The world of jewels is extensive and fascinating. There’s a main category by which it is divided – precious and semi-precious. But did you know? Some of the rarest gems in the world are not considered precious and therefore may not be as popular as their contemporaries.
Let’s introduce you to some of them (in no particular order).
Tanzanite
If you’ve heard that this gem is rarer than a diamond and thought that was simply a marketing gimmick then let us tell you it’s not. Tanzanite gemstone can only be found in Tanzania – the east African country after which it is named.
What Makes It Special?
Not only is this gem valuable because of its scarcity, but also because of its extraordinary beauty. Its pleochroic nature allows it to display a mix of both blue and violet hues, which instantly grabs attention.
Black Opal
Did you know? There are multiple varieties of opal that can be found in nature. But this one happens to be the most valuable among the lot. The small but famous town of Lightning Ridge in northern New South Wales is the only place where the rare Black Opals can be found.
What Makes it Special?
Opal is anyway a one-of-a-kind gem, by that we mean, quite literally, no two opals look exactly the same. But its black variety is truly special. This is because it displays impressive flashes of varied colours. However what actually sets it apart is a distinct black or grey base.
Paraiba Tourmaline
The humble tourmaline has many coloured varieties that are recognised by popular trade names. Paraiba is the name given to its neon blue version that was found in the late 1980s in Brazil.
What Makes It Special?
Take a good look at this gem and you’ll know exactly why it’s so valuable. This jewel’s spectacular hue can range anywhere from neon blue and green to a heady mix of blue-green. In addition to its brilliant and fascinating appearance, the Paraiba Tourmaline also happens to be extremely rare.
Red Beryl
Beryl is a type of mineral from which the very sought-after Emerald is formed. But you most likely haven’t heard about Red Beryl before. This gem is also known as Red Emerald and is only found in Utah, New Mexico, and Mexico.
What Makes It Special?
For every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds, only 1 red beryl can be found. That’s how scarce this gem is. Majority of the stones found are just a few millimeters in length, which makes a 2 or 3-carat red beryl extremely expensive and exceptional.
Alexandrite
Discovered in the year 1830 in the Ural Mountains in Russia, this gem happens to be a variety of chrysoberyl. Alexandrite is sought-after for its remarkable colour-shifting capability, which makes it an extremely valuable gem.
What Makes It Special?
This fascinating jewel will appear red-purple under incandescent lighting but looks blue-green in sunlight. Not every stone will be able to showcase a complete colour change, but the ones that do are considered exceptionally valuable. Also, an Alexandrite weighing more than 1 carat is very rarely found.
Also Read – Which is the Rarest Birthstone?
