Ten gemstones rarer than Diamonds

1. Burma Ruby

All rubies are rare, but those from Myanmar (formerly Burma) set the standard for quality and colour. They are also exceptionally scarce, rubies from Thailand contai

n relatively high iron content which can result in overly dark reds with brownish or purplish overtones, the geological conditions in Myanmar generally produce rubies with very little

trace iron, this results in, these gems often achieving more vivid reds with much stronger fluorescence than their Thai counterparts.

A top-quality Thai ruby will rival the finest from Myanmar. Often nicknamed "pigeon blood," these red gems are always in demand, irrelevant of origin.

2. Tanzanite

Intense violet-blue hues of tanzanite can rival fine sapphire at a fraction of the price, and it's a much rarer stone. These little beauties occur only in a small area of Tanzania, this variety of zoisite has become quite popular and sort after. After its discovery in 1967, it popularity grew at a rapid rate, due in part to marketing efforts by Tiffany & Co.

This stone shows strong pleochroism, appearing blue, violet, or green yellow to brown, depending on the viewing angle. Gem cutters orient these gems to feature blue or violet hues. Though almost all tanzanite undergoes heat treatment to produce its attractive blue hues, this treatment produces a stable colour that makes this stone so desirable. Some Tanzanite is believed to have received natural heat through bush fire ov

er time.

3. Jadeite

Known for the bright electric green of imperial jade, jadeite can occur in many colours, including lavender, yellow, orange-red, blue, black, and colourless. Highly prized in Chinese, Mayan, and Māori cultures, this stone has an extensive body of folklore. Jadeite value depends on its translucence and texture, with top-quality material appearing to be full of water, or like a drop of coloured oil. Still, determining the price of a piece of jade involves more subjectivity than most gemstones. The artistry of the piece plays a very important role. There's a Chinese saying: "Gold has value; jade is invaluable."

4. Alexandrite

Discovered in 1830 in Russia's Ural Mountains, alexandrite has remarkable colour-changing abilities. 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, Imperial Russia's colours — red and green — were in style. Thus, it's no wonder that the Russian aristocracy coveted this stone. Named after Czar Alexander, this variety of chrysoberyl is still a rare stone. Though the discovery of alexandrite in Brazil and a few other locations has expanded this gem's availability, it remains among the rare

st stones. A modern June birthstone, alexandrite remains popular and is often synthesized for jewellery use.

5. Paraiba Tourmaline

The brightly saturated blue-green hues of Paraiba tourmaline stunned the gem world in the 1980s. Its discovery in the Brazilian state of Paraiba spurred a rush of prospectors and miners into the area. The per carat price of these gems rose quickly and continues to grow. However, Brazil isn't the only source of these neon stones. Similar geological conditions produced these copper-bearing gems in Mozambique and Nigeria. Still, this tourmaline variety remains among the rarest gems.

6. Ammolite

In 1981, the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) declared ammolite a new organic gem. Occurring in limited deposits in the Rocky Mountains, this gem material is much rarer than diamond. Ammolite is made of the aragonite shells of marine molluscs more than 65 million years old, which display bright, iridescent colours. Any colour of the rainbow, or even the entire rainbow, may appear in a single specimen. The value of these unique gems increases for rare colours, more intense iridescence and play of colour, and how much the stone can be rotated with the colour still visible. Today, Korite International mines

most of the ammolite on the market.

7. Kashmir Sapphire

Soft, velvety, saturated blue hues characterize Kashmir sapphires. These gems contain very fine inclusions of rutile that create this soft look. The mines that once produced them high in the Himalayas ran dry in the 1930s. As a result, the price of these extremely scarce stones rises ever higher. While few will ever have the privilege of owning one of these gems, museums have many pieces on display. They're well worth a visit.

8. Natural Pearl

Pearls are ubiquitous, but without the cultured pearl industry, they would be nearly non-existent. Natural pearls are extremely rare and becoming rarer every year. Due to overfishing, pollution, and ocean acidification, naturally occurring pearls appear more frequently in antique jewellery than in our planet's oceans. Natural pearls are rarely round and often off-colour. So, while the standard for matching round pearl jewellery is very high in cultured pearls, natural pearl strands will have more imperfections.

9. Red Beryl

A cousin of emerald, aquamarine, and morganite, the red variety of beryl contains manganese, which imparts a bright red hue. Once called bixbite, red beryl is one of the rarest and most desirable gems. With good wearability, this gem can mak

e an excellent jewellery stone — if you can find one! Gem-quality red beryl occurs only in Utah's “Wah Wah” mountains, and most specimens are kept by mineral collectors and never faceted.

10. Benitoite­­

This rare stone exceeds diamond's rarity as well as its "fire" or dispersion. Combined with its often sapphire-blue colour, it's no wonder this is a highly sought rare gem. Gem-quality benitoite occurs only in San Benito County, California (and thus a 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.