Many are accustomed to thinking that the limit of the high cost of precious stones stops at diamonds, but there are minerals on our planet that are much rarer and more valuable than diamonds, sapphires and similar jewelry, the names of which have long been heard by everyone.

A high price is usually determined by a unique combination of rarity, beauty and high demand. The list shows the average cost of high quality stones available on the world market today, however it should be noted that some prices are approximate, as particularly valuable gems are often sold privately, without disclosure to the general public.

Eremeevit

Eremeevite is a rare gemstone, first discovered in 1883 in the southeastern part of the Trans-Baikal region. At first it was mistaken for aquamarine, since the first crystals found were light blue. Over the last century, light yellow and even colorless examples have been discovered, but blue ones are still the most expensive on the gem market. The gem received its name in honor of the Russian mineralogist Pavel Eremeev. It is reliably known that at the moment there are several hundred faceted eremeyevites, the cost of which averages $1,500 per carat. Incredibly beautiful asterism, that is, stars on the surface of stones, gives precious stones even more mystery and splendor.

Blue Garnet

Blue garnet is the rarest of these minerals and was first discovered in Madagascar only in the late 1990s. Today, stones of this color are found in Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Norway and the USA. Their main distinguishing feature is the ability to change their shade when the lighting changes. So in daylight they acquire blue, indigo and green tints, and in artificial light they become purple or red. Today, the average cost of this high-quality gemstone is 1,500 USD. per carat

Black opal

Black opal is the most valuable of the group of opals, the bulk of which is mined in the vastness of Australia. Other rich deposits are Brazil, USA, Mexico. The color of opals of this type can vary from grayish to black with a rich variety of shimmering tints of all colors of the rainbow. Although today these precious stones are no longer considered as rare as they used to be, they are nevertheless quite expensive. The cost of high quality black opal is approximately $2,000 per carat.

Demantoid

Demantoid is a green or yellowish-green gemstone from the group of garnets, long known only among collectors. The main deposits of these gems are located in Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania. Every year the popularity of the mineral is steadily increasing, along with which comes an increase in its value. Currently, a carat of top-class demantoid can be purchased on the world gemstone market for $2,000.

Taaffeit

Taaffeite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, named after its discoverer, Count Eduard Taaffe, who in 1945 accidentally discovered an unusual specimen in a purchased batch of faceted gems that he had never seen before. The range of shades of taaffeite can vary from lavender to pale pink. Today, the unique mineral is found in small quantities only in some placer deposits in Sri Lanka and southern Tanzania. The cost of high-quality specimens of taaffeite varies between 2-5 thousand dollars.

Poudretteite / Poudretteite

Poudretteite / Poudretteite is a rare pink mineral first discovered in 1987 in Quebec, Canada. It got its name in honor of the Poudrette family, which still owns the same mine in Mont Saint-Hilaire where the first sample was found. Quality stones only began to appear in 2000, when several specimens were found in northern Mogog (Myanmar). Since 2005, the mineral has not been discovered there, and the Canadian deposit has given the world only about 300 stones of varying quality. Depending on the color saturation and purity, the cost of poudretteite can range from 3 to 5 thousand conventional units.

Musgravit

Musgravite is a close relative of taaffeite, to which it is similar in appearance and chemical composition. It was first discovered in 1967 in Australia's Musgrave Range. Later, the mineral was found in Greenland, Tanzania, Madagascar and even in the depths of the cold lands of Antarctica. This gem comes in several colors, but the most common are green and purple. Due to the fact that very small quantities of these precious stones have been found throughout history, their price reaches quite expected levels: the cost of a carat of high-quality green musgravite is 2-3 thousand dollars, while for one carat of a purple faceted mineral you will have to pay about 6 thousand conventional units.

Benitoite

Benitoite is a deep blue gemstone whose only deposit is located in San Benito County, California, USA, where it was first discovered back in 1907. In 1984, it was officially designated as the State Gemstone of the state. On the world market, the average cost of small benitoite weighing 1 carat, of which there is an extremely limited quantity in the world (no more than a dozen), is 4000-6000 USD.

Sapphire

Sapphire is one of the most famous jewelry stones, called corundum in mineralogy and the jewelry industry. It has a deep blue color; pink, green and yellowish-orange gems are less common. The rarest varieties include blue star sapphire and padparadscha, an orange and red-yellow colored stone. The most famous deposits of these minerals are located in India, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, USA, Australia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China and Madagascar. The rarest and highest quality specimens on the world market can be purchased for approximately 4-6 thousand conventional units per carat.

Emerald

Emerald is a top quality gemstone with a bright green or dark green color. In recent years, Colombia has been named the main deposit of this mineral. Despite the large number of emeralds actively mined all over the world, their prices still remain truly astronomical. Today, pure stones are extremely rare, which, together with their enormous popularity, determines their high cost. A green gem of exceptional quality, weighing approximately 1 carat, sells for more than $8,000 on the world market.

Bixbit

Bixbite is a rare variety of red beryl, known only to a few collectors until recently. It is mined exclusively in the American states of Utah (Waho-Waho Mountains) and New Mexico. It is extremely difficult to purchase high-quality red beryl, and the price for a stone weighing about 1 carat is more than 10-12 thousand US dollars. Determining the average cost of this mineral is quite difficult due to the small number of high-quality stones offered for sale.

Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a famous gemstone famous for its ability to change color. In daylight, its color is characterized by bluish-green, dark blue-green and olive green, while in artificial light its iridescence can take on pink-crimson, red, purple or violet-red. The first crystal was discovered in 1833 at an emerald mine in the vicinity of Yekaterinburg. The cost of this precious stone, depending on its quality, can range from 10 to 15 thousand conventional units.

Paraiba (blue tourmaline)

Paraiba (blue tourmaline) is a beautiful and very rare crystal of bright blue-turquoise color, discovered in 1987 in the state of Paraiba, in eastern Brazil. For a long time, this gemstone was mined in only one place, but today there are already deposits of it in Madagascar and Mozambique. Brazilian blue tourmalines are by far the most expensive representatives of the group - their price is 12-15 thousand dollars per carat, and a truly unique gem of the highest quality can far exceed these figures.

Ruby

Ruby is one of the most popular gemstones in the world, known for its rich shades of red: bright red, violet-red, dark red. It is found, like diamonds, on all continents, excluding Antarctica. The main exporting countries are Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The most valuable are Asian rubies, especially stones of the "pigeon's blood" color - pure red with a purple tint. Their limited quantity and enormous popularity make them extremely expensive gemstones. For a carat of high quality ruby ​​on the world market you will have to pay about 15 thousand dollars.

Diamond

Diamond is a common mineral and has long been one of the most expensive and desirable gemstones. The reason for this, of course, is the enormous popularity of diamonds (as cut diamonds are called). Every year the number of manufactured jewelry with these precious stones is rapidly increasing. Industrial diamond deposits are now known on all continents except Antarctica. Currently, a perfectly cut D color diamond sells on average for about 15,000 USD. e. per carat.

Jadeite (imperial)

Jadeite (imperial) is a green mineral that has long held the status of one of the most mysterious stones on our planet. Today, its main sources are in China, Upper Myanmar, Japan, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Guatemala and the USA. The approximate cost of a carat of high quality jadeite on the world market is 20 thousand dollars.

Padparadscha

Padparadscha (Tamil for "sunrise color") are pinkish-orange sapphires that were historically mined in Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Madakascar. Nowadays in Sri Lanka there is practically no padparadscha left in its natural form and it is obtained by heating the corundum mineral in a furnace to the desired condition. The last classic (i.e. unheated) padparadscha weighing 1.65 carats was sold in Sri Lanka about 20 years ago for $18,000. Now padparadscha weighing over five carats is considered collectible and can be valued at up to 30 thousand dollars for each carat of weight.

Grandidierite

Grandidierite is a rare greenish-blue, greenish-blue or bluish-green mineral, the first specimen of which was discovered in Sri Lanka. At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was described by the French explorer Alfred Grandidier, who was engaged in the study of Madagascar, on the territory of which the bulk of these minerals are still mined today. Faceted grandidierites today exist in extremely limited quantities - about two dozen. The approximate cost of the unique mineral is more than 30 thousand dollars per carat.

Red diamond

According to the federal law of our country, natural diamonds, rubies, alexandrites and emeralds, pearls and sapphires, as well as amber, both in raw and processed form, are considered precious stones. Let's figure out what the most expensive stone in the world is and how much it costs in 2017-2018.

A gemstone is a complex composition of chemical elements found in nature. The gem is evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • By color;
  • By cleanliness;
  • By weight;
  • By location of the deposit;
  • In terms of durability.

Crystals are divided into organic and inorganic. The latter are compounds of special strength, in which the chemical structure is unchanged. About a hundred minerals are mined in the world, and only twenty to thirty of them are classified as precious, including the most expensive stone in the world. Precious minerals are wear-resistant, rare and very beautiful.

Organic gemstones, such as amber or pearls, are created by animals or plants.

Stones have always attracted attention due to their fascinating appearance, as well as the properties that they have on humans. What is the most expensive stone in the world? Diamonds have long been considered the most expensive gem.

But the secrets of nature are unknown, and some time ago another beautiful gem was discovered, costing much more than its fellows. This most expensive stone in the world is called and is the most expensive of the diamond family, as well as among other jewelry in the world. There is only one deposit of this mineral in nature, and it is located in Australia. And, even though the mine has existed for many years, during its entire existence, people have mined only a few copies of red diamond. At the same time, the maximum size of the stone did not exceed half a carat. Specialists from gemological centers claim that the color of the gem is purple-red. This most expensive stone in the world, the photo of which you will see below, costs $1 million and can be bought mainly at auctions.

What is the most expensive stone in the world? Top Ten!

Crystals, which have a number of valuable qualities, are highly valued in the jewelry market, as well as among collectors and lovers of presentable jewelry. Some copies are sold exclusively from hand to hand, never ending up on the shelves of regular stores.

Below you will see a list of gems and their approximate cost. The most expensive stone in the world is discussed above, and therefore is not included in this list.

  • Grandidierite from 100 thousand.
  • Padparadscha from 30 thousand
  • Jadeite (imperial) from 20 thousand.
  • Diamond - 15-17 thousand.
  • Ruby from 16 thousand.
  • Alexandrite from 12 thousand.
  • Paraiba tourmaline - 13-14 thousand.
  • Bixbit - 10-12 thousand.
  • Sapphire from 9 thousand.
  • Emerald from 8 thousand.

Other gems known to mankind

In addition to the stones that we talked about above, there are others that delight people with their beauty and positive properties. Among them you can find: pearls and coral, aquamarine and heliodor, garnet and chrysolite, beryl and chrysoprase, topaz and opal, amber and many others. In our article we will look at the most beautiful and famous crystals.

Delicate pearls

This mineral is of organic origin and is a waste product of mollusks, which is formed as a result of a foreign body entering their shell. The stone is extracted from the sea or river bottom, and it can also be grown in artificially created conditions.

The advantage of pearls is that they do not need special treatment. Nature made it beautiful, it has the correct shape.

This most expensive organic stone in the world comes in different colors.

  • Pink pearls are mined on the Indian coast, in the Bahamas or in the Gulf of California;
  • Panama gives the world gold-colored stones, sometimes with brown inclusions;
  • The red mineral is mined in Mexico;
  • In Japan or Australia, white and silver stone is found;
  • There are deposits of yellow and cream pearls in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf;
  • Tahiti is famous for its black pearl stones.

People also learned how to fish for river pearls. It can be found in China, Russia and Germany.

It is believed that this not the most expensive stone in the world, the photo of which you will see below, protects against infections, accumulates vital energy and promotes longevity.

If you want to extend the life of your pearls, you need to care for them correctly and on time. Do not allow cosmetics and household chemicals to come into contact with their surface, do not overdry the stones or expose them to excess moisture. The cost of this gemstone depends on how smooth and even it is, as well as the size of the pearl and its color and brightness.

Previously, it was believed that only unmarried girls could wear pearl jewelry. They can be worn during daylight hours.

Mesmerizing ruby

This stone belongs to the corundum class and differs from the others in its red color. Its cost is determined by its antiquity. Crystals are formed due to the movement and interaction of tectonic plates: magma and the earth's crust. Currently, such a process does not occur, and deposits of rubies can only be found in those rocks that are more than five hundred thousand years old. Ruby is not the most expensive stone in the world, but it is very beautiful.

The color palette of the mineral ranges from light pink with a hint of raspberry to fiery red. The rarest representative of rubies is a stone of bright red color with a purple tint. In our country, the mineral is mined in the polar Urals. Other countries are India, Burma, Ceylon and Thailand.

The stone helps a person strengthen those qualities that are given to him by nature. It is believed that you cannot wear a ruby ​​all the time, as it can turn into an energy vampire.

Back in the nineteenth century, ruby ​​was the most expensive stone in the world, and cost more than diamond. Today, the cost of low-quality minerals mined in Burma does not exceed three dozen dollars per carat, while elite specimens cost $100,000 per carat.

Mysterious emerald

When answering the question about what is the most expensive stone in the world, one cannot ignore the mysterious emerald, which belongs to the beryl group. Its color varies from light green to green-blue, light or dark. Mining is carried out in such countries as:

Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Egypt. The darker the stone, the higher its value, so color is the deciding factor in determining value, not transparency.

Emerald is a very fragile precious crystal. Quite often, small defects can be found on natural stones, which easily disappear after various synthetic treatments.

Sapphire

Another not the most expensive stone in the world, but still worthy of attention, is sapphire. It is also a type of corundum. It is characterized by high hardness and strong shine. In nature, blue, white, yellow, pink, as well as black and star colors of this stone are found. The last color is characterized by an optical effect when a small star is visible on an opaque background.

Sapphires are mined in bulk in the following mines on the planet:

  • In India. The blue-colored mineral is mined here. Now you know what the most expensive stone in the world is among the “sapphire” family;
  • In Australia. The largest-scale stone mining takes place here, and stones of all colors are found here;
  • Pink and blue sapphires are mined in Sri Lanka;
  • In Thailand (greenish, not the best quality), Russia and the USA.

Sapphires are actively used by people for the production of jewelry, as well as for industrial purposes.

This crystal is a symbol of purity and purity; it helps to reveal the positive traits of human character; even a child can wear it.

Precious diamond

Another most expensive stone in the world is the diamond, which is particularly popular. After cutting, it acquires another name – diamond. It is the oldest among gems known to mankind.

The first diamond deposits appeared in India, and then in Brazil. Today, about twenty tons of this precious stone are mined every year in countries such as Africa, Russia and Australia.

It should be noted that large stones are quite rare; usually their maximum weight is no more than one carat. Diamond differs from other minerals in its varied range of colors; in nature you can find: black, red, white, yellow, green, orange, blue, pink and even brown diamonds.

Due to the fact that the described crystal has increased strength characteristics, it is widely used in industrial applications.

There are more than a thousand types of jewelry diamonds in nature, and all of them are without defects.

The average price of a 2-carat stone in Russia is about 120 thousand rubles.


The largest diamonds in the world:

  • "Kullian" - equal to 94 tons of gold;
  • "Hope" - costs 350 million dollars;
  • "Century" - estimated at $100 million.

By the way, it was diamonds and precious metals that were used to create the most expensive phone in the world

What stones are rare in the world?

The rarest stones:

Eremeevit. It comes in light yellow, white and blue. First discovered in Russia (Trans-Baikal Territory). The name was given in honor of Pavel Eremeev, a mineralogist. There are 100 products in the world that include faceted stone. Externally similar to aquamarine. Costs $1,500 per carat.

Blue Garnet . It changes shade depending on the lighting; in daylight it has blue, cyan and green tints, and in artificial light it has red or purple tints. It was found in Madagascar at the end of the last century. Currently mined in Norway and Tanzania, as well as Sri Lanka.

Demantoid. It is a variety of pomegranate and has a yellow-green or green color. This most expensive stone is found among rare ones in Russia, Kenya, Iran and Pakistan. Until recently, it was known only among collectors, and it was not sold in jewelry stores. Today, the crystal is becoming increasingly popular, which contributes to an increase in its price, which is already more than $2,000 per carat.

Taaffeit. Shimmers in all sorts of shades of pink. It was accidentally discovered by Eduard Taaffe, who drew attention to an interesting sample located among the crystals of other cut stones. Stone deposits are located in China, Sri Lanka, and Southern Tanzania. The cost ranges from two to five thousand dollars per carat.

It's powdery. There are about six hundred gems of different texture, quality and richness in the world. They are all pink. The first deposits were discovered in Canada in the eighties of the twentieth century. The mine is owned by the Poudret family, however, there are no more gems there (hence the name). Currently, the main mining sites for this stone have been exhausted, and it is no longer mined. The cost ranges from three to five thousand US dollars.

Musgravit. Similar to the stone described above. Mineral deposits are located in Greenland, Australia, Madagascar, Tanzania and Antarctica. This stone is greenish and purple in color. Moreover, green costs from 2 to 3 thousand dollars, and purple is less common, so its price reaches 6 thousand dollars.

Benitoite . It is a deep blue mineral. When exposed to ultraviolet light, a fluorescent glow appears on it. There is only one known deposit of this stone, and it is located in the USA, in California. It is considered a gem of national significance for this state, as it is very rare. On the jewelry market it is estimated at 4–6 thousand US dollars per carat.

Tanzanite - is a blue crystal and belongs to cyosites. The deposit is located in Tanzania, on Mount Kilimanjaro. The color of the stone improves as the air temperature rises.

Larminar, which is mined in the Dominican Republic, has a bluish tint. For quite a long time, no importance was attached to the stone, although it was known for several centuries, as gems were thrown onto the sea coast. Deposits were found only in the 70s of the last century, and the mineral began to be mined.

Bright turquoise Paraibe TourmalineA. It was found in the late 80s, last century, in Brazil. The peculiarity of the stone is that, by transmitting light through itself, it creates a glow similar to neon. In the early 21st century, turquoise minerals were found in Mozambique and Nigeria.

Grandidierite blue-green color. Named after the French explorer Alfred Grandidier. It was discovered in Madagascar. Deposits of the mineral are distributed throughout the planet, however, the highest quality stones can be found, in addition to Madagascar, in Sri Lanka. Most minerals are translucent, and therefore the most transparent of them are considered the most expensive.

Red beryl – or red emerald. It forms its shade due to the presence of manganese impurities. Found in the USA and Mexico. It cannot be cut or faceted due to its microscopic size.

Alexandrite . It is a chameleon - in the sun it turns blue-green, and in artificial light it turns red-violet. It was found in Russia and named after Emperor Alexander II. If the stone weighs one carat, its price will not be more than 15 thousand dollars. If the mass of the mineral is higher, then its price can reach 70 thousand dollars per carat. The stone belongs to the chrysoberyl class.

Black opal. Its peculiarity is that its surface shimmers in different shades, the number of which reaches several hundred. The color of the stone ranges from creamy white to black, and includes all the colors of the rainbow. The most expensive representatives of this mineral are dark specimens with bright inclusions. This stone is mined in Australia, Brazil and Mexico. It costs from 2 thousand dollars per carat.

Painite . It is a dark red mineral. It is considered one and only, and therefore is kept in the London Museum. A little later, over a thousand similar stones were found in Myanmar, but they were all of low quality.

Gems and precious stones

According to their properties, as well as their effect on humans, precious stones are classified by color:

  • White minerals are a symbol of perfection, loneliness and concentration (pearl, diamond);
  • Greens are considered a symbol of harmony, wisdom and peace (emerald, malachite, tourmaline);
  • Blue – an indicator of practicality and peace, as well as peace (sapphire, topaz);
  • Red stones symbolize strength, power and passion (ruby, garnet and others);
  • Violet is a symbol of honesty, mysticism and receptivity (amethyst).

Remember that when buying jewelry there is always a risk that you will purchase a fake, so ask the seller for complete information about the stone, its origin and processing method.
Read

Eleonora Brik

In the 21st century, the scale of gemstone mining is growing exponentially. It is not surprising that the range of jewelry on the jewelry market is expanding every day. It is generally accepted that the most expensive minerals are diamonds. However, other organic rocks have been found in the depths of the earth, the cost of which exceeds the price of high-quality diamonds.

Inquisitive site visitors have a question: Which stones are the most expensive? The status of a mineral in the jewelry market is determined by its texture and color, luster and structural composition, transparency and the amount of organic deposits in nature. The uniqueness of a stone is a fundamental criterion for a gemologist in assessing the value of a product.

Precious minerals with high value

We present a rating of precious stones that cost a lot of money and are valuable rocks in the world of mineralogy. However, among the gems listed below there are no “record holders” that occupy leading positions in the jewelry industry.

Stones that cost $1,500 per carat:

Eremeevit. In nature, there are 100 products with a faceted stone that is visually similar to aquamarine. Mineral with a light yellow or blue surface.
Blue garnet. The value of the gemstone is its uniqueness, because in nature there are 500 organic minerals with a similar structure. A distinctive characteristic of garnet jewelry is its color change depending on the lighting.

Earrings with diamonds, topaz and emeralds, SL; gold ring with diamonds, topazes and emeralds, SL (prices follow links)

Mineral rocks with a price up to $2,000:

Black opal. It is impossible to determine the color of a mineral, because thousands of shades shimmer on the surface of the stone. In the 21st century, opals are mined mainly in Australia, Brazil and North America.
Demantoid. The number of such precious stones in nature determines the value of the mineral. It is impossible to find products made from demantoid in a jewelry store; they are found only in the collections of connoisseurs of rocks and organic compounds.

Stones worth up to $5,000:

Taaffeit. The mineral is mined mainly on the territory of island states. The color of the gemstone ranges from a thousand shades of pink.
Poudretti. Today, there are no operating mines in which the pink mineral is mined. The deposits in Canada and Myanmar have exhausted themselves, giving the world 600 stones of different textures, richness and quality.

Organic minerals worth US$6,000:

Musgravit. Gems of green and purple shades are rare in nature, so becoming the owner of such a stone is good luck for a true collector.
Benitoite. The official precious mineral of California with a deep blue color. In nature, there are 10 stones with this chemical composition, which are kept in museums and collectors.
Sapphire. The color of minerals found on the jewelry market is blue. The shape is star-shaped, and the price directly depends on the uniform distribution of shades on the surface of the gem.

Gold earrings with diamonds and sapphires, SL; gold ring with diamonds and sapphires, SL (prices follow links)

Gemstones in the price range from $8,000 to $15,000:

Emerald. Stones with various shades of green are mined today in Colombia, because other deposits of the “space” mineral have exhausted themselves, determining the high price of the gem.
Bixbit. Red beryl can rarely be found in nature, so the “exorbitant” cost is explained by gemologists due to the uniqueness of the mineral.
Alexandrite. Stones that change color depending on the light can be green-blue, violet, raspberry-pink, purple or red.
Blue tourmaline. The turquoise-blue crystalline Paraiba compound is easy to cut, but it is rare to find minerals without organic “inclusions” on the jewelry market. The cost of high-quality tourmaline exceeds $15,000.
Ruby. A precious mineral with rich shades of red, blue, green or yellow. The value of rubies is determined by the centuries during which visually elegant stones are cut.

Wealthy people are ready to pay exorbitant amounts of money, amounting to millions of US dollars, for such organic minerals.

The rarest stone in the world is painite. In the 21st century, there are only 8 minerals of this type, of which only 2 could be cut.

The rest of the organic compounds have the original appearance that nature “bestowed” on them.”

Top 5 most expensive stones in the world

List of the most expensive organic minerals known to man in the 21st century:

Red diamond. Gems with purple-red hues are mined only in Australia. Stones weighing over 0.1 carats are sold at auctions, because the cost of diamonds starts from $1,000,000 per 1 carat.
Grandidierite. The bluish-green mineral is found only in Madagascar. Today there are 20 gemstones in the world with this structural composition, so unique gems cost about $35,000.
Padparadscha. Orange-pinkish sapphires are considered collectible stones and are therefore sold only at auctions. The cost of the iridescent mineral is $30,000.
Jade. The most mysterious stone mined in the East has a cloudy green color, evenly distributed on the surface of the mineral. The price of gems reaches 20,000 USD.
Diamond. Cut diamonds are mined on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, so there is no need to complain about the lack of minerals. Thanks to the magical sparkle of diamonds, the cost of a category D gem reaches $15,000.

Gold earrings with diamonds and rubies, SL; gold ring with diamonds and rubies, SL (prices follow links)

The most expensive stone in the world is pink in color and weighs 24.78 carats. The price of the diamond is $45,000,000. Surprisingly, the jewelry has an owner who had no doubts about paying such a sum for a mineral with an elegant texture. The stone was found in the mines of South Africa, where a local mining company, due to the cost of the find, changed from a regional organization to a large-scale commercial project.

Based on the cost of jewelry per carat, the most expensive stone in the world is considered to be a diamond, which weighs 6.04 grams.

At an auction at Sotheby's, a blue diamond was sold for a record amount of $7.98 million - that's $1.32 million per carat.

It is impossible to convey the elegance of forms and pristine beauty of precious stones through photographs. Unique minerals are not displayed in jewelry store windows, but are sold exclusively at auctions.

30 November 2014, 17:30

The most expensive gemstone is the red diamond. In general, in the depths of the earth, along with ordinary minerals, there are many beautiful gems hidden. Their production is limited, the price is high and not all names are known. So, a red diamond has only been found a few times in history.

This is what a red diamond looks like

Diamonds are stones with amazing magic; they can conquer a person instantly. Since ancient times, amulets have been decorated with jewelry, which were considered to protect a person from everything bad. Some believed that with the help of stones one could find out the future. Later, when the composition of the gems was studied, it turned out that they were very durable. It is this property that is very valuable in them.
People who had the most expensive diamonds were delighted with them.

Uncut expensive diamonds


Gems simply “burn” in the sun. The price of the stone depends on the processing and color. Their shape is most often round; colorless ones are rare. Its transparency only increases the price. However, colored stones are more expensive than white ones. They can have the following shades:

Description and properties of the stone

The sizes of red diamonds are small, up to 0.5 carats. It is mined mainly at the Argyll spring, located in Australia. Representatives weighing more than 0.1 carats can be found at auction sales. The price of the gem is quite high.
The most expensive gemstone in the world has only carbon in its chemical composition. It is a crystal lattice in the form of a face-centered cube with atoms at the vertices.


There are 4 more atoms inside. In the thickness of the earth they all become very hot and subject to pressure. Thus, a compacted “packing” of atoms in a covalent bond is formed, which helps characterize the stone as very durable.

Meaning and education

The diamond itself is quite hard. Thanks to this property, it got its name. Translated from Arabic “al-mas”, which means “the hardest”. Even in ancient times, an uncut stone was considered an exquisite decoration and had a monetary value.

An example of an uncut diamond

One of the reliable stories of the formation of diamonds is considered to be of magmatic origin. Carbon atoms form at great depths like diamonds and are carried to the surface by magma.

There is also a meteorite version of the formation of gems. The raw crystals themselves are unsightly in appearance. They look like matte and rough grains up to 5 mm in size.

When mining you can find:


Process of processing gemstones


Grinding occurs using a cast iron disc containing diamond powder. It is noteworthy that the faces are arranged in such a way that the crystal reflects light, but does not absorb it. Multi-colored rays are refracted and the stone shines in different colors.

Cutting work can take a long time, up to several months or even years. From the hands of craftsmen, semi-precious stones come out to be half or even a third lighter in weight, but their cost increases several times.

Famous precious diamonds

Cut shapes

The cut of diamonds characterizes their appearance. There are mainly 3 methods of processing gems:


Other gems

If you make the Top 10 most expensive gems in the world, then the red diamond, of course, will take first place.

2nd place

The second position can rightfully be given to grandidierite - a rare stone expressed in green-blue shades.

This is what the grandidierite gemstone looks like


It must be said that some of the most expensive precious stones in the world are found infrequently, one might say, once every few years. They have complex names; many are named after the names of their discoverers. So this stone was first found by the Frenchman Alfred Grandidier.

Example of processed grandidierite


The gem is found in Madagascar, although it was originally found in Sri Lanka, and is also available in the USA, New Zealand, Norway, and Italy. Today there is data on different quantities of minerals, but there are no more than 20 of them. The cost of a copy reaches up to three tens of thousands of dollars.

Jewelry ring with imperial


In ancient times, people believed that stone influenced weather changes. It is mined in Japan, Mexico, USA, China and Kazakhstan. The cost of a gem per carat is about 20 thousand dollars.

5th place

Fifth on the list of the most expensive precious stones in the world is the diamond - a beautiful and quite famous gem, the price of which reaches up to 15 thousand dollars per carat.


The diamond has an unusual shine, with playing colors: from colorless to black. The stone itself is very hard, but fragile, and can split along the adhesions. But recently a diamond of excellent hardness was discovered - yakutite.
This is one of the stones that is mined on many continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

6th place

Whenever a conversation arises about what the most expensive gemstones in the world are, it is worth remembering the ruby. Its structure is aluminum oxide, colors are brown, red. The most expensive is bright red with a crimson tint.

Ring with ruby


No matter how much a ruby ​​weighs, its value depends on the number of flaws, clarity and brightness of color. Representatives of the fairer sex adore such gems; there is an opinion that rubies make them even more feminine. Gemstones are mined on all continents except Antarctica.

7th place

Ring design with blue tourmaline


Its discovery occurred quite recently, at the end of the last century. After cutting, the stone acquires a unique shape and shines intensely even in dim light.

Mining occurs mainly in Brazil, Mozambique, and Madagascar. The cost of the mineral can be up to 15 thousand dollars per carat. High-quality gems are valued at twice as much.

8th place

The list of the most precious stones can confidently continue with alexandrite - a beautiful gem that can change color when the lighting changes.


Under the influence of daylight, the mineral shines blue with a hint of green, and under artificial light it can produce red, olive, violet and even purple colors. The stone was first discovered in Yekaterinburg in the 19th century; it delighted people with its bizarre configuration and iridescence. To this day, this mineral is mined in Brazil and Madagascar. The cost of alexandrite can range from 9-16 thousand dollars per carat.

1. Kohinoor, the crown jewel of British rulers

The Kohinoor is a 106-carat diamond that was once the largest diamond in the world. Previously owned by Indian rulers, today it is in the hands of the British royal family and is part of the crown jewels.

When Kohinoor came into the possession of the British royal family, it weighed 186 carats (37 g). Prince Albert specifically looked for a jeweler with an excellent reputation and personally went to Holland to entrust the processing of the diamond to a certain Mr. Cantor. He got to work, and after some time the diamond was presented to Queen Victoria.

The diamond became part of the royal crown and was last worn by the Queen Mother during her coronation ceremony when she became Empress of India.

2. Millennium, a sapphire the size of a football

The Millennium Sapphire is the size of a football, a jewel with portraits of famous historical figures carved into it. The sapphire is currently selling for $180 million, but the buyer must place the 61,500-carat wonder where people can look at it.

Created by Italian artist Alessio Boschi, the Millennium Sapphire is a tribute to human genius. There are 134 portraits carved on it, including Beethoven, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King Jr.

Millennium is now owned by a consortium of investors led by Daniel McKinney. Over the past 15 years, the sapphire has been on public display only twice - at the Oscars in 2002 and on the Sapphire Princess during its maiden voyage in 2004.

A 28-centimeter sapphire was found in Madagascar in 1995. In its natural form, it weighed about 90 thousand carats, but lost about a third of its mass during the processing process, which lasted two years and was completed in 2000.

3. Don Pedro, the world's largest aquamarine

The world's largest processed aquamarine is in a museum in Washington next to the Hope Diamond and Marie Antoinette's earrings. Mined in Brazil in the 1980s, the pegmatite is named after the first two Brazilian emperors. Aquamarine Don Pedro occupies a place of honor in the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution.

The blue-green gemstone, reminiscent of an obelisk in shape, was created by the famous German jeweler Bernd Munsteiner, known as the “father of carved fantasies”. Don Pedro is 35.5 cm tall and weighs 10,363 carats (or two kg).

4. The world's largest pearl

On November 21, 2010, the world's largest luminous pearl was shown to the public in the Chinese province of Hainan. The pearl, weighing almost six tons and with a diameter of 1.6 m, is estimated at two billion yuan ($301,197,000) - in China, pearls are valued higher than diamonds.

The stone, composed primarily of fluorite, glows green in the dark. It took almost three years to give the stone a perfectly round pearl shape.

5. Graff Pink - the world's most expensive pink diamond

Lawrence Graff is the world's largest gem dealer. In 2010, his reputation was confirmed by the purchase of a stunning rarity - a pink diamond weighing 24.78 carats. Graff owns five luxury mansions in England, France, Switzerland and New York, as well as a personal Mediterranean yacht, a diamond mine outside Johannesburg and half a dozen private properties in Mayfair.

A flawless pink diamond set a new price record at Sotheby's as bids continued to rise, tensions grew, and the diamond eventually went to Britain's 36th richest man for $45 million - the most ever paid for a piece of jewelry.

6. Divine Essential Carolina - the largest Paraiba tourmaline

Financier Vincent Boucher from Montreal is the owner of the Divine Ethereal Carolina, a Paraiba tourmaline weighing approximately 192 carats. The stone is valued at between $25 million and $125 million, a world record price for Paraiba tourmaline.

Paraiba tourmaline is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. The stones are named after the Brazilian region where they are mined, and that is where the vast majority of these stones are found. For every 10,000 diamonds found, there is one Paraiba tourmaline, and in total, only 50 kg of these gems have been mined to date.

7. Uncut 478-carat diamond

The massive 478-carat diamond was found at the Letseng mine in Lesotho, a small kingdom in South Africa. It is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found, and the mine has previously yielded three of the world's largest diamonds: the 603-carat Lesotho Promise, the 493-carat Letseng Legacy and the 601-carat Lesotho Brown.

A similar but smaller stone was recently valued at $12 million. There is a chance that this diamond could be turned into a 150-carat diamond that could outshine even the Kohinoor.

8. The most expensive gem in the world

One of the most unique gemstones in the world, the flawless blue diamond was awarded the title of the most expensive gemstone in the world in 2007. A 6.04-carat diamond sold for $7.98 million at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The flawless diamond was valued at $1.32 million per carat.

The lucky owner of the stone was the Moussaieff Jewelers jewelry house in London. The diamond was previously in a private collection and will once again be an addition to a rare gemstone collection. True, it is not the world's largest blue diamond, but the perfect workmanship and deep blue color justify the enormous price, which is ten times the price per carat of ordinary white diamonds.

9. Bahian emerald - the largest in the world

The Bahian emerald is the largest emerald nugget ever found. The stone weighs 1.9 million carats and was discovered in the state of Bahia in Brazil. It narrowly escaped flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while being stored in a warehouse in New Orleans. In September 2008, news reports reported that the stone had been stolen from a secure storage facility in Los Angeles, California. The stone is valued at $400 million and recently appeared for sale on eBay - it was offered to purchase for “only” $75 million.

After the stone left Brazil and arrived in the United States, numerous attempts were made to sell it, but without success. Ultimately, the stolen emerald was recovered from a dealer in Los Angeles and taken into the custody of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

10. Musayifa red diamond

Formerly known as the Red Diamond Shield, the Musayifa Red Diamond is the world's largest red diamond, weighing 5.11 carats. Discovered in Brazil in the 1990s, the diamond has a triangular brilliant cut and was recently brought to public attention at the Smithsonian Exhibition in 2003.

: https://www.publy.ru/post/6221