Top 15 Most Expensive Gemstones in the World Ranked

These amazing pieces of jewelry end up in the homes of the richest people in the world. They are the rarest and most expensive gemstones ever discovered. From giant diamonds to vibrant rubies, join me as I count down the top 15 most expensive gemstones ever discovered.

Here is the list of the top 15 most expensive diamonds in the world. checkout full list for full Check out the details on each gemstone.

Top 15 Most Expensive Gemstones in the World

15. The Heart of Eternity

• Price: $580,000 per carat
• Total Sold Price: $16 million
• Color: Vivid Blue
• Carat Weight: 27.6
• Origin: Premier Diamond Mine, South Africa
• Notable Buyer: Rumored to be Floyd Mayweather

Rated a fancy Vivid Blue, the Heart of Eternity was discovered in the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa. When all was said and done, this stellar blue diamond fetched a high price. It’s a 27.6-karat jewel cut by the Steinman’s Group and later sold to the ever-famous De Beers, who finally unveiled the expensive diamond in 2000.

But this blue diamond in particular was found in South Africa, where you’ve got less than a 1% chance of even finding one, and then most of them are just too small or just not good enough to cut down. So it’s safe to say that the Heart of Eternity is ridiculously rare and ridiculously expensive. Size and rarity are the biggest factors here. It was so renowned that criminals even staged a diamond heist to get their hands on it, but luckily their plans were foiled.

The big blue diamond was loaned to the Smithsonian to be put on public display until it was bought for the humble price of $580,000 a karat. Seeing as it’s a 27-karat diamond, you’re looking at 16 million bucks. The buyer isn’t known for sure, but there have been more than enough rumors circulating that boxer Floyd Mayweather bought it for his girlfriend at the time. That must be nice!

14. Wittelsbach Graff

• Sold Price: $23.4 million
• Color: Blue
• Carat Weight: 31
• Origin: Golconda Mines, India
• Historical Significance: Passed through European royal families

The Golconda mines have literally a rich history of yielding some of the world’s most famous diamonds, including this one. This is a massive blue diamond that hails from the mines in India and is said to have been brought to the Western World by John Baptist Tavernier, a 17th-century traveler and trader in search of more riches.

The stone finally made its way to Europe and found itself in the hands of the royal family. It was eventually used as a royal dowry and passed down the line of succession from Infanta Margarita Teresa to her granddaughter, Archduchess Maria Amelia. When the Archduchess married the Bavarian Crown Prince, the diamond was incorporated into the Bavarian crown jewels, where it remained for the next 100 years.

The crown jewels eventually scattered throughout the world with the onset of World War I and didn’t reappear until the 1960s in Belgium, when a Belgian jeweler was asked to identify a mystery gem. The diamond was recut, losing just over four karats, bringing it down to 31 karats. Still, that’s pretty big. The historic Vitus Bakra sold for $23.4 million in the end. It’s amazing that this gemstone has withstood the test of time and only become more valuable as the centuries roll on.

13. The Orange

• Total Sold Price: $352 million
• Color: Vivid Orange
• Carat Weight: 14.82
• Origin: South Africa and Australia
• Notable Feature: Largest known fancy vivid orange diamond

Also known as Fire Diamonds, orange diamonds were first unearthed in the late 1800s and are some of the most coveted colored stones in the world of jewels. They only exist in two parts of the world: South Africa and Australia. When one manages to turn up, it’s a big deal. The hues range from amber to citrus and only increase in value as time goes on.

Only a handful of these things have ever been given the fancy Vivid orange grade, and even fewer have been sold at auctions. All of them weigh under six karats, so while they may be rare, they also tend to be pretty small compared to some of the whoppers that we’re going to see. That is, except for one: a diamond simply known as the orange.

It had been sitting in the private collection of an anonymous owner for 30 years before they decided to show it off to the public and make some quick cash in the process. The Orange has 14.82 karats, totaling $352 million. The Orange may have been the find of a century, but it may take another century for that buyer to make all that money back.

12. Tanzanite

• Price: Varies; can exceed thousands per carat
• Color: Blue-Violet
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Merelani Hills, Tanzania
• Notable Feature: Color changes under different lighting

Tanzanite is a gemstone characterized by its stunning blue-violet hues. It’s a variety of the mineral zoisite and is prized for its unique color-changing property. Tanzanite shifts from deep blue under daylight to violet or purplish-blue under incandescent lighting. Its rarity is what makes it so intriguing. Tanzanite is found exclusively in the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania, near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. This limited geographic occurrence makes it exceptionally scarce compared to other gemstones.

Some estimates suggest that tanzanite may become even rarer in the coming years due to limited mining. In terms of hardness, tanzanite rates about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable for jewelry. However, it’s sensitive to sudden temperature changes and should be handled with care during cutting and setting. Tanzanite’s discovery is relatively recent in the world of gemology. It was first found in 1967 by Masai tribesmen in the Merelani Hills.

Initially mistaken for blue sapphire, tanzanite’s true identity was later revealed, and it was quickly embraced by the jewelry industry for its unique beauty. Tiffany & Co., one of the world’s leading jewelers, played a significant role in popularizing tanzanite, naming it after Tanzania, the only place it can be found. The thing about tanzanite, like all rare gems, is that when the mines are exhausted, that’s it. That’s all the tanzanite in the world.

11. Chivor Emerald Gemstones

• Sold Price: Variable, historically high
• Color: Blue-Green
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Chivor Mine, Colombia
• Historical Significance: Known since Spanish conquistadors

Chivor emeralds, often referred to as the Chivor green or Chivor blue due to their unique coloration, are some of the rarest and most coveted gemstones in the world. These exceptional emeralds derive their name from the Chivor mine, their primary source, located in the remote highlands of Colombia. What makes them exceptionally rare?

It’s a combination of factors. Their striking blue-green or greenish-blue color results from the presence of chromium, vanadium, and iron impurities in the beryl mineral structure. This specific combination of trace elements is relatively rare in nature, lending their properties to create the emerald’s distinctive hue. The story of the Chivor emeralds begins with the Spanish conquistadors of the early 16th century.

The Chivor mine was discovered by Spanish explorers and quickly became known for its production of high-quality emeralds. Indigenous people in the region had used the emeralds for ornamental purposes long before the arrival of the Spanish. The name Chivor is believed to be derived from the indigenous language. Chivor emeralds are revered for their exceptional color and transparency, setting them apart from emeralds sourced from other regions.

The Chivor mine is known for producing some of the most vivid green and blue-green emeralds in the world, making them highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs. One famous example of a Chivor emerald is the Chivor Emerald Tiara, a stunning piece of jewelry created in the late 19th century. It features a large Chivor emerald surrounded by diamonds and is considered a masterpiece of jewelry design.

Most Expensive Gemstones All Time

10. Painite Gemstones

• Price: Can exceed $60,000 per carat
• Color: Deep Brown to Reddish-Brown
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Myanmar
• Notable Feature: Once the world’s rarest mineral

Nestled deep within the Earth’s crust lies a gem that’s baffled geologists and entranced gem enthusiasts: painite. Characterized by its deep brown to reddish-brown hue and iconic pyramidal crystal structure, painite is not just rare; it’s a gemological enigma. Its unique appearance sets it apart from other gemstones. Its striking color, ranging from rich brown to reddish-brown, combined with its mesmerizing pyramidal shape, captures the imagination. Its luster and allure are undeniable, making it a gem of extraordinary beauty.

However, it’s not just its appearance that makes painite special; it’s its incredible rarity. Painite’s scarcity arises from a perfect storm of geological conditions. To create the crystal, nature requires a delicate balance of elements—boron, aluminum, and trace elements—in an environment of high temperature and pressure. Such conditions are exceedingly rare, and as a result, painite crystals are only found in a handful of locations. The discovery of painite is a tale of serendipity and geological intrigue. In the 1950s, British mineralogist Arthur C.D. Pain stumbled upon a sample of the gem while conducting mineral surveys in Myanmar.

Little did he know that this chance discovery would lead to the unveiling of one of the world’s rarest minerals. Painite was named in honor of its discoverer, marking a moment of triumph in the world of mineralogy. The scarcity of painite is legendary. For many years, it held the title of the world’s rarest mineral. The number of known painite specimens was exceedingly low. Even today, the odds of encountering one are akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Among the celebrated painite specimens is the Prince of Painite, a 31.31-karat gem with a reddish-brown hue and exceptional clarity. This gem set new records for painite’s value and continues to captivate gem enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

9. Red Beryl

• Price: Can exceed $10,000 per carat
• Color: Bright Red to Raspberry
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Utah, USA
• Notable Feature: 1 red beryl for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds

Red beryl, also known as bixbite or scarlet emerald, is a breathtakingly rare gemstone that has left geologists and gem enthusiasts in awe for decades. This fiery red jewel stands as one of the world’s rarest, earning its status through a combination of geological factors, vivid coloration, and intriguing history. To illustrate the rarity of red beryl, consider this: for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds found, only one red beryl gem is discovered. Its scarcity is further highlighted by the fact that a single red beryl crystal of significant size is a rarity within itself. What truly sets red beryl apart is its mesmerizing red hue. This gem’s color can range from a bright red

reminiscent of a sunset to deeper shades of raspberry and cherry. This striking coloration is attributed to the presence of manganese ions within the crystal structure. The result is a gemstone that radiates with an intensity rarely seen in the gem world. The history of red beryl begins in the early 20th century, when it was first discovered in the Thomas Range of Utah, USA, by the renowned geologist Maynard Bixby. Initially, it was mistaken for a different mineral, but its unique red hue quickly set it apart. Since then, red beryl has been found in only a few locations worldwide, with the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah being the most famous source.

These areas, characterized by volcanic activity and hydrothermal processes, provide the ideal conditions for the formation of red beryl. The gem’s formation process is a testament to its rarity. The unique geological circumstances required for red beryl’s creation contribute to its scarcity. Notable examples of red beryl include the Desert Rose, a 2.76-karat gem that showcases the gem’s vibrant red color and exceptional clarity. The beauty of red beryl has made it a coveted gemstone among collectors and connoisseurs, often commanding prices that exceed those of diamonds.

8. Musgravite

• Price: Can exceed $35,000 per carat
• Color: Greenish-Blue to blush-Gray
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Musgrave Ranges, South Australia
• Notable Feature: Fewer than 10 known gem-quality specimens

Musgravite is one of the world’s rarest gemstones, with fewer than 10 known gem-quality specimens, making it an incredibly coveted gem among collectors. Discovered in the Musgrave Ranges of South Australia, Musgravite is a member of the Taaffeite family and is prized for its greenish-blue to bluish-gray hues. Its exceptional brilliance and rarity contribute to its high value. The geological circumstances required for the formation of Musgravite are highly specific, contributing to its scarcity.

Its unique crystal structure, combined with the presence of trace elements such as magnesium and aluminum, gives Musgravite its distinctive color and brilliance. The discovery of Musgravite is relatively recent. It was first identified in the early 1960s and has since been found in a handful of locations, including Greenland, Antarctica, and Madagascar.

However, gem-quality specimens remain exceedingly rare. Notable examples of Musgravite include the Musgravite Star of the South, a gem that weighs 11.24 karats, and the Green Dragon Musgravite, known for its vibrant greenish-blue color. The rarity and beauty of Musgravite make it one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world.

7. Jeremejevite

• Price: Can exceed $2,000 per carat
• Color: Pale Blue to Greenish-Blue
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Namibia and Myanmar
• Notable Feature: Highly pleochroic (color changes with angle)

Jeremejevite, a gem of exceptional rarity and beauty, holds a special place in the world of gemstones. Discovered in the late 19th century, it was named after the Russian mineralogist Pavel Jeremejev. This gem, with its unique crystal structure and captivating hues, is found in only a few locations worldwide. Jeremejevite is known for its striking colors, ranging from pale blue to vibrant blue, greenish-blue, and even colorless.

Its pleochroism, the ability to display different colors when viewed from different angles, adds to its allure. The gem’s transparency and brilliance make it a sought-after choice for collectors and gem enthusiasts. The geological circumstances required for Jeremejevite’s formation are complex. It forms in pegmatites, a type of igneous rock, under specific conditions of temperature and pressure. The presence of elements such as aluminum and boron contributes to its unique color and crystal structure.

Notable examples of Jeremejevite include the Empress of Uruguay, the largest known specimen, weighing a remarkable 31,100 karats. This gem, with its deep blue hue and exceptional clarity, is considered a masterpiece of nature. The rarity and beauty of Jeremejevite continue to captivate those who appreciate the wonders of the mineral world.

6. Taaffeite

• Price: Can exceed $35,000 per carat
• Color: Lavender to Mauve or Pink
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania
• Notable Feature: Discovered by accident in 1945

Taaffeite, discovered in 1945 by gemologist Richard Taaffe, is a gemstone of exceptional rarity and beauty. Known for its delicate shades of lavender, mauve or pink, Taaffeite is a prized gem among collectors. Its unique coloration is due to the presence of trace elements such as magnesium and aluminum in its crystal structure. Taaffeite’s rarity stems from the specific geological conditions required for its formation.

It is found in only a few locations worldwide, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Tanzania. The gem’s pleochroism, the ability to display different colors when viewed from different angles, adds to its allure. Notable examples of Taaffeite include the Dorothy Violeta Taaffeite, a gem that weighs 10.56 karats, and the Princess Taaffeite, known for its vibrant pink hue. The rarity and beauty of Taaffeite make it one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world.

5. Alexandrite

• Price: Over $15,000 per carat for top-quality
• Color: Green in daylight, Red under incandescent light
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Ural Mountains, Russia
• Notable Feature: Exceptional color change property

Alexandrite is a gemstone renowned for its unique color-changing property. This gem, first discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the 1830s, can shift from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. Named after Tsar Alexander II, Alexandrite is prized for its rarity and captivating beauty. The geological circumstances required for Alexandrite’s formation are specific. It forms in metamorphic rocks under conditions of high pressure and temperature.

The presence of trace elements such as chromium gives Alexandrite its distinctive color-changing property. Notable examples of Alexandrite include the largest known faceted specimen, weighing 65.7 karats, housed in the Smithsonian Institution. This gem, with its exceptional clarity and vivid color change, is considered a masterpiece of nature. The rarity and beauty of Alexandrite make it one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world, with top-quality specimens fetching prices of over $15,000 per karat.

4. Blue Garnet

• Price: Varies; highly valuable
• Color: Blue-Green in daylight, purple-Red under incandescent light
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, USA
• Notable Feature: Highly pleochroic

Blue garnets, discovered in the late 1990s in Madagascar, are among the rarest and most captivating gemstones. These gems exhibit a color change from blue-green in daylight to purplish-red under incandescent light. Blue garnets have been found in a few locations worldwide, including Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and the United States, with the finest specimens coming from the Umba River Valley in Tanzania. The rarity of blue garnets is due to the specific geological conditions required for their formation.

The presence of trace elements such as vanadium and chromium gives blue garnets their unique color-changing property. The gem’s pleochroism, the ability to display different colors when viewed from different angles, adds to its allure. Notable examples of blue garnets include the largest known faceted specimen, weighing 4.2 karats, housed in the Smithsonian Institution. This gem, with its exceptional clarity and vivid color change, is considered a masterpiece of nature. The rarity and beauty of blue garnets make them highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs.

3. Pink Diamond

• Price: Over $1 million per carat
• Color: Pink
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Argyle Mine, Australia
• Notable Example: Williamson Pink, Eternal Pink

Pink diamonds are among the rarest and most captivating gemstones in the world. These gems, often discovered in small quantities, are prized for their unique coloration and exceptional beauty. The Argyle Mine in Australia, which closed in 2020, was the primary source of pink diamonds. The geological circumstances required for pink diamond formation are complex.

The presence of trace elements such as nitrogen and hydrogen gives these diamonds their distinctive pink hue. The gem’s rarity is due to the specific conditions of temperature and pressure required for its formation. Notable examples of pink diamonds include the Williamson Pink, a gem presented to Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift, and the Eternal Pink, a gem that fetched over $50 million at auction in 2019. The rarity and beauty of pink diamonds make them highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs. Do you know what is the Most Expensive Necklaces in the World.

2. Blue Diamond

• Price: Over $3 million per carat
• Color: Blue
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Premier Diamond Mine, South Africa
• Notable Example: Hope Diamond

Blue diamonds are among the rarest and most captivating gemstones in the world. These gems, comprising less than 0.2% of all mined diamonds, are prized for their unique coloration and exceptional beauty. The geological circumstances required for blue diamond formation are complex. The presence of trace elements such as boron gives these diamonds their distinctive blue hue.

The gem’s rarity is due to the specific conditions of temperature and pressure required for its formation. Notable examples of blue diamonds include the Hope Diamond, a gem that originated from the Kollur Mine in India and is now housed in the Smithsonian Institution. The rarity and beauty of blue diamonds make them highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs.

1. Red Diamond

• Price: Over $1 million per carat
• Color: Red
• Carat Weight: Varies
• Origin: Argyle Mine, Australia
• Notable Example: Hancock Red, Moussaieff Red

Red diamonds are the rarest of all fancy-colored diamonds. These gems, comprising less than 0.1% of all mined diamonds, are prized for their unique coloration and exceptional beauty. The Argyle Mine in Australia, which closed in 2020, was the primary source of red diamonds. The geological circumstances required for red diamond formation are complex. The presence of trace elements such as nitrogen and hydrogen gives these diamonds their distinctive red hue.

The gem’s rarity is due to the specific conditions of temperature and pressure required for its formation. Notable examples of red diamonds include the Hancock Red, a gem that weighs 0.95 karats, and the Moussaieff Red, a gem that weighs 5.11 karats. The rarity and beauty of red diamonds make them highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs.

Red gemstones, with their unique histories and remarkable beauty, continue to captivate the world’s wealthiest collectors and enthusiasts, standing as testaments to the wonders of nature and the pinnacle of luxury.

Most Expensive Gemstone Ever Sold: Ranked

Here’s a detailed table of the most expensive gemstones ever sold:

These gemstones are not only valuable due to their size and quality but also because of their historical significance and rarity.

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