A Look at 3 of the World's Rarest Gemstones

Gemstones are often valued not just by their cut, color, carat weight and clarity but by their rarity as well. This makes sense when we consider that much of the market is based on supply and demand, meaning that the less abundant a gemstone is in the world, the more valuable it is. But what are the most valuable gemstones in the world? And how do they measure up to industry standards such as the classic white diamond? Tanzanite Unlike diamonds that can be found and mined on almost every continent, Tanzanite has only ever been found at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in present-day Tanzania.? According to a Tanzanian geologist, the circumstances that led to its formation 585 million years ago were so exceptional that the likelihood of finding tanzanite anywhere else on earth is one in a million, making it a thousand times rarer than diamonds. In 2013, it was estimated that there may only be a 25-year supply left, meaning that it is not only a rare resource but very much a finite one. Despite its rarity, one carat of triple A grade Tanzanite may only go for as much as $300 to $425 per carat, while diamonds can sometimes demand hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per carat. This may be due to diamonds’ dual use not only as a fashion accessory but as an industrial tool whereas tanzanite is only valuable as a rare jewel, it is still surprising that something so rare could be so relatively inexpensive in the world of gems. Black Opal Opal is a commonly found gemstone known for its pristine iridescent white color, but there exists a variation of the classic gemstone that is all black and somehow even more spectacular to look at. Found almost entirely in the Lightning Ridge of South New Wales in Australia, these precious pieces are not only much rarer than their counterpart but refract light in a much more potent way; producing a brilliant facsimile of rainbow glimmers across its polished face. This combination sets the price of one carat at around $11,000, making it a powerful contender for the world’s most valuable gemstone. Larimar Further proof that extremely rare gemstones can end up anywhere in the world is the Larimar, found only in the Dominican Republic. First reported washing up in small amounts on Caribbean beaches in 1974, this shimmering turquoise touchstone was named by its discoverer Miguel Mendez, who combined both the name of his daughter Larissa and the Spanish word for “sea” – mar - to create “Larimar.” Scientists surmise that part of the reason it may have taken so long for this gemstone to be discovered was that it was hidden deep within nearby mountains only to come to the surface after a particularly hectic earthquake which dislodged loose gemstones and sent them tumbling down into nearby rivers. After the location of the main vein was traced back to a remote mountain range nearby, local communities began to work together to extract the beautiful but fragile gemstone from the rock face. As of now, it has only ever been found in this location, and its extraction has been monopolized by those same communities, making it an especially exclusive stone. There may be countless other unknown gemstones buried deep within unassuming mountain ranges across the world, just waiting to one day be discovered. But in a way, the rarity of these fringe gemstones may only bolster the value of diamonds; for even though the average person may not just happen upon a cache of natural diamonds normally, the fact that they can be mined all over the world means that they have a worldwide appeal. And for these other gemstones, their rarity also hinders their market appeal especially to jewelry manufacturers: it’s difficult to sell a gem that is so unheard of to your average consumer than a household name like emerald or sapphire. Even still, it’s important to remember that all precious stones are born over a process of millions of years, and in that way, each and every jewel holds a thousand lifetimes worth of beauty in its facets. About Malak Jewelers: Malak Jewelers is Charlotte, North Carolina’s premier direct diamond importer and supplier of responsibly-sourced loose diamonds and custom design jewelry. We carry one of the largest selections of diamonds and fine jewelry in Charlotte and have become a staple of the city due to our consistent quality, reliability and customer service. As a partner of Forevermark and the De Beers Group, we are committed to offering our customers the most beautiful diamonds in the world, worthy of our promise of forever.