texture and appearance. Color: Mainly emerald green; can also be lavender, yellow, white, orange-red, blue, and black Luster and transparency: Waxy to glassy luster and semi-transparent to opaque Hardness on the Mohs scale: 6.5 - 7.0 Chemical composition: Sodium, aluminum, and silica Average price per karat: Up to $3 million
Burma Ruby
Burma Rubies have a singular, vivid color and fine quality. While all ruby gems are rare, Burma rubies are especially scarce and among the highest-quality rubies available. That’s because the conditions in Myanmar cause rubies to form with less trace iron than most, which is why their color (nicknamed “pigeon blood”) and fluorescence are so notable compared to other ruby types. Color: Deep, vivid red Luster and transparency: Subadamantine (high degrees of luster) and transparent or translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 9.0 Chemical composition: Aluminium oxide with chromium Average price per karat: $10,000 to $15,000
Paraíba Tourmaline
Paraíba tourmaline can only be mined in a few specific countries. It was discovered in the 1980s in Paraíba, Brazil—and it didn’t take long for the gem’s value to skyrocket. These gems are also found in Mozambique and Nigeria, although they remain very scarce. They’re prized among tourmaline varieties for their neon-electric colors as well as their incredible rarity! Color: Vivid blue, green, and turquoise Luster and transparency: Glassy and transparent to translucent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 7.0 - 7.5 Chemical composition: (Na,Ca)(Li,Mg)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄ Average price per karat: $10,000 - $50,000
Ammolite
Ammolite is a rare gem made from the shells of ancient mollusks. It originates from limited deposits in the Rocky Mountains, and the aragonite mollusk shells comprising it give the gemstone its lovely, iridescent colors. The rarer the ammolite’s color, the greater its value—and one sample of ammolite can contain any color or even the entire spectrum of them! Color: Typically gray to brown with reddish to green iridescence Luster and transparency: Greasy to dull luster (glassy when polished) and opaque Hardness on the Mohs scale: 3.5 - 5.5 Chemical composition: Variable, but mainly aragonite with calcite, silica, pyrite, and other minerals Average price per karat: $250
Natural Pearl
Natural pearls are extremely rare due to pollution and overfishing. Pearls may be super common—but natural ones surprisingly aren’t. Natural pearls are typically off-color and not perfectly round, unlike cultured pearls that are purposefully made for use in jewelry. So, if you see jewelry with round, matching pearls, they’re probably cultured (not natural) Color: Cream and white-yellow, with overtones of pink, green, or blue Luster and transparency: Pearly and opaque Hardness on the Mohs scale: 2.5 - 4.5 Chemical composition: Calcium carbonate, water, and conchiolin (a binding agent) Average price: $500 - $2,000 per pearl
Kashmir Sapphire
Kashmir Sapphires have already been mined as much as possible. The Himalayan mines that produced them ran dry in the 1930s, which is why Kashmir sapphires are so valuable and rare. They’re renowned for their vivid blue color and soft, velvety appearance—created by the fine rutile mineral inclusions (with inclusions being very fine materials trapped inside a gem. Color: Intense blue hues with subtle violet undertones Luster and transparency: Glassy and transparent Hardness on the Mohs scale: 9.0 Chemical composition: It’s a variety of corundum, so it’s mainly composed of aluminum oxide Average price per karat: $5,000 to $50,000
Musgravite
Musgravite is another contender for the rarest gem in the world. The gem was discovered in 1967 in Musgrave Ranges, Australia, its namesake. Since then, it’s also been found in Madagascar and Greenland. However, it’s so rare and valuable that finding jewelry with musgravite is very hard to do, and it’s not readily available on the market in many cases. Color: Violet-gray to green-gray Luster and transparency: Glassy, brilliant luster, and transparent with few inclusions Hardness on the Mohs scale: 8.0 - 8.5 Chemical composition: Beryllium, magnesium, and aluminum Average price per karat: $35,000 - $40,000 Musgravite looks similar to its valuable (but not quite as rare) cousin, taaffeite—so if you find something resembling musgravite, it’s a good idea to have it tested by a gemology lab.
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