10 Gemstones Rarer than Diamond: The Earth’s Scarcest Treasures

What you'll learn in this article:

• The specific geological conditions that make these rare gemstones so scarce in nature.
• How to identify quality factors that determine the value of each rare gemstone variety.
• The distinctive visual properties that make these rarest gemstones sought after by collectors.
• Where in the world these exceptional gem materials are found and mined.

Tanzanite: The Violet-Blue African Treasure Limited to One Location

The intense violet-blue hues of tanzanite can rival fine sapphire at a fraction of the price—yet it's a much rarer stone! This exceptional gemstone occurs only in a small area of Tanzania, making it one of the most geographically limited rare gemstones on earth.

Key facts about tanzanite that make it special:

• After its discovery in 1967, tanzanite quickly rose in popularity due largely to marketing efforts by Tiffany & Co.
• The stone exhibits strong pleochroism, appearing blue, violet, or green-yellow to brown depending on the viewing angle.
• Gem cutters carefully orient these gems specifically to feature the most desirable blue or violet hues.

Almost all tanzanite undergoes heat treatment to produce its attractive blue coloration, resulting in a stable color that makes this stone so desirable.

Burma Ruby: The Benchmark Standard for Fine Red Gemstones Worldwide

All rubies are rare, but those from Myanmar (formerly Burma) set the standard for quality and color while being exceptionally scarce. These represent some of the most rare gemstone specimens in the world of colored gems.

What makes Burma rubies special compared to other sources:

• While rubies from Thailand contain relatively high iron content resulting in overly dark reds with brownish or purplish overtones, Myanmar's geological conditions produce rubies with very little trace iron.
• These gems often achieve more vivid reds with much stronger fluorescence than their Thai counterparts.
• A top-quality Thai ruby will still rival the finest from Myanmar in exceptional cases.
• The finest color, nicknamed "pigeon blood," creates consistent high demand and premium prices for these red rare gemstones.

Jadeite: The Invaluable Green Treasure Prized in Ancient Civilizations

Known for the bright electric green of imperial jade, jadeite can actually occur in many colors, including lavender, yellow, orange-red, blue, black, and colorless. This ancient treasure has been highly prized in Chinese and Mayan cultures with an extensive body of folklore surrounding it.

What determines jadeite's exceptional value:

• Jadeite value depends primarily on its translucence and texture, with top-quality material appearing to be full of water, or like a drop of colored oil.
• Determining the price of a piece of jade involves more subjectivity than most gemstones.
• The artistry of the piece plays a very important role in the overall value determination.
• There's a Chinese saying that perfectly captures its status among rare gemstones: "Gold has value; jade is invaluable."

Alexandrite: The Magical Color-Changing Gem of Imperial Russia

Discovered in 1830 in Russia's Ural Mountains, alexandrite has remarkable color-changing abilities that make it one of the most sought-after rare gemstones in the world.

What makes alexandrite so special:

• Due to trace amounts of chromium in the crystal structure, this stone appears emerald green to peacock blue in daylight but ruby red to purple under incandescent light.
• At the time of its discovery, Imperial Russia's colors — red and green — were in style, making this gem particularly coveted by the Russian aristocracy.
• Named after Czar Alexander, this variety of chrysoberyl remains one of the rarest stones on earth.
• Though discoveries in Brazil and a few other locations have expanded availability, it remains among the most rare gemstone varieties.

As a modern June birthstone, alexandrite remains popular and is often synthesized for jewelry use due to its extreme natural scarcity.

Paraíba Tourmaline: The Electric Neon Blue Discovery That Shocked the Gem World

The brightly saturated blue-green hues of paraíba tourmaline stunned the gem world when discovered in the 1980s. Its remarkable discovery in the Brazilian state of Paraíba spurred a rush of prospectors and miners into the area.

What makes this gemstone exceptionally rare:

• The per-carat price of these gems rose quickly after discovery and continues to climb steadily.
• Brazil isn't the only source of these neon stones—similar geological conditions produced these copper-bearing gems in Mozambique and Nigeria.

Despite multiple sources, this variety of tourmaline remains among the rarest gemstones due to limited production at all known localities.

Ammolite: The Rainbow-Colored Fossil Gem from Ancient Seas

In 1981, the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) declaredammolite a new organic gem. Occurring in limited deposits in the Rocky Mountains, this gem material is much rarer than diamond.

What makes ammolite unique among rare gemstones:

• Ammolite is composed of the aragonite shells of marine mollusks more than 65 million years old, which display bright, iridescent colors.
• Any color of the rainbow, or even the entire rainbow, may appear in a single specimen.
• The value of these unique gems increases for rare colors, more intense iridescence and play of color, and how much the stone can be rotated with the color still visible.
• Today, Korite International mines most of the ammolite on the market.

At 4.2 x 2.2 cm, the ammolite in this pendant makes a statement. Watch the mesmerizing color shift as the ammolite rotates in this slide show. Adorned by diamonds and a 6 mm Akoya pearl, this pendant is a showstopper even without the matching earrings. "Garden of Giverny" © Korite International. Used with permission.

Kashmir Sapphire: The Legendary Blue Velvet Gem from Himalayan Peaks

Soft, velvety, saturated blue hues characterize Kashmir sapphires. These gems contain very fine inclusions of rutile that create their distinctive soft appearance.

What makes Kashmir sapphires extremely rare:

• The mines that once produced them high in the Himalayas ran dry in the 1930s.
• As a result of their extreme scarcity, the price of these stones rises ever higher with each passing year.
• While few will ever have the privilege of owning one of these gems, museums have many pieces on display that are well worth visiting.

Natural Pearl: The Original Ocean Treasure Now Vanishing from Our Seas

Pearls are ubiquitous in jewelry but would be almost non-existent without the cultured pearl industry. Natural pearls are extremely rare and becoming rarer every year.

Factors contributing to natural pearl scarcity:

• Due to overfishing, pollution, and ocean acidification, naturally occurring pearls appear more frequently in antique jewelry than in our planet's oceans.
• Natural pearls are rarely perfectly round and often display off-color tones.

While the standard for matching roundpearl jewelry is very high in cultured pearls, natural pearl strands will have more imperfections.

Red Beryl: The Brilliant Crimson Cousin of Emerald Found Only in Utah

A cousin of emerald, aquamarine, and morganite, red beryl contains manganese, which imparts a bright red hue. Once called bixbite, red beryl stands as one of the rarest and most desirable gems on earth.

Key facts about this exceptional rare gemstone:

• With good wearability, this gem can make an excellent jewelry stone — if you can find one!
• Gem-quality red beryl occurs only in Utah's Wah Wah mountains, making it incredibly scarce.
• Most specimens are kept by mineral collectors and never faceted, further limiting its availability.

In this video, Jake Talve-Goodman of The Concierge Gemologist discusses the color, inclusions, and symbolism of red beryl.

Benitoite: The California Rarest Gemstone With Diamond-Like Fire

Benitoite exceeds diamond's rarity as well as its "fire" or dispersion. Combined with its often sapphire-blue color, it's no wonder this rare stone is a highly sought rare gem.

What makes benitoite exceptionally rare:

• Gem-quality benitoite occurs only in San Benito County, California (making it the natural choice for the California state gem).
• When choosing a benitoite gem, consumers must decide between a dark and saturated sapphire blue with somewhat less visible dispersion or a gem with lighter tone but sparkling fire.

More Rare Gemstones: Additional Treasures That Surpass Diamond in Scarcity

Looking for more gemstones rarer than diamond? Expand your knowledge of the world's rarest gemstones by exploring these exceptional varieties:

• Black opal - Australia's magnificent treasure with play-of-color against a dark background
• Padparadscha sapphire - The perfect blend of pink and orange in the corundum family
• Russian demantoid - The green garnet variety with exceptional brilliance and horsetail inclusions
• Oregon sunstone - America's copper-bearing feldspar with unique schiller effect
• Moldavite - The green tektite formed by meteorite impact with Earth

If you're searching for something truly special beyond common gemstones, these rarest gemstones offer a combination of beauty, scarcity, and distinctive qualities that make them treasured additions to any fine jewelry collection.