Diamonds, emeralds and rubies are the preferred gems that come to mind whenever people talk about precious stones. But, the earth produces a wide variety of gemstones that are rarer and more valuable than these famous precious stones.
These not-so-famous, but valuable gemstones are mostly found in museums or bought by collectors because of their rarity, uniqueness and beauty. They are unconventional but have won over many with their unique properties. They are among the most sought-after stones by some wealthy collectors who are ditching diamonds to buy these unique pieces.
Let’s have a look at some of unconventional, but valuable gemstones.
Painite
Painite is a very rare borate mineral first discovered in Myanmar by Arthur C. D. Pain, a British mineralogist in the 1950s. This orange-brown stone is so rare that only two faceted specimens are known to exist making it priceless. Painite is hard to find in the market and costs US $50,000-$60,000 per carat.
Musgravite
Musgravite is an oxide mineral that has properties identical to taaffeite. It was first found in Musgrave Ranges, Australia in 1967 and later in Madagascar and Greenland in small quantities. There are only ten known specimens of this extremely rare gemstone. Its rarity makes this gemstone cost a whopping US $35,000 per carat.
Jadeite
Jadeite is a beautiful stone known for its long history and varying shades of green. From pale apple green to deep jade green, the attractiveness of this gemstone is the best-in-class. Jadeite was previously used in ancient Mesoamerica for making tools and weaponry due to its hardness and density. It is so expensive that a jadeite necklace was placed in an auction for US $10 million in 1997. The average price of jadeite sourced in Myanmar is more than US $30,000 per carat.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a unique gemstone famous for its colour changing ability. It is an emerald by day and ruby at night as it shines differently in different light sources. From blue-green to magenta, the variety of colours of alexandrite allows it to work as a beautiful addition to any piece of jewellery. Named after the Russian Tsar Alexander II, this precious stone was first discovered in the 1830s in the Ural Mountains of Russia. If you want to buy it, you’ll have to spend US $12,000 for one carat.
Black Opal
Unlike opal, which is a common gemstone, black opal is an extremely rare stone mined in Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, Australia. They aren’t always black but show a spectrum of bright colours by diffracting light that makes them the most unusual gemstone on Earth. A black opal can cost you up to US $3,000 per carat.
These unconventional but valuable gemstones add wonder when added to a piece of jewellery. If you want to adorn an accessory which is one-of-its-kind, then these gems should be on your list. They are rare and expensive, which is why it’s best to buy them from a reputed jewellery dealer in Toronto or else you can end up with a fake one.
