Gemstones are minerals or rocks that are present in favourable sites in the earth’s crust resulting from the weathering of rocks. Gemstones have been used throughout history for different purposes like decorative ornaments, religious symbols, good-luck charms etc. While the earliest finding of wearable jewellery was dated around 25, 000 years ago, gemstones are believed to be around from the 13th century onwards.
Minerals can be classified as gemstones based on their crystal structure, optical characteristics and chemical composition. A gemstone’s worth is determined by its rarity, durability, hardness and size. Handmade gemstone jewelry is crafted by talented artisans and provides exclusiveness to your collection. In this article, we bring you the 10 most expensive gemstones ever discovered. Let’s get started:
1. Blue Diamond – $3.93 million per carat
Coloured diamonds are extremely rare and popular gemstones. Their spectacular brilliance and unmatched hardness make them ideal choice for jewellery. The 14.62 carat Oppenheimer Blue diamond was sold at a whopping $ 57.5 million.
2. Red Diamond – $1.56 million per carat
It is believed to be only around 30 red diamonds in the entire world and most of them weigh less than a carat. It was no surprise that the largest red diamond discovered in the world- the 5.11 carat Moussaieff Red Diamond was sold at $8 million in 2011.
3. Taaffeite – $35,000 per carat
Taaffeite (BeMgAl4O8) is a light violet gemstone discovered in Ireland in 1945. It is a rare mineral found in Sri Lanka & Tanzania only and it is difficulty in faceting makes its supply even more limited. It is a durable material but availability is limited.
4. Jadeite – $20,000 per carat
Jadeite is the most expensive and beautiful variety of Jade. This high valued emerald colour gemstone is found in Myanmar. In Chinese tradition, jadeite has been part of several historical weapons, jewellery and has been used for religious as well as medicinal purposes.
5. Diamond – $15,000 per carat
The most popular and advertised of all gemstones is Diamond. Diamonds are pure carbon arranged in a well-defined crystal lattice. This provides them with incredible strength and durability. Diamonds are found in kimberlites and takes around 1 to 3 billion years to form.
6. Alexandrite – $12,000 per carat
Alexandrite (BeAl2O4) was discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia in 19th century. The distinctive feature of alexandrite is that its colour changes from emerald in light to ruby red in darkness.
7. Red Beryl – $10,000 per carat
Popularly known as “scarlet emerald”, Red Beryl is (Be3Al2Si6O18) a mineral comprising beryllium, aluminium and silicate. It was discovered in 1904 and is found only in the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah. It is extremely rare and most likely to be found in the mineral collection than a jewellery collection.
8. Musgravite – $6,000 per carat
The origin of this purple coloured gemstone dates back to 1967 in Musgrave Ranges, Australia. Musgravite is a beryllium- aluminium oxide containing magnesium, iron and zinc. This hard gemstone is rare to find and comes from the family of Tafaeite.
9. Benitoite – $4,000 per carat
Benitoite is a bright blue gemstone consisting of Barium, Titanium and Silica. The gemstone derives its name from the San Benito County, California where it is found. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful gems.
10. Opal – $3,000 per carat
Opal is a hydrated form of Silica mineraloid and does not have a crystal lattice. Opals are formed in different colours and patterns depending upon the environmental conditions. Opals are found in New South Wales, Australia and are sensitive to shocks.
Wrapping it up!
There you have it! 10 most expensive gemstones of all time! The gemstones featured in this article are so rare that they are most likely to be found with jewellery collectors rather than shops. We hope that you found this article informative and interesting.
