Unveiling the World's Rarest Gemstone: Exclusive Insight

The cosmic beauty of Painite and Paraiba Tourmaline, two of the most rare gemstones of the world.

The prized quality of being distinct and rare is what sets gemstones apart from other minerals in the world. It’s the rarity, the quality-exotica, the property of being exclusive which imparts great value to anything, gemstone or not, and makes it special enough to be worthy of celebration and admiration. Gemstones, with their shimmering colors, blazing fire, and brilliance, have captured the imagination of humans since ancient times. But passed have the times when any glittery substance would command immediate attention. With the advancement of human civilization and tremendous scientific progress, gemstones, which were once absolute novelties, have become more accessible.

There was a time in history when traders would cross difficult terrains without vehicles to sell gemstones. Legends and fables were created in the glory of these wonderful products of the Earth, but the advent of the internet has made viewing, learning, and even getting natural gemstones delivered to one’s doorstep an easy process. But among all these changes, there are few special gemstones that are truly exotic and rare. These extraordinary wonders are astonishingly uncommon and are prized possessions for any individual. Following is a list of such fascinating gemstones that are hard to get by.

Red Diamond

Among gemstones, Diamonds are in a league of their own. A lot of factors make Diamonds objects of extreme yearning. Their inherent glamour, sheer brilliance, dazzling fire, exquisite cuts, and innovative styler jewelry designs make the sheen of a diamond appear something special. High-quality, Jewelry-grade, wearable Diamonds are rare, even more so if the gemstone has a natural origin. But few know that Diamonds also happen to naturally appear in various colors like blue, green, yellow, etc. But it’s the “predominantly” Red Diamonds that are true gems of wonder. Only the specimens with a pure red hue without any secondary overtones like purple are graded by GIA as “Red Diamond.” The first Red Diamond known to public record was auctioned in 1987. Named “Hancock Red,” the diamond shattered records and was sold at USD 926,000 per carat. The absolute rarity of this gemstone can be understood from the fact that ever since 1987, only 30 true Red Diamond specimens are known to exist despite the huge number of Diamond grading GIA does every year. The rarest and costliest gemstone, the blazing fire of a Red Diamond is bound to arrest, hypnotize, and stupefy any fortunate gaze that falls upon it. With the ever-admirable qualities of a Diamond, a passionate red hue that rivals Rubies, and a rarity that exceeds imagination, Red Diamonds are gems among gemstones.

Red Diamonds in all their blazing glory

Source: Geology science

Red Beryl | Bixbite

While the green-hued Emerald is a familiar name even to people unacquainted with the gemstone world, few know about the Red-Beryl. A cousin of the world-renowned green-hued Emerald, the Red Beryl is a rarity among rare gemstones. Formerly known as Bixbite, this gemstone is also a member of the Beryl family like the Emerald, the sole difference being the red hues it exhibits. The presence of Manganese as impurities in the crystal structure results in beautiful hues of red, crimson red, cherry red, pink, strawberry, and orange at times, too! The manganese impurities are a result of the geological properties of Utah and New Mexico - the only places on Earth where these gemstones are mined. Often sold under the trade names of Red Emerald or Scarlett Emerald, this beautiful red gemstone is scarcely available.

An octagon cut Red Beryl

Source:Wikipedia

Painite

If one ever gets to handle one of these gemstones, know that they are handling one of the only thousand samples of the gemstone on the whole face of Earth! Painite is incredibly rare, and historically, it has been the rarest gemstone ever. The history of Painite is an interesting one. It was discovered by Mineralogist Arthur CD Pain in 1957, who misidentified it as a Ruby. It was in 1962 when Painite was found to be a new gemstone species. Until 2001, only 3 specimens of this gemstone were found, with Myanmar being the exclusive source. New deposits were found in Myanmar, Thailand, and Madagascar, and today, the total collection of Painite samples is just over a thousand. Still, the facetable material that can be polished and worn as jewelry is not more than three hundred. Deep, intense red & brown hues, high brilliance, and Mohs scale rating of 8 make them quite durable, making Painite a suitable gemstone for jewelry purposes. Considering the fanatical rarity associated with the gemstone, even a single polished specimen can bring in loads of capital for the seller.

The iridescent Painite

Source: IGS

Fine Black Opal

Witnessing a Black Opal is like glimpsing the night sky, the stars, the galaxies, and the universe within a gemstone. Unreaslitically beautiful, the Black Opal is invariably uncommon. The dark, black body is accompanied by the characteristic “Opalscence,” i.e., the play of colors or fire in an Opal. The shimmering colors against a dark background with a smooth and polished texture give Black Opals an effortless, luxurious appeal. Fine Black Opals are the best-grade black opals that are mined in Australia’s Lightning Ridge region. This variety is extremely precious, rarer than diamonds in general, and visually stunning to the extent that its legends ascribe the stars and cosmos as the origins of a Fine Black Opal. However, its scanty reserves have further withered down the ages, and no new findings of Fine Black Opal reserves. Life in Lightning Ridge is harsh, with miners braving rough conditions and, at times, living underground for days to find that one fine ore that can be worth their penance. Such rarity makes these stunning gemstones one of the costliest commodities in the world, with a carat of the gemstone easily fetching USD 10,000! Yet, if simply put, fine black opals are outright stunners.

The play of colors in a Fine Black Opal

Source: Geology science

Taaffeite

The Taaffiete is an outright collector gemstone. Tremendously rare, the island nation of Sri Lanka is the sole source of the gemstone’s quality samples. It has also been found in parts of China and Russia as small pebbles in dry quantities with low quality. Mineralogists and geologists unanimously agree that Taaffiete is amongst the rarest “minerals” on earth, and when found, it's only used for jewelry purposes due to the staggering prices it can be sold for. The faceted, polished specimens exhibit beautiful blue or violet hues, sometimes also being pinkish-red or colorless. From being misidentified as a spinel and subsequently being identified as a new mineral species in 1945, only a handful of Taaffiete is said to be circulating in the world. Today, it has become one of the rarest and most desired collector gemstones in the world.

Taafieite in its cooling violet hue

Source: Wikipedia

Poudretteite

A constant mention in the “rarest gemstone category,” Poudretteite is as rare as an oasis in a desert, and fortunate is the gemologists who happen to encounter one. The gemstone was first found during the 1960s as minute crystals in Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, in a quarry operated by the “Poudrette” family, hence the name. Only a limited number of these gemstones, in the shape of tiny faceted crystals, not more than 2 carats, have been uncovered worldwide. It was in 2000 when the majestic land of Mogok, living up to its historic reputation, produced a Poudrettite ore that resulted in a nearly flawless 9.41 Carat specimen of faceted Poudrettite. The beautiful light pink gemstone is currently placed in the National Gemstone collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, D.C., USA. Since then, other specimens have been unearthed in Mogok Valley, which has become an active producer of the gemstone, apart from the earlier-mentioned quarry in Quebec, Canada.

The ultra rare Pouderetteite

Source: naturalhistory.si.edu

Paraiba Tourmaline

Yes! A type of tourmaline indeed finds its place among the rarest gemstones in the world. Discovered in Brazil in 1989, Paraiba Tourmalines are outrightly distinct from any other naturally occurring gemstones. The bright, vivid, and intense electric neon blue and green wasn’t ever seen before, and quickly became the favorite of gem lovers. Other reserves of the gemstone have also been discovered in Africa and Madagascar, but the intensity and saturation of the specimens’ colors aren’t as striking as the Brazilian variety. It’s said that only one Paraiba Tourmaline is unearthed for every 10,000 gemstones, stating clearly the uncommon occurrence of this breathtaking gemstone.

Electric, dazzling Paraiba Tourmaline

Grandidierite

Hailing from the exotic lands of Madagascar, Grandidierite is a recent discovery. Its rarity can be adjudged from the fact that only one deposit of the gemstone in Madagascar was known from 1902 to 2000, with the specimens being translucent. Later discoveries of a new deposit in Sri Lanka in 2000 and another one in Madagascar in 2015 have made the gemstone more common yet still uncommon. The overall color of Grandidierite is Greenish-Blue to Blue-green, with high durability (Moh’s scale rating of 7.5), which makes them an ideal candidate for making fine jewelry. The serene hue of the gem makes it one of the most beautiful members of the rarest gemstone list.

The serene Grandidierite

Benitoite

Discovered in 1907, Benitoite is an anomaly. The gem has the best qualities of other precious gemstones and is even more rarer than them. Its blue hue rivals the Blue Sapphire and has a fire, i.e., dispersion higher than the Diamond. A Moh’s scale rating of 6-6.5 makes it durable enough to be used for jewelry applications. The gemstone itself is undeniably lovely, but the abject rarity of this gemstone makes it invaluable. Benitoite as a mineral is mined in a few locations, including California, Arkansas, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Japan. However, gemstone-quality Beniotote that can be faceted and used for jewelry is only found in San Benito County, California, and the mines ceased active production here in 2005. In terms of beauty, this gemstone is an enchanter and is often said to be the most desirable gem among all rare gemstones. The raw ore doesn’t exceed 2-3 Carats, while the polished and faceted samples rarely go above 1 Carat in size, and with enormous price tags that can go to 6 figures per carat with ease.

The rare Benitoite

Source: geologylearn.blogspot.com

Tanzanite

Tanzanite was discovered 550 years ago, and ever since then, it has become one of the most popular gemstones in history. Its immense popularity is a result of the absolutely beautiful bluish-purple shades that level the best sapphire specimens. The hues are pastel and soft, almost as if diffusing within the crystal body harmoniously, which is a dream of any jewel lover. The rarity of Tanzanite can be understood by its remarkable mining conditions - the gemstone is mined in the Merarani Hills, northern Tanzania, within a region that doesn’t span more than 109,000,000 carats (21,800 kg; 48,100 lb). Though the number may look huge for the unversed, it's still a minute amount for a natural resource. This rarity, though, isn’t reflected in Tanzanites’ usual prices. While it definitely costs more than the usual gemstones; the rarity and beauty of a Tanzanite still doesn’t let it have heftier price tags than other precious gemstones.

The Stunning Tanzanite

Conclusion

From those who adore gemstones to those who aren’t much acquainted with these glittery, special gifts of nature, no one can deny the utmost value of each of the listed gems above. It’s a dream come true for many gemologists to be able to hold one of these specimens in their hand and be fortunate enough to admire what billions of years of natural process have been behind their existence. Exceptionally gorgeous and absolutely rare, the specialty of all these gemstones lets them be the finest creations on the planet that can be only owned by the luckiest of us.