In this article we’ll aim to answer all your gemstone related questions when it comes to rarity and expense across the top 10 most expensive precious stones.
What Is a Precious Stone?
The term ‘precious stone’ refers to stones distinguished by their quality, rarity and beauty. There are only 4 ‘precious stones’, which include diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. You may come across gemstones labelled ‘valuable’ or ‘semi-precious’ – this refers to all other gemstones besides the top 4.
The distinction also correlates to the Mohs hardness scale, which measures the scratch resistance of minerals on a scale of 1-10. Diamonds are rated a 10, listed as the hardest mineral known to man. Rubies and sapphires, varieties of the mineral corundum, are rated just a little bit lower at a 9, followed by emeralds at 7.5-8. Semi-precious search as opals rank at a 5-6.5, which are considerably softer and more delicate.
Whilst the 4 precious stones refer to the world’s most desirable and valuable gemstones, ‘semi-precious’ gemstones are not to be thought as lesser than in comparison. ‘Semi-precious’ gemstones can be just as stunning and exceptional as precious gemstones and may depend on your personal taste or preference.
What Are The Most Expensive Gemstones?
The most expensive gemstones are the 4 precious stones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. These precious gemstones are certainly the most well know, attributed to their value and rarity. Of course, value can depend on the individual gemstone’s carat weight, clarity and colour grade.
In some aspects, colour varieties of precious gemstones are more valuable than others. For example, a natural blue diamond is considered one of the rarest gemstones in the world, with the Bleu Royal, a vivid blue diamond, sold at auction for over £35 million GBP.
Which Precious Stone Is the Most Expensive?
Out of the 4 precious stones, diamonds are considered the most expensive. This is because diamonds are both rare and in demand, making them a hot commodity in the jewellery trade! As forementioned, diamond jewellery pieces are not only extremely durable but have unmatched brilliance and beauty! The most expensive diamond ever sold at auction was a rare pink diamond known as the Pink Star. The 59.60 carat pink diamond, formerly named the Steinmetz Pink, sold for over £56 million GBP.
What Are The Cheapest Gemstones?
The most affordable gemstones are more common semi-precious stones. Gemstones such as rose quarts, jade or onyx are more readily available in the market and more affordable than rare precious stones. You can find great alternative gemstones for high priced precious stones. Red spinel is often mistaken as a ruby, to the point where it is nicknamed the ‘Great Imposter’. This 1910s twist ring is ornament with a blue sapphire and red spinel stone and could easily be mistaken for a ruby and that’s not to say spinels can’t fetch a high price as well!
The Most Valuable Gemstones Sold Ranked
Based upon auction prices, here are some of the top 10 most valuable gemstone sold at auction:
10. Demantoid Garnet Known for its vivid green colour, the demantoid is the rarest and most valuable garnet gem that has seen increasing demand at auctions. One notable piece, a 5.2-carat demantoid garnet, sold for just over £1 million at Christie’s in 2008.
9. Spinel – The 50.13-carat Hope Spinel fetched £1.14 million at the auction, easily shattering its high estimate of $310,000. Originally owned by London banker Henry Philip Hope alongside the infamous Hope Diamond, this rare gemstone can be traced to the ancient Kuh-i-Lal mines, in Tajikistan, where some of the most celebrated ancient spinel’s were found.
8. Opal – The Flame Queen opal also so know as the Fire Queen and Dunstan’s Stone, this Australian opal is the most expensive opal ever sold at auction, equivalent to £3 million in today’s money.
7. Tanzanite – Tanzanite has become more valuable in recent years on account of its scarcity. Notable pieces like the Queen of Kilimanjaro were sold for over £4.8 million, while the Millennium Tanzanite fetched around £1.2 million
6. Emerald – The Aga Khan Emerald set a world record for most expensive emerald ever sold at auction, reaching an auction price of £7 million! The 37-carat Colombian emerald was part of the collection of British socialite Nina Dyer, who was briefly married to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. Her collection was sold at one of Christies first ever Geneva auctions.
5. Red Diamond – The Moussaieff Red Diamond, a 5.11-carat gem, is one of the few red diamonds ever found. With only about 30 known, these gems can reach $1 million per carat. It sold for USD $8million in 2001 but is now estimated to be worth around £15.4 million.
4. Jadeite – Jadeite, particularly Imperial Jade from Burma, is highly valuable in Asian markets. The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, made of 27 vivid green jadeite beads, set the record for the most expensive jadeite jewelry sold at over £21 million.
3. Ruby – The 25.59-carat Sunrise Ruby, known for its “pigeon’s blood” colour, holds the record for the most expensive ruby sold at auction. Set between two Cartier diamonds, the Rare Ruby was sold in Sotheby’s auction in Geneva in 2014 at £24 million, highlighting the high value of rare rubies.
3. Blue Diamond – The Oppenheimer Blue diamond sold for just over GBP £43.2 million in 2016, becoming the most expensive and largest fancy blue diamond ever sold at auction.
2. Blue Sapphire – The Blue Bell of Asia is one of the largest faceted sapphires in the world at 392.52-carats, and well- known for its intense cornflower blue colour and auction price of £57.5 million.
1.Pink Diamond – At number on the forementioned rare Pink Star, also known as the Steinmetz Pink. The 59.60 carat pink diamond sold for over £57.7 million GBP in 2017 and holds the world record as the highest price ever paid.
Which gemstone is your favourite? Get inspired with our antique and vintage gemstone rings collection!
