10 Most Valuable Gemstones In The World
Duane Beckett
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The most valuable gemstones in the world come in all shapes, sizes, and rarity:
And to evaluate their value correctly, these rankings are in order of price per Carat.
10. Pearl, $1.5k Carat
Pearls find a place in every person’s jewelry collection. The price per pearl can range between $300 to $1,500, with South Sea pearls in the highest demand. Pearls from the South Sea are known as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of pearls, and one strand can cost up to $100,000:
Even though pearls are considered gemstones, they are made of calcium carbonate and not from minerals. The most expensive pearl in the world is valued at $100 million and measures 26 inches.
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9. Sapphire, $2k Per Carat
Sapphires can easily cost $1,200 to $2,000 per carat. After diamonds, sapphires are the second most popular gemstones in the world. They have even sold for over $135,000 per carat:
Sapphires are made from corundum, a form of aluminum oxide, one of the world’s toughest substances. Apart from the commonly available blue color, these stones are also green, yellow, black, pink, and orange.
The most expensive sapphire is known as the Blue Belle of Asia, which was a 392.52-carat sapphire. It sold for $17.56 million in 2014.
8. Taaffeite, $15k Per Carat
With prices of $15,000 per carat, taaffeite is one of the rarest gems in the world. It is also one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. Mostly because there are only 50 of these gems in existence. A fact that makes them even rarer than diamonds:
Taaffeite is made from a combination of magnesium, beryllium, and aluminum. The biggest taaffeite in the world is a 5.36-carat gemstone.
7. Musgravite, $35k Per Carat
First discovered in Australia, musgravite is a rare and valuable gemstone. Only eight musgravite stones were found in 2005:
The eight stones were in a variety of colors including translucent olive green and greyish purple. Owing to its rarity, it is valued at nearly $35,000 per carat.
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6. Alexandrite, $70k Per Carat
Valued at $70,000 per carat, alexandrite is considered one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. This rare gem is known for changing colors. The stones were earlier only found in Russia, but they are also being mined in India, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka today:
This gemstone is usually found in sizes that are smaller than one carat. So when a bigger stone is found, the price can go up to $15,000 per carat. For a larger stone, it may even cost $70,000 per carat. The largest faceted alexandrite in the world weighs 65.08 carats and is worth over $4 million.
5. Emerald, $305k Per Carat
Valued at $305,000 per carat, emeralds are one of the world’s most popular and valuable gemstones. They are known for their exotic green hues. The emeralds commonly found in the market carry minor imperfections. On the rare occasion when a natural emerald without flaws is found, it can sell for mind-blowing figures. The Rockefeller Emerald was auctioned for $5.5 million at a Christie’s auction, making it the most expensive emerald per carat ever to be sold.
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4. Jadeite, $1m Per Bead
One of the purest, rarest, and most valuable gemstones in the Jade family is called the jadeite. This is available in several colors – yellow, black, red, and green:
The Imperial Jade is the most sought-after jadeite in the world and is a gemstone of significance in China. The Hutton-Midivani necklace made from 27 large jadeite beads sold for $27.44 million in 2014.
3. Ruby, $1.17m Per Carat
Known as the King of Gemstones, rubies are counted among some of the most valuable gemstones in the world. Rubies are known for their vibrant red hues:
In 2015, a Burmese ruby was auctioned by Geneva Sotheby’s for over $30 million. It was nicknamed The Sunrise Ruby.
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2. Pink Diamond, $1.19m Per Carat
Valued at $1.19 million per carat, pink diamonds are one of the rarest of all diamonds. Pink diamonds account for less than 0.1% of the global production of diamonds annually.
When these gemstones come up for auction, they easily break the $1 million mark for price per carat.
The Pink Star is the largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond ever to be graded. It sold for $71.2 million at a Hong Kong auction of Sotheby’s.
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1. Blue Diamond, $3.93m Per Carat
Valued at $3.93 million per carat, the blue diamond is the most valuable gemstone in the world. It is so rare that anytime this stone is set for an auction, top collectors from all over the world line up to bid on it.
In 2016, the emerald-cut Vivid Blue diamond weighing 14.62 carats was auctioned at Christie’s in Geneva. Nicknamed Oppenheimer Blue, the blue diamond sold for $57.5 million.