The most expensive stones in the world: red diamond, ruby, emerald. The rarest gems in the world. The most expensive gem in the world The most expensive mineral in the world

Of the huge number of minerals that exist on earth, diamonds and corundum are considered the most famous and in demand. But the most expensive stone in the world cannot be found in the windows of jewelry stores. Its name, price and characteristics are of interest to those who want to touch the luxurious beauty of natural crystals.

In the modern world, truly rare and very valuable gems are found only in museums or private collections. Imitations of precious stones or cheap versions of natural gems are often found on mass sale. The list of the most expensive gemstones includes:

• Eremeevite, named after the Russian mineralogist Pavel Eremeev. A researcher found it in Namibia at the end of the nineteenth century. The gem resembles aquamarine in a light blue or yellow hue. The cost of one carat starts from two thousand dollars.
• The blue garnet is a very rare specimen, first found on the island of Madagascar in the nineties of the last century. Nowadays it is mined on the African continent, North America, Norway, and Ceylon. The peculiarity of the mineral is its ability to change color. The price is $2000.
• Black Australian opal. Despite the name, it can shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Now these nuggets are not considered very rare, but some types, which have a beautiful color and heavy weight, can cost 2 thousand. e. for one carat.
• Demantoid - belongs to the group of green garnets. For a long time it was available only to collectors. Its production is carried out in some African countries, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran. Along with its popularity, its price also rises. A stone of the highest category costs two thousand in American currency.
• Taaffeit. He gained fame in the mid-twentieth century thanks to Count Eduard Taaffe. Shades range from rich lavender to light pink. A very rare mineral, it is found only in Tanzanian and Ceylon mines. There are very few of them in the world, and the tariff ranges from three to five thousand American currency.
• Poudretti is a pink gem. It was first discovered in Quebec, Canada. Named after the names of the mine owners. Very rare, the cost of one carat is from 3 to 5 thousand in dollar equivalent.
• Musgravit. Found in Australia, Greenland, Madagascar and even Antarctica. Most often it has green and purple shades. The cost can reach six thousand dollars for 200 mg.
• Benitoite is native to California. It has the status of a state gemstone of the state. Dark-blue colour. There are no more than ten such gems on earth. Cost from 4 thousand to 6 thousand.e.
• Sapphire is a very beautiful jewelry corundum. Has all shades of blue. The most unique specimen is star-shaped; when illuminated, a six-pointed star appears on its surface. It is mined in the depths of all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. On the world market, the price reaches six thousand dollars for 0.2 g.
• Green emerald. Its main production takes place in Colombia. Due to the fact that pure minerals are extremely rare, their prices skyrocket. The best stones are purchased for $8,000.
• Bixbit. It is a rare variety of red beryl. Known only to a few gem lovers. Its deposits are located in only two American states - New Mexico and Utah. The cost of one carat exceeds 12 thousand dollars.
• Alexandrite. It was found on the territory of our country in the first half of the nineteenth century in the Urals, near Yekaterinburg. Bears the name of Alexander II - the then ruler of the Russian Empire. A unique feature of the stone is its ability to change color depending on the lighting. Color varies from green to purple-red. The highest quality gems can cost 15 thousand dollars for 0.2 g.
• Paraiba blue tourmaline is a turquoise nugget of stunning beauty, found in the Brazilian state of the same name. Later, mines were opened on the island of Madagascar and the African state of Mozambique.
• Ruby red. Corundum, known to most inhabitants of our planet. Almost all continents are rich in its deposits. The most exquisite and expensive is considered to be the Asian carbuncle “pigeon blood”, the price of which exceeds 15 thousand USD. e. for 200 mg.
• Diamond is everyone's favorite jewelry stone. It is distinguished by its durability and play of light in its edges, which other gems do not have. The cost depends not only on weight, but also on the quality of the cut and can reach 15 thousand US dollars.
• Jadeite, or imperial, is a mysterious green crystal. The main sources are Chinese, Burmese, Japanese and Kazakh mineral resources. The rarest representative of jadeites is sold for $20,000.
• Padparadscha is a unique sapphire originally from the Indian state of Kashmir; its name translated from Tamil means “color of the rising sun.” It has an orange spectrum with yellow and red tints, which is rare for this type of corundum. The collectible gem is valued at $30,000 per carat.
• Grandidierite. It originates from the depths of Ceylon. It owes its name to the French explorer Alfred Grandidier. There are a very small number of cut nuggets in the world - only two dozen, so their cost is about $30,000 per 200 mg.
• Red diamond. It rightfully takes first place in the top 19 most valuable gems. This is the most expensive mineral on earth. From ancient times to the present day, only a few such crystals have been mined, the weight of which does not exceed half a carat. Purple-red natural masterpieces are mined only in the Australian Argyle mine. Unsurprisingly, it is the most expensive gemstone in the world, with a price tag of over one million US dollars.

Factors affecting cost

Each natural gem has characteristics that distinguish it from others. Cheaper refined stones are in demand and are available to the bulk of the planet's population. The main factors influencing the value of a crystal are:

• Uniqueness.
• Purity.
• Weight.
• Quality of cut.

Based on these criteria, even the most inconspicuous-looking mineral can be worth a huge fortune.

Minerals of organic origin

The origin of such natural masterpieces is often associated with geological metamorphoses that occur with the remains of ancient plants and animals. Among them there are also very expensive stones, the names of which are known even to those who have never worn jewelry:

What is the most expensive organic stone in the world can be judged by its unique features. The first place is rightfully occupied by the largest pearl on earth, it is called “The Beauty of the Ocean”, its weight is 6 tons, and its diameter is 1.5 meters.

Legendary red diamond

Crimson nuggets make up one thousandth of one percent of all diamonds mined. The spectrum depends on the presence of manganese impurities in their composition and the curvature of the crystal lattice. The optical properties in their brilliance and play of light have no competitors in nature.

According to geological studies, their age may be two and a half billion years. In science, there is an assumption about the formation of carbohydrate stones at a depth of two hundred kilometers under enormous pressure and as a result of the cooling of molten rocks of the earth’s mantle. A significant portion of nuggets are found in the remains of meteorites.

Clarity and cut of colored diamonds

Due to the increased demand for diamond jewelry, manufacturers have tried to create analogues with artificial coloring. However, recreating a high quality redstone was impossible. Technologies of the modern world allow you to do imitation of colored diamonds using irradiation of the mineral structure.

The value of such analogues is significantly reduced, but the brightness and brilliance upon visual contact is in no way inferior to real nuggets. The purity of the stone depends on the number of natural inclusions and anomalies.

Due to the high hardness of diamonds, their processing is fraught with difficulties. Scarlet stones are cut only in their lower part, which is in the frame, and the surface remains smooth. Thanks to this, the impression of inner radiance is created.

Symbolism and properties of the stone

The scarlet color of a diamond symbolizes powerful vital energy, sincere devotion and love. As a gift, it represents the best feelings of the giver. His magic helps maintaining family ties, strengthening love relationships. Traits such as determination, courage, nobility are passed on to the owner and accompany him throughout his life.

Diamonds donated and inherited convey their best qualities to their owner. Only stones obtained by dishonest means can change a person’s fate for the worse. In nature, there are no two absolutely identical diamonds. They, like human fingerprints, are never repeated.

The most expensive and rare stones in the world, mined from the depths of the earth, surprise with their beauty. The limited supply on the planet and high demand ensure high costs and demand exceeding supply.

There are very few of them in nature. Deposits are located only in a few places on our planet, and reserves are limited. Their cost is sometimes amazing.

Precious

As a rule, such stones are rarely found in nature and acquire the best decorative qualities after skillful jewelry processing: cutting and cabochoning (polishing). The greater the weight and decorativeness of the sample, the higher its price.

List of the most expensive gemstones in the world (cost per carat):

1. Red diamond. It has a rich crimson color. It is mined only in Australia - its large deposits are not found anywhere else on Earth. Found in small quantities in Brazil. The cost of the rarest gemstone is fantastic: about $1 million.
2. A transparent stone containing a lot of iron shines in 3 shades at once: snow-white, soft blue and greenish. So far, only 8 specimens have been found in the world that 100% correspond to the characteristics of the species. Price – from 100 thousand $.
3. Padparadscha. The name translates as “sunrise”. The faceted gem shimmers in soft red, pink and salmon colors. It is mined in only 2 places in the world. It is quite expensive - $30 thousand.
4. . The green sacred stone of the ancient Aztecs and the material from which the Thai talisman, the Buddha figurine, is made. Costs 20 thousand $.
5. Diamond. Numerous research studies have proven that this is the hardest stone on the planet. Its price largely depends on the properties of the specimen. The highest quality ones cost from $15,000.
6. Ruby. It has a well-recognized bloody color. It sells for $15,000.
7. Paribas tourmaline. Found only in Brazil. It is distinguished by its bright turquoise color, and in the twilight it glows with a neon haze, this is its unusual property. Estimated from $15,000, but after skillful processing the amount increases.
8. Alexandrite. Changes its color depending on the lighting. Its price varies from 10 to 37 thousand $.
9. Bixbit- reddish beryl mined in the USA. You will have to pay $10,000 for it.
10. Sapphire and emerald. The first is distinguished by its bright blue color, the second by green. They are valued at approximately the same $6-8 thousand.

Separately, it is worth mentioning pearls, which are considered the most valuable. Some classifications do not classify it as a precious stone due to its organic origin. The most expensive type is “South Sea”. It is distinguished by a thick (up to 6 mm) layer of mother-of-pearl, which determines its uniqueness and monetary value.

Semi-precious

Semi-precious stones are more widespread in nature than their “elite” counterparts. At the same time, they are more affordable and are also in demand among jewelry lovers and mineral collectors.

• Aquamarine– $30-60 per carat. Transparent with a bluish or greenish tone. Its beauty is fully revealed after cutting and polishing.
• Amethyst- the most expensive of all quartz. The most valuable variety is “Siberian”. The cost of its sample with a pronounced purple color starts at $10 per carat.

Aquamarine

• - known to man since ancient times and loved by him throughout history. The assessment of value depends on the color: preference is given to bright blue specimens without a pattern or with very thin veins. They charge from $25.
• - an emerald stone from the garnet group. 1 carat is estimated at $100–500.
• Grossular similar to demantoid both in color and origin. Its price starts from $700.
• cat's eye with a light stripe in the middle, which changes its position depending on the light and viewing angle. A very hard stone, not inferior in strength to ruby. Costs from $40 per carat.

The cost of other semi-precious specimens is much cheaper - no more than $10.

The most beautiful stones in the world (video)

The rarest minerals and their deposits

In addition to stones that are actively used to create jewelry, there are lesser-known minerals that are rare. The number of finds of some is limited to a dozen.

• Painitis. It was first found in 1956 in Burma and named after the scientist who discovered it. It is notable for being included in the Guinness Book of Records (2005 version) as the rarest mineral. Changes color from brown to blood-red, there are inclusions of black-brown color. Rare pink specimens have been found. It is mined in the towns of Mogok and Kachin (Myanmar). After cutting, its cost becomes $5–9 thousand per 1 carat.
• It is found 1,000 times less frequently than diamonds. It has a characteristic blue-violet color. Tanzanite became famous all over the world after the designers of the Tiffany jewelry house drew attention to the mineral. They developed a whole collection of jewelry with tanzanite, which became popular. The mineral is mined in Merelani Hill (Tanzania). Its price starts at $500 per carat.

• Benitoite. When it was first discovered, it was mistaken for a sapphire. They are similar in their rich blue color, making it an attractive material for fine jewelry. But a detailed analysis showed an error. In 1906, benitoite became an independent and expensive mineral. The rarest specimens have the original purple color. Benitoite is very rare in nature. Deposits suitable for development on a large scale are found only in California. Other discovered deposits in Belgium, New Zealand, Japan and Texas are very small and of no interest to jewelers. The cost range of benitoite is very large - from $1 to $4,000 per carat: it depends on the intensity of the color of the mineral and its transparency.
• Poudretteitis. The pink mineral was named after the owners of a quarry in Canada, where it was first discovered in the 60s of the last century. It was later discovered in Myanmar. The study of the mineral began only in 1987, after which it became famous throughout the world as a rarity. Only 30 mined and cut samples are known. In addition to pink, they are lilac or almost colorless. Moreover, after cutting, its color improves. The cost of a sample weighing less than 1 carat ranges from $2,000 to $10,000. Larger samples cost several times more, depending on weight.

Gallery: rare and expensive stones (58 photos)

Rare stones of Russia

Russia is a storehouse of minerals, including precious stones. Usually their clusters are located in the Urals, Siberia or the Far North. Each deposit also has its own lists of what is hidden in its depths.

There are also unique places: for example, Utochkina Pad in Buryatia. There are 30 types of unique minerals there. These are precious and semi-precious varieties.

According to Russian law, precious stones include naturally mined (not artificially synthesized) alexandrites, diamonds, emeralds, pearls, rubies, and sapphires.

5 minerals are considered rare stones of the Russian Federation.

• Majorite. This is a garnet colored bright purple. These gems appear on Earth from space along with falling celestial bodies. In the Earth, majorite is formed only under conditions that are created at a depth of 400 km. This determines its high cost: a carat costs $1.2 million. Only a few specimens were found in the Urals.
• Eremeevit. An unusual looking mineral. Its colors come in different colors: blue, yellow and even almost completely transparent. At the same time, eremeevit cannot boast of the intensity of color: it is pale. The only deposits of the mineral in Russia are in the east of Transbaikalia, not far from Nerchinsk. Cost – from $600 per carat for a sample of not the best quality.
• The most original variety of topaz. If it is exposed to sunlight for several days, its surface loses its color. In this case, the color never returns. The main deposit of changeable stone in Russia is located near the town of Plast in the Chelyabinsk region. For 1 carat you will have to pay from $500. Large specimens with bright colors cost tens of times more.

• Xenotime. Cannot boast of bright colors. It ranges from brown to black, and is due to the presence of uranium in the composition. In Russia, xenotime is mined only in 2 deposits: Astafievskoye and Miaas. The cost of the most decorative crystals is calculated individually for each sample.
• Tazheranit. A red or orange colored mineral that is mined in several places around the world. In Russia, its deposits are located in the Baikal region. The sizes of gems are so small that they are almost never used in jewelry. Mineral collectors are mainly interested in tazheranite. The popular cubic zirconia is an artificial analogue of this gem. Original tazheranite is sold in narrow circles at an individual price.

Rare precious and semi-precious stones are the wealth of our planet. Each of them is beautiful and unique in its own way. Despite the high price, there will always be buyers willing to pay a large sum for them.

“Thank you again for the nice and necessary initiative (from the author. Cheers :-)) And tell us about the largest minerals - diamonds, rubies, etc. You can talk not only about natural ones, but also about grown ones. "

Let's start with the most popular ones, and at the end very rare minerals await you; to be honest, I have never even heard of many of them!

Emerald "Mogul"

On September 28, 2001, in London, at one of the largest auctions in the world, Christie's, one of the largest emeralds - the famous "Mogul" - was sold for $2.2 million.

Weighing 217.8 carats and measuring 10cm high, the sides of this gemstone are engraved with five lines of Muslim prayer and an oriental flower design. There are protrusions on the four sides of the Mogul to secure the stone to clothing or a turban.

It is believed that "Mughal" was brought to India by the Spanish conquistadors in the 17th century. The Mughal belonged to the Mughal dynasty and was cut during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the mid-17th to early 18th centuries.

Weight 217.80 carats. Originally belonged to the 1st emperors of the Mughal dynasty. It was cut between 1658 and 1707. during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. The texts of prayers are engraved on one side of it, and flower patterns on the other.

The name of the person who bought one of the most beautiful and largest emeralds is still kept secret.

The weight before cutting was 287.42 carats. Mined in South Africa in 1878 and purchased by New York jeweler Charles Tiffany. On the cut stone sits a bird made of gold and platinum, encrusted with rubies, white and yellow diamonds. The jewelry has only been worn twice in history, including once by Audrey Hepburn when she starred in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

THE LARGEST WHITE DIAMOND “CULLINA” (“STAR OF AFRICA”)

The largest cut diamond in the world Its original weight was 3026 carats, dimensions 100x65x50 mm. It was found by accident in 1905 in South Africa and, according to experts, was a fragment of an even larger crystal that was never found. In 1907, the Transvaal government presented it to the English King Edward VII. In 1908, it was split into several pieces, from which 9 large diamonds were made, 96 small ones, and one piece of 69.5 carats was left uncut. Its “shards” are kept in the Tower (London). “Cullinan-1” is embedded in the scepter of King Edward VII. "Cullinan-N" is inserted into the crown of the British Empire.

About the largest diamonds

THE LARGEST RUBY

It doesn’t have a name yet, but most likely it will be called “The King of Rubies.” Weight is 440 carats. Found in Greenland. The stone has an integral structure. This means that it will not need to be sawed into several parts, but can only be given a perfectly round shape. form. Now Canadian jewelers are doing this. After finishing work, the ruby ​​will weigh up to 380 carats.

Ruby, being one of the precious stones, is very loved by jewelers, and its rich red color goes well with the color of gold.

Translated from Latin, the word “ruber” translates as “red”. It was not until 1800 that it was discovered that ruby ​​and sapphire were varieties of corundum. Before this, both red spinel and garnet were called ruby ​​(all three minerals were also called carbuncles). The color of rubies varies both from different deposits and within one deposit, so it is impossible to judge its origin by the shade of a ruby. The most valuable are rubies of the “pigeon blood color” - pure red, with a slight purple tint. The coloring is often distributed unevenly: in spots or stripes. Rough stones have a dull or greasy shine, but a cut ruby ​​sparkles almost like a diamond.

In terms of hardness, ruby ​​is second only to diamond (brilliant), although it is 140 times softer. Inclusions are common in rubies. They are not at all a defect of the stone; on the contrary, they speak of its natural origin.

Large rubies are rarer than comparable diamonds. The largest gem-quality ruby ​​found in Burma weighed 400 carats. The most beautiful world-famous rubies include the 167-carat Edward Ruby. It is kept in the British Museum of Natural History. The 138.7-carat Riva star ruby ​​is located in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. De Long star ruby ​​- 100 carats. It is kept in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Numerous rubies adorn royal regalia and ancient family jewels. However, many of them were subsequently “exposed”, turning out to be red spinel. Among them, the "Black Prince's Ruby" in the British Crown and the "Timur's Ruby", today owned by Sheikh Nasser Ab-Sabah of Kuwait.

It is customary to assign magical properties to many precious stones. So, it is believed, for example, that a ruby ​​allows the owner to be completely safe even among enemies and rewards with invulnerability, but for this the stone must be worn under clothing on the body and it is advisable never to part with it. It controls love desires, settles disputes, corrects bad moods, relieves grief and sadness. Ruby increases responsibility in a person and promotes leadership aspirations, relieving the owner of inferiority complexes and uncertainty. It gives rise to love and attraction to the great, be it science or art. Ruby is generally said to give the strength of a lion, the fearlessness of an eagle and the wisdom of a snake. The stone can change color, which will serve as a warning to the owner of danger, but this ruby ​​skill must be observed for a long time, if only because the color does not change too much. Ruby is the stone of those who want to achieve a lot in life, and it supports the owner in this if he does not have vain vanity and understands that great goals are goals of achieving happiness for other people.

THE BLOODEST GEM “REGENT”

The 410-carat stone was found in 1701 by a slave in the Golconda mines. To remove a large stone from the mine, the Hindu inflicted a wound on his lower back and hid the diamond in a bundle. He handed the stone to the English cable, who promised him freedom in exchange, but, luring him onto the ship, killed him. The money the Englishman received for selling the stone was of no use to him. Having quickly squandered them, he hanged himself. The stone was bought by Sir Thomas Pitt, a former pirate and at that time governor of the fortress of St. George. Returning to London, he spent several years in solitude, not parting with the jewel for a minute. Tired of being a slave to the stone, he sold it to the French king. It was taken from the French treasury, pledged to a Moscow merchant and inserted into Napoleon's swords. The diamond is now kept in the Louvre (Paris).

THE LARGEST PEARL “ALLAH”

Although it’s not a mineral, let’s not ignore it. The diameter of the pearl is 238 mm, weight is 6400 grams. It was found in 1934. The lines on its surface resemble the convolutions of the human brain. Stored in the USA, where it came thanks to Wilburn Dowell Cobb. He received it as a gift for saving the life of the first owner of the pearl - the head of the island of Palawan in the Philippines.

Tridacna shells can grow up to 1.5 m in length and reach a weight of about 250 kg. Moreover, the weight of the mollusk itself is no more than 30 kg; the rest of the mass falls on the shell. This oddly shaped pearl was discovered by a pearl diver on the island of Palovan in the Philippines in 1934. The lines on its surface resemble the convolutions of the human brain. The diameter of the pearl is 238 mm, weight is 12,800 carats (6400 g). For comparison, a cultured pearl with a diameter of 7.5 mm would weigh approximately 3 carats (0.6 g). According to the Guinness Book of Records, the gem laboratory in San Francisco valued the Pearl of Allah at $40,000,0000. Exact copies of the pearl are displayed in various museums around the world.

The head of the island, a Muslim, who received the pearl as his property, saw in it a head in a turban and called it the pearl of Allah. Five years later, a man named Wilburn Dowell Cobb saved the life of the island's chief's son, and the pearl was given to him as a gift as a sign of gratitude. In 1980, Cobb's heirs sold it for $200,000 to Peter Hoffman, a Beverly Hills jeweler. He sold part of the rights to the pearl to Victor Barbish from Colorado Springs, leaving himself 33% of the rights to the property. Barbish told reporters that he had received an offer from certain private individuals from Osama bin Laden's group to purchase the pearl from him for $60,000,000 to give to Hussein as an “overture of unity” between al-Qaeda and the Iraqi government. Barbish said he had received other offers to buy the pearl from him for $40,000,000.

He added that the pearl had been in the Denver Bank vault for several years and he would not reveal the secret of its current location. However, the owner is not averse to donating the miracle of nature to some museum or library. “We will donate this pearl,” he said. “We don’t want money for her.” We want to donate it to charity so that everyone can see it, whether in a museum or the presidential library.”

Read more about the history of this pearl.

THE LARGEST SAPPHIRE “LONE STAR”

Among the famous star sapphires, the Lone Star sapphire weighs 9,719 carats. He was also called "Harold Roper" after the owner of the stone. Another sapphire, considered the largest among the star sapphires, weighed 63,000 carats. It was found in Burma in 1966. The Queensland Black Star sapphire was found in Australia. It got its name due to its dark blue, almost black color. After processing, the weight of the stone was 733 carats. A large star sapphire was found in Sri Lanka. The weight of the stone, called the "Star of India", was 563.3 carats. This stone was stolen from the New York Museum where it was kept. And only two years later it was safely returned to the museum.

Another famous sapphire, the “Eye of Allah,” served as decoration on the throne of Shah Nadir and was distinguished by its extraordinary transparency. The 62-carat Logan sapphire adorned John Rockefeller's ring.

THE LARGEST PLATINUM NUGGET “URAL GIANT”

The largest existing platinum nugget weighs 7 kg 860.5 g and is called the “Ural Giant”. Kept in the Diamond Fund.

The largest nugget of pure gold

Found in 1869 in the Moliagul area, pc. Victoria, Australia, The Desired Wanderer nugget weighed 70.92 kg and contained 69.92 kg of pure gold.

By the way:

In the constellation Centaurus, at a distance of about 50 light years from Earth, astronomers discovered a star they named Luky, which is a giant diamond. A block of crystallized carbon with a diameter of 1500 km was the core of an ancient star, which was very similar to the Sun, but later died out and decreased in size.

Painite

Painite is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest gemstone in the world... At the beginning of 2005 there were only eighteen known specimens, all numbered and described. Of these, there were only 3 pure red painites, and specimen No. 5 was considered the heaviest. This stone was cut into an oval and weighed 2.54 carats . In 2006, another source of painites was found in Burma, from which about 10 tons of raw material was recovered. The newly found painites turned out to be very dark red, or rather brown-red or red-brown stones, and their value turned out to be a thousand times lower than previously known. QUALITIES), and now the total number of known and confirmed painites does not exceed 330 pieces worldwide (data for July 2009).

In general, the color spectrum of painites ranges from pink to red and brown. Painite has extremely strong pleochroism and fluoresces a magnificent green color under ultraviolet light. The only reliably confirmed deposits in the world are in Burma, in the Mogoga and Kachin areas. Painite got its name in honor of the British gemologist Arthur Charles Davey Payne, who first studied and described it.

In recent years, painites have often been offered for sale on the Internet. And if it is difficult to believe in the reality of the very dark brown-red paintites offered, but still possible, then the red transparent paintites offered for a relatively high price for online trading are an absolute deception! Real Red Pure Painite IT HAS NO PRICE - IT IS PRICELESS!!!

It is very easy to distinguish real, even super-dark painite from a fake, even at home. Under the light of an ordinary blue lamp, real painite will turn noticeably green.

SERENDIBIT

Mineral Serendibit (not to be confused with Serandite) is found in various parts of the globe. But the serendibite gemstone remains the rarest in the world. Serendibite has a fairly wide range of colors - blue, bluish-green, light yellow, dark blue and black. Currently, the existence of slightly more than 1000 faceted serendibites, of which the vast majority are black. But for example, there are only 3 copies of light blue serendibites, 0.35 carat, 0.55 carat and 0.56 carat . The first 2 were discovered by the famous seeker of gemological rarities D.P. Gunazekeroy, the larger of them is shown in the photograph. Both stones were purchased by the late Professor Güble of Switzerland, who valued the smaller serendibite at 1 $4,300 per carat.

Serendibit has a very complex chemical composition, which includes calcium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, boron and oxygen. The name Serendibit comes from the ancient Arabic name for Sri Lanka "Serendibi", which Sinbad refers to in the description of his sixth voyage.

All unique pure, light-colored serendibites were found in Sri Lanka, and black serendibites (actually extremely dark blue), from which stones of jewelry and collection quality are cut, are mined only in Burma, in a single mine in the South Mogog region.

POUDRETTEIT

In 2000, in Burma, in northern Mogog, a stone was discovered, which, after cutting, turned into an extremely beautiful purple, clearly precious stone weighing 3 carats . In 2004, nine more similar crystals were discovered in the same mine, including one pale pink, whose cut weight was 9.41 carats.

A comprehensive study of these stones showed that they all belong to the mineral poudretteite, known since 1987. The mineral got its name in honor of the family Poudrette , which to this day owns a small mine located in the depths of the highest mountain in the vicinity of Montreal, in Quebec - in Mount Saint-Hilaire. Since 1987, several dozen small, very pale pink, almost colorless crystals have been found in this mine, which, despite their softness (5 on the Mohs scale), could be cut to high quality.

To this day, poudretteite has no longer been discovered in Burma, and the Canadian miracle mountain has given humanity only about 3 hundred stones of varying quality, of which about 2 dozen exceed the weight of 1 carat. Depending on the quality - purity and color saturation, the cost of poudretteite ranges from 2000 to 10000$ per carat , not counting, of course, a few of the largest and breathtakingly expensive stones.

GRANDIDIERITE

The light bluish-green or greenish-blue mineral was most recently found in Madagascar. Before that, the first grandidierite was discovered in Sri Lanka and was initially mistaken for serendibite. The very first sample, cut into 0.29 carat trillion (pictured), was purchased and first thoroughly examined in 2000 by Professor Güble in Switzerland.

Grandidireite - a stone with trichroism (blue, green, white) received its name in honor of the explorer, historian and naturalist Alfred Grandidire, including the one who found and dug up the bones of the famous elephant bird fossil weighing more than half a ton in Madagascar. As of In our time, the existence of 8 grandidierites has been reliably confirmed, and about a dozen more stones are suspected of being identified as grandidierites.

EREMEEVIT (JEREMEEEVIT)

Eremeevit - an almost colorless, sky blue or very light yellow stone, named after the Russian mineralogist Pavel Eremeev, who first discovered this mineral in 1883 in the Namib Desert, Africa. Discovered to date in several regions of the planet, jewelry-collectible eremeyevites are still mined (no more than 1-3 per year) only in Namibia. In nature, this mineral is found in the form of small prismatic (obelisk-shaped) crystals. At first, these stones were mistaken for aquamarines of rare color and unusual crystallization. In 2005, the largest known faceted eremeyevite weighing in was presented in Switzerland. 2.93 carats . It is reliably known about the existence of several hundred faceted eremeyevites; their cost, including on the Internet, depending on the quality, ranges from 2000 to 20000 dollars per carat.

MAJORITE - PURPLE GARNET

Majorite - the rarest form of purple garnet. Majorites can be formed either under the impact of a falling meteorite, or underground at a depth of at least 400 km! Named after geophysicist Alan Major, who studied the formation of garnets under ultra-high pressure.

Majorite was first found in 1970 in the Koorara meteorite near the town of Yecla, Western Australia. In 1990, several large crystals were found in Madagascar, in the Bequili region. Several specimens were found over the next decade in Russia, Turkey and the United States. The latest discovery dates back to 2004, when about a thousand small mica-like crystals were found in France, in the Chantoneau region, which were subsequently cut and sold at a price of $2,400 per carat. The most expensive purple majorite garnet today, weighing 4.2 carats , was sold in 2003 for 6.8 million dollars.

It can be assumed that as humanity explores the Moon and Mars, majorites will cease to be uniquely rare, since the conditions on the Moon and Mars are much more favorable for their formation.

TAAFFEIT

Taaffeit one of the rarest and most unique collectible stones. Over time, very few such stones have been found, and most of them have been mistakenly identified as spinel. Today, only in Sri Lanka and Tanzania a unique mineral is found from time to time. Since the deposits in East Africa and Sri Lanka are geologically related, our colleagues expect to find Taaffeite in Madagascar as well.

In 1945, Earl Taaffe, a Dublin gemologist, found a pale pink-lilac stone in a box of waste from a goldsmith's workshop. In appearance and properties, the stone reminded him of spinel, but at the same time showed a clear double refraction. The stone was sent to the British Museum for research, where it was determined that the stone was an unknown mineral. Although its refractive index is approximately the same as spinel, taaffeite is uniquely identified due to its birefringence and uniaxial negative characteristic.

Despite constant searches, another taaffeite was found only in 1949, in a bag with a scattering of stones from Sri Lanka. The third stone was found in 1957 by Robert Crowningshield, a GIA expert. The fourth taaffeite was found only 10 years later.

Since then, gemologists have been more or less aware of taaffeite, and individual stones continue to be discovered. Several years ago, our partners who own mines in Tunduru, Tanzania, discovered several taaffeites in their raw material brought to the surface from the mines. Since then, a constant process has been launched to recheck all materials, especially spinel, to detect the effect of double refraction. In cases of the slightest suspicion or uncertainty, additional research is carried out using the most modern equipment. Thanks to this, several hundred taaffeites have been found in Tanzania alone over the past 5 years. The largest taaffeite known today weighs 9.31 carats.

The world price of Taaffeit ranges from 2000 to 10000 dollars per carat

Tanzanite

The largest Tanzanite ever found in Merelani is a blue-violet stone weighing 16.839 thousand carats (more than 3 kg.) and size 220 mm x 80 mm x 70 mm . The stone was named Mawenzi in honor of one of the peaks of Kilimanjaro, the second highest. The stone is so rare and unique that its commercial and even insurance value has not yet been determined.

MUSGRAVIT

Taaffeite has a very close relative - chemically and optically similar to it musgravite . The mineral was first discovered in the Musgrave Range, which is how it got its name. Later, the mineral musgravite was also discovered in Greencandia, Madagascar, Tanzania and even in Antarctica!!! But all these samples could only be used for wall cladding, which was done by the Sultan of Brunei in one of his bedrooms. But the first sample suitable for cutting into a precious stone was discovered only in 1993. For some time it was believed that taaffeite and musgravite were the same thing, but in 2003, when studying both stones with a Raman spectroscope using a green laser, evidence was obtained that taaffeite and musgravite are different minerals and different stones.

In 2005, the existence of only 8 musgravites was reliably confirmed; now 14 such stones are already known. The biggest one has weight 5.93 carats (shown in the photo).

BENITOIT

The only benitoite deposit in the world was found only in San Benito County, California. Benitoite is an intensely blue stone, with very strong dispersion comparable to diamond, with intense blue-white fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

The largest known benitoite weighs 15.42 carats, but the stones weigh more 1 carat extremely rare, no more than a dozen are known. In 1974, it was stolen at Zurich airport 6.52 carat VVS drop of benitoite, the loss has not yet been discovered. There is a reasonable assumption that the stone was sawn and recut into 2 smaller ones and subsequently sold at one of the closed auctions.

Since 1984, benitoite has been designated the state gemstone of California. On the world market, the cost of 1 carat of small benitoites varies, depending on the quality, from 500 to 4000 dollars per carat.

RED DIAMOND

Only a few red diamonds have been found in the entire history of mankind, and very few people have had the good fortune to see and hold them in their hands. The natural color of red diamonds is described by gemologists as purplish-red, which is not pure red (ruby). Regardless of size, red diamonds, along with natural black diamonds, are among the rarest and most expensive gemstones in the world. The world's only industrially developed colored diamond mine in Argilles, Australia, produces a small number of red and near-red diamonds annually, in some years only a few carats. Red diamonds weighing more than 0.1 carat are usually sold only through auctions, and their value amounts to millions of dollars per carat.

In connection with the above, regular offers of red diamonds on the Internet, including on e-bay, do not lend themselves to any serious comment...

Here I can also suggest two interesting blogs about minerals.

From India's famous British Crown Diamond to a sapphire the size of a football, discover the world's most perfect gemstones:

1. Koh-i-Noor Diamond, British Crown Jewel

The Kohinoor is a 106-carat diamond that was once the largest diamond in the world. It was previously owned by various rulers in India. Today it is in the possession of the British royal family and is part of the Crown Jewels.

When the Kohinoor Diamond came into the hands of the British royal family, it weighed 186 carats (37 grams). Prince Albert carefully sought out a diamond cutter of very good reputation and went to the Netherlands, where he entrusted the diamond cutting mission to a certain Mr. Cantor, who undertook the difficult task. The diamond was then presented to Queen Victoria.

It became one of the jewels in the Queen's crown and was last worn by Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Queen Mother) at her coronation to celebrate her becoming Empress of India.

2. Millennium Sapphire, an engraved sapphire the size of a football

The Millennium Sapphire, about the size of a football, is a gemstone carved with famous historical figures. The sapphire is for sale if someone decides to spend $180 million on it and promises that this 61,500-carat wonder will be placed in a place open to the public.

Designed by Italian artist Alessio Boschi, the Millennium Sapphire was conceived as a tribute to human genius and features 134 figures, including those of Beethoven, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Millennium Sapphire is owned by a consortium of investors led by Daniel McKinney. In the past 15 years, the impressively chiseled sapphire has been on public display only twice - at the 2002 Academy Awards, and two years later on the maiden voyage of the Sapphire Princess cruise ship.

The 28cm Millennium Sapphire was found in Madagascar in 1995. In its raw state it weighed about 90,000 carats, but lost about a third of its weight during the processing process, which took two years and was completed in 2000.

3. Aquamarine Don Pedro, the largest aquamarine in the world

The world's largest aquamarine, cut from a single piece, is on permanent display in Washington next to the Hope Diamond and Marie Antoinette's earrings.

Extracted from Brazilian pegmatite in the 1980s, and named after Brazil's first two emperors, the Don Pedro Aquamarine holds a special place in the National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

The green-blue obelisk-shaped gemstone was cut by the famous German cutter, Bernd Munsteiner, known as the “father of the fancy cut.” The height of the stone is 35.5 centimeters and it weighs 10,363 carats, or two kilograms.

4. The largest pearl in the world


The largest luminous pearl in the world was shown on November 21, 2010, in the city of Wenchang, Hainan Province, South China. Weighing six tons and measuring 1.6 meters in diameter, the pearl is the largest ever discovered and is valued at $301,197,000. In China, pearls are valued more highly than diamonds.

The stone, formed primarily from the mineral fluorite, glows green in the dark. Those who found this miracle had to spend three years honing it into the shape of a pearl.

5. Graff Pink, the most expensive pink diamond in the world


Lawrence Graff is the world's premier diamond and gemstone dealer, and in 2010 he lived up to his reputation with the purchase of a stunning, rare 24.78-carat pink diamond.

He is also the UK's richest living art buyer, easily shelling out $24.1 million in New York for Warhol's two best works, Elvis and Campbell's Soup Can. Laurence Graff also owns five luxury homes in England, France, Switzerland and New York, as well as a personal Mediterranean yacht, and owns his own diamond mine outside Johannesburg, along with half a dozen properties in Mayfair. (Mayfair).

A stunning "potentially flawless" pink diamond set a new auction price record, surprising workers at Sotheby's. The auction was filled with gasps as bids continued to rise. Pink diamonds have never caused such excitement in the UK. Ultimately 36 Britain's richest man, a diamond-obsessed eccentric, paid $45 million, the largest sum ever paid for jewelry.

6. Ethereal Carolina Divine, the world's largest processed Paraiba tourmaline


Montreal financier Vincent Boucher is the owner of the Divine Ethereal Carolina Paraiba, an approximately 192-carat Paraiba tourmaline that is estimated to be worth between $25 million and $125 million. Divine Ethereal Carolina has set a new world record for the largest processed Paraiba tourmaline.

Paraiba Tourmaline is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, highly prized by connoisseur collectors and jewelers, and displayed by elite jewelers around the world. For every 10,000 diamonds, there is only one Paraiba tourmaline (named for the Brazilian region where most tourmalines, including Boucher's, were mined) and Boucher noted that only 50 kilograms of it in total have been found to date. precious stone.

7. Huge 478-carat rough diamond

A huge 478-carat diamond was found in the Letseng Mine in Lesotho, a small kingdom in South Africa. It is the 20th largest diamond ever found, and was found in a mine that has already produced three of the world's largest diamonds: the 603-carat Lesotho Promise, the 493-carat Leteng Legacy and 601 carat Lesotho Brown. A similar but smaller stone was recently valued at $12 million. It is believed that this stone will produce a 150-carat cut gemstone, which will reduce the significance of the current largest Kohinoor diamond.

8. The world's most expensive gemstone, valued per carat, sold at auction

Defined as one of the world's unique gemstones, the flawless blue diamond was awarded the title of the world's most expensive gemstone in 2007. The 6.04-carat stone sold for $7.98 million at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The flawless blue diamond was sold for $1.32 million per carat.

The lucky buyer was London-based Moussaieff Jewelers, who were happy to purchase this diamond from a private Asian collector as it would add to their collection of rare gems. Blue diamonds are known for attracting filthy rich moneybags with their brilliant, dark charisma. Although it is not the largest stone, its skillful cut and "vivid blue" color justify the hefty price per carat, which is almost ten times the price per carat of a regular white diamond.

9. Bahia Emerald, the largest in the world


The Bahia emerald is one of the largest emeralds in the world and contains the largest crystal ever found. The stone, weighing approximately 381 kilograms (1,900,000 carats), was found in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It narrowly escaped flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while being stored in a warehouse in New Orleans. It was subsequently reported stolen from a secure storage facility in South El Monte, Los Angeles, California, in September 2008. While the stone was valued at approximately $400 million, its true value remains unclear. At one point, the emerald was even listed on eBay for $75 million.

After it was transported from Brazil to the United States, numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to sell it, but the sale was prevented by conflicting ownership rights. The emerald was eventually recovered from a Las Vegas gem dealer and taken into the custody of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

10. Moussaieff Red Diamond, the most famous red diamond


Once known as the Red Shield Diamond, the Musaev Red Diamond is the largest red diamond in the world, measuring 5.11 carats. Discovered in Brazil in the 1990s, the diamond has a triangular brilliant cut (also known as a trillion cut) and was most recently put on public display at the 2003 Splendor of Diamonds exhibition at the Smithsonian. museum.