13 Most Unique Color Gemstones in the World
Gemstones are some of the most awe-inspiring natural treasures that invoke fascination and amazement from one and all. These precious stones have carved a legacy for themselves over the course of decades and centuries and have captured the imagination of people from all over the world. The reasons for gemstones being so sought-after are varied. Some associate them with spiritual symbols; some use them as ornaments, as heirlooms, for special occasions in life such as engagement and even as collections. Some even regard gemstones for their healing powers and the influx of positivity to one's life.
But regardless of how gemstones are perceived, they are some of the most valuable objects all around the globe. The best part about these stones is their diverse range. Be it diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires; every gemstone has a unique charm and distinct beauty whose comparison can only be limited to preferences. At the end of the day, gemstones are always a monumental purchase to one's life, and it involves considerable investment of money and emotions alike.
The value of a gemstone is a function of several factors such as rarity, colour, cut, size, and customization. These are intricate details on which you can get complete guidance from our gemstone experts, but ultimately, the choice of a perfect gemstone lies on your preferences.
The objective of this write-up is to present to you the thirteen most valuable gems in the world that you can buy from Iris Gems at the highest quality. With that being said, let's begin!
Important note: The following gemstones are presented in no particular order.
- Tanzanite
Tanzanite is among the rarest of gemstones that can be sourced from only a single part of the world: Tanzania. This beautiful gemstone is particularly noted for its absolutely gorgeous bluish-purple hues that display different shades of blue when viewed from different angles (a property known as pleochroism). This makes tanzanite an extremely beautiful gemstone.
While it is a relatively recent gemstone with history not as rich as the blue sapphire, tanzanite has gained widespread prominence in the gem industry owing to its extreme rarity. In fact, tanzanite is a thousand times rarer than diamond!
Tanzanite has truly established itself as one of the most coveted and popular gemstones of this generation. This delicate and beautiful gemstone found naturally in just a very small part of Tanzania has captured the fantasy and imagination of countless people from all around the world. The remarkable blue hues and the extreme rarity of tanzanite have earned this gem a pivotal place in any jewelry store.
You would hardly ever come across blue gemstones with such natural vibrant colours and high clarity as tanzanite. It is also worth noting that tanzanite does not have a synthetic variant. Tanzanite has carved a niche for itself as special occasion gemstones or jewellery pieces like necklaces, pendants, or earrings.
Tanzanite rates between 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a relatively softer gemstone. As such, it is not convenient to use tanzanite for everyday use if your work involves extensive use of your hands, then this gemstone may not be suitable as rings. However, with good care and maintenance, ur shouldn't be a problem. At the end of the day, the exceptional rarity of tanzanite makes it a highly coveted gemstone by people from all across the world. It is worth noting that tanzanite is the birthstone for those born in the month of December.
- Blue sapphire
Blue sapphire is widely regarded as the epitome of blue gemstones. With a rich history and legacy, it is associated with royalty and class like no other. Ranking a whopping 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, blue sapphire is second only to diamond when it comes to toughness and durability. As such, blue sapphire jewellery can be worn for everyday use without any hassles!
This precious gemstone is known widely for its deep and pure blue colour, which can be attributed to the presence of the mineral corundum. It also has trace amounts of iron, magnesium, chromium, titanium, or vanadium present in its chemical composition. Sapphire is also noted to have inclusions within its crystalline structure. However, such inclusions or flaws are a natural part of blue sapphires and are considered a sign of uniqueness and beauty.
Blue sapphire is regarded as the September birthstone and traditionally represents core values such as hope, integrity, sincerity, nobility, and faithfulness. In addition, the gemstone in itself is associated with royalty and marital bliss. It is worth noting that blue sapphires are heat-treated in order to enhance their natural colour. The darker colour saturation and better clarity of a heat-treated sapphire are preferred by most people looking to buy high-quality blue sapphires. So it is easy to see why nearly all blue sapphires in the market undergo heat treatment.
Ultimately, blue sapphires are some of the most sought-after and precious blue gemstones that have carved an illustrious legacy for itself that remains unmatched. There are many varieties of blue gemstones, but none can exhibit "pure blue" as well as the blue sapphire does.
- Ruby
In a similar association with sapphire and emerald, ruby is traditionally a red coloured variant of the mineral aluminum oxide that is noted to be part of the corundum family. In the composition of ruby, the element chromium is the reason behind the deep, fiery red hue of the July birthstone. On a deeper mineralogical level, the higher concentrations of the element chromium lends the red colouration that this gemstone is infamous for.
One of the most exciting natural traits of rubies is their ability to absorb the incoming light and emit it after a short while, resulting in a classy glow that adds to the sheer wonder and amazement of anyone who gazes into a legitimate piece of ruby. In order to safeguard its exceptional quality, the various shades of this gemstone must be neither too dark nor too bright. As the shade of the ruby varies, the quality and value of the ruby takes a nosedive.
Coming back to the beautiful red colours of the July birthstone, the colour pays homage to romance, passion, and desire. With its colours traditionally associated with blood, it is easy to see why rubies are generally linked to life and will. Interestingly, their red hues are comparable to that of fire; many individuals wear them as a sign of the fire that burns within them, representing their power and resolve.
Because of its great worth, the ruby is generally viewed as a sign of riches and prestige in today's society. Wearing a ruby will undoubtedly convey a special message, as the ruby represents many powerful emotions and appealing features. Naturally, rubies have turned into one of the premier gemstones for jewellery, trophies, souvenirs etc.
- Emerald
Emeralds are particularly noted to be an excellent choice for almost any form of jewellery. While diamonds are known especially for their crystal-clear clarity, emeralds provide a breathtakingly beautiful richness in colour and a supreme appeal courtesy of its various inclusions, giving the gem a lot of uniqueness and grace. Accordingly, emeralds have gained widespread prominence due to their immense depth in richness of colours and the wondrous, lush, and luxurious green colour per se. This gem, also known as the Spring Gem, represents rebirth, joy, abundance, and various beneficial qualities. It is said to ward off the evil eye, cure ailments, and bring goodness, calmness, honesty, love, loyalty, and intelligence to those who wear it. Emeralds are also thought to symbolize good luck, hope, faith, equilibrium, and sympathy.
So if you are looking for a top-notch jewellery piece or set that is high on elegance, then there's nothing that can match the glory of an emerald.
A very impressive fact about emeralds is that they are extremely versatile. Emeralds are typically cheaper than diamonds of a similar carat, but these beautiful green gemstones can go in sync flawlessly with a diamond, either taking centre stage or as an accompaniment. Moreover, an emerald can pair seamlessly with any colour of the jewellery that it is associated with. As such, regardless of the colour or addition of another gemstone like a diamond or even rubies, an emerald will fit in without any hassle and, in fact, make the ring all the more glorious and special.
- Citrine
Citrine is a well-established part of the quartz family and is one of the most widely purchased yellow gemstones. The name of this gemstone draws inspiration from the citron fruit, which bears a striking resemblance to a citrus fruit like orange.
It is known that pure quartz bears no colour. However, citrine gets its beautiful orange-yellow shades due to the presence of iron. As such, citrine comes in a wide array of hues that can be pale yellow or deep golden-orange, to even having hints of red. It is worth noting that most citrine gemstones in today's market are essentially different variants of quartz, such as amethyst and smoky quartz. These variants are subjected to heat treatment in order to achieve the coveted golden-yellow colour.
On this note, it should be mentioned that citrine does occur naturally but is extremely rare. In fact, a naturally occurring citrine does not have any inclusions or flaws visible to the naked eye and, as such, is a highly sought-after gemstone.
Citrine is also noted for its rich history, as it has been around for hundreds of years now and has always held high prestige due to its rarity. So it is only obvious that citrine was extremely popular among the affluent class of people.
From time immemorial, citrine has been associated with bringing goodwill and prosperity to the owner of this precious stone. In fact, citrine has been popularly designated as the "success stone". It has, thus, gained a lot of prominence among business people and is often a natural sight in shops and places close to the cash register.
- Aquamarine
Aquamarine, as the name obviously suggests, is a brilliant sea-blue gemstone that has its name derived from the Latin word aqua marinus, which translates to "water of the sea". The aquamarine is a part of the beryl mineral class and is noted for its beautiful blue hue formed as a result of iron present within the composition of the gemstone. However, its distinct colouration ranges from lighter shades of blue to greenish-blue hues. It is worth noting that aquamarine with darker hues is generally considered more valuable than its lighter counterparts.
There are often comparisons drawn between aquamarines and emeralds as they both belong to the beryl class of minerals. While aquamarines are more easily available in nature, they are almost free from any form of inclusions (something that is common in emeralds). Furthermore, aquamarine is appreciably hard, making it feasible to be worn on a regular basis.
Aquamarine is the birthstone for people born in the month of March. It symbolizes courage, loyalty and friendship. Additionally, the wearer is said to benefit tremendously by embracing calmness and peace.
To make matters more interesting, it is also noted that aquamarine was once abundant in treasure chests of mermaids and was predominantly utilized by seafarers to ensure a safe, joyous, and successful journey even through rough weather. Furthermore, aquamarine is also associated with achieving a winning streak in all walks of life. But it doesn't end here! Aquamarines are also closely associated with a blissful married life and promote more love and togetherness between couples.
- Amethyst
Amethyst has earned itself much repute on a global scale for its absolutely incredible hue. This is so much hype that amethyst is widely regarded as the most popular and important form of quartz. Amethyst is classified as a semi-precious stone that is formed within hollow geodes.
This beautiful stone is found worldwide; they are created beneath the ground in the form of elongated prismatic clusters. Like typical quartz, amethyst naturally forms as a hexagonal crystal, much like a pyramid-like structure. Most of the commercially used amethyst is created from these very structures.
The stunning hues of amethyst can be attributed to the presence of iron and aluminum, giving it a beautiful range of colours from pinkish-violet to a deep, solid purple. The intensely purple variants usually command a high price in the market.
Over the course of the years, amethyst has firmly established itself as a high-value and prestigious gemstone. In fact, it was even once considered on the level of ruby and sapphire! However, large deposits of amethyst began to be naturally found in parts of South America, thereby toning down its rarity and price in the market. That said, amethyst is still among the most sought-after semi-precious stones and is highly coveted by people from all around the world.
Amethyst is notable for its perception of being associated with royalty and powers beyond one's imagination. The colour purple has always enjoyed a place among the elite sections of the society, and naturally, amethyst basked in the glory of its hues. So it is of little wonder that amethyst went on to become an integral part of royal jewellery among various cultures and traditions around the world.
Amethyst is the birthstone for people born in the month of February. Throughout the course of history, amethyst has surely established itself as one of the most remarkable stones one can get for themselves. One simply cannot get enough of those royal purple hues.
- Peridot
Peridot is one of the most pleasing gemstones, earning much fanfare due to its exotic olive green hues. It is also widely renowned as one of the premier gemstones for purifying all toxins. It is associated with many notable healing properties that include cutting out stress, calming down anger, and feeling more content and joyous with life. It is the birthstone for the month of August.
Peridot has for time immemorial been designated as a lesser stone due to the fact that it is relatively easy to obtain and not high on pricing. That said, the attitude towards peridot has changed over time. For many years, this gorgeous crystal had been shaky in terms of popularity until it was nearly lost or oblivion. But there's good news! The beautiful olive green stone is the hype these days and is admired for its healing properties and beauty.
The origins of the formation of peridot are rather interesting. Lava from volcanoes and seismic activity are the only ways by which peridot can be created and are formed in molten rock. Other peridot crystals are obtained from meteorites and originate outside of our solar system. In fact, it has been found in comet dust as well as on the Moon and on Mars.
Peridot is associated with warmth, overall goodness, and well-being. One of the biggest USPs of these enticing gemstones is the fact that the crystal gives off a glossy vibe that is simply irresistible.
- Garnet
Garnet is a pretty interesting name. It originates from terms that translate to "dark red" and "seed-like". And it couldn't have been more appropriate! After all, garnets literally look like the seeds of a pomegranate. Indeed, red is the usual colour of garnets, but they also come in various colours that include yellow, orange, peach, green, purple, blue (extremely rare), brown and pink.
Garnet, as a gemstone, is pretty different in comparison to other minerals that are essentially unique variants complemented with colours due to the presence of trace elements. Garnets, however, can be found in a wide array of mineral species and blends. In fact, they are also known to display iridescent properties. In other words, garnets can display various colours under different conditions.
This exceptional gemstone is created under conditions of high temperatures in metamorphic rocks and, at times, even in igneous rocks. Garnets are pretty heavy on symbolic interpretations. They are associated with passion, desire, drive, and the heart. It is the birthstone for people born in the month of January.
Additionally, it is worth noting that garnet is a reasonably tough gemstone. With a Mohs hardness scale ranging between 6.5 to 7, these beauties are durable to last for years and years. It is well-established as a gemstone that can help the wearer deal with anxiety, stress, and depression. Finally, it is also supposed to be beneficial to the bloodstream and, therefore, promote better circulation of blood throughout the body.
- Diamond
It goes without saying that diamonds are perhaps the #1 sought-after gemstone in the world. The brilliance, lore, unmatched beauty, clear facets, and jaw-dropping sparkle of this gemstone have captured the hearts and minds of people since ancient times. Established as the hardest naturally occurring substance found on our planet, this sparkling gemstone is the only gem that is created through one single element: carbon. The ever-glorious diamonds are formed when subjected to extremely high temperature and pressure conditions within the earth’s crust. Its exclusive chemical composition, crystalline structure, and intense origins have helped diamonds cement a sparkling reputation of their own on a global level.
Diamonds had their origins more than a billion years ago, deep inside the Earth's crust in the vicinity of intense temperature and pressure, causing the carbon atoms to crystallize and form diamonds. Subsequently, as the magma beneath the ground erupts through active volcanic activity, the super precious diamonds mark their presence on the surface.
Through diamond mining, the rough and raw diamonds are passed over to the expertise of skilled craftsmen, who possess years of experience in cutting and polishing diamonds to amplify their worth and ensure the finest quality possible.
Diamonds are the hardest gemstones and among the hardest materials possible. So it is of no surprise that diamonds are ranked a perfect 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. In fact, the only material that can scratch, cut, or dent a diamond is a diamond per se. To be more specific, black diamonds are harder than traditional diamonds and are used in diamond cutters. It is the birthstone for people born in the month of April. Finally, while people usually associate diamonds with being only colourless, they all come in colours such as blue, green, red, orange, yellow, and brown.
- Topaz
The popular topaz is known to be colourless or brownish in its natural form but is a lovely gemstone that occurs in many beautiful shades of colours, including purple, pink and deep blue. In fact, the coloured topaz variants are popularly designated as blue topaz, pink topaz et al.
The true origins of topaz are lost in mystery. However, it is a common belief that their name is derived from the Greek term topazes, a little-known island in the Red Sea. This island is well established as a source of peridot, and many are of the understanding that peridot found on the island was thought to be topaz. Other sources hold the belief that it originated from the Sanskrit word tapas, which translates to fire.
On a mineralogical level, topaz is generally found in natural formations of sedimentary iron that bears a composition of hematite and silica in good proportions, granite, rocks formed from lava, and igneous deposits such as Rhyolite.
Natural Topaz is a golden brown to yellow in colour, and therefore, it is sometimes confused with Citrine. Topaz is a popular stone because of its sheer brilliance. It comes in yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, pink and blue colours. The most affordable and frequently purchased is blue topaz.
Yellow Topaz (sometimes called "golden topaz"), pink (rare, if natural) or pink-orange together are classified as Imperial topaz. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink, blue or violet. Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the symbol of friendship.
Topaz is the birthstone for people born in the month of November. When it comes to everyday use, Topaz ranks an impressive 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it hard and durable enough for everyday use without any hassles. The blue-coloured topaz is the most popular and prominent topaz in the market.
- Prasiolite
It is common practice to mistake a certain stone for green amethyst. In reality, this is essentially a type of quartz crystal known as prasiolite. This beautiful stone was first discovered in a part of Poland at the beginning of the 19th century. Since then, prasiolite has gained a lot of popularity among people, whether they are jewellery experts, connoisseurs, healers, or customers.
Prasiolite is a very lovely variety of green-coloured quartz crystals and is the birthstone for people born in the month of August. Its shade of green is noted to be relaxing, rejuvenating, and a sheer pleasure to gaze at for as long as you want!
It is interesting to note that prasiolite originally begins as purple quartz and is then subjected to heat treatment processes to transform it into a stunning leafy or yellowish-green that we know and love. This colour transformation can also be achieved by irradiation. In the process of heat treatment, the purple amethyst is heated to roughly 500°C in order to lead to a green to yellowish-green hue. On the other hand, irradiation involves irradiating natural amethyst. This results in a lighter shade of green resulting in a pale green variety of prasiolite.
Interestingly, prasiolite rarely ever appears naturally. In those rare cases, the rough is subjected to high temperatures through a geological process in which a very old rock containing amethyst comes in contact with more recent lava.
Prasiolite holds high value and importance in healing and spiritual applications. Crystal healers give a lot of emphasis to prasiolite for its qualities of abundance, wealth, and self-dependence. Furthermore, it also symbolizes willpower and strength.
In addition, prasiolite also attracts positivity and goodness into the wearer's life, bringing both personal and financial independence. Moreover, it is also believed to inculcate a clear mindset and open up new opportunities.
- Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a gorgeous semi-precious gemstone that is infamous for its wide spectrum of colours. While the chemical composition reflects uniformity in the crystalline structure through a set of similar minerals, there are several other complex elements, such as calcium, manganese and iron, all of which combine to give tourmaline its colour.
This gem’s name has been possibly derived from the Tamil and Sinhalese words "Turmali," which translates to "stone with various colours." Another amazing feature of this stone, in addition to appearing in multiple colours, is the fact that these also come in dual or more colours.
On an elemental level, the presence of iron and minute traces of titanium are the reasons behind the formation of blue and green tourmalines. The other colours like red, yellow, or pink get their colours due to the presence of manganese.
When it comes to hardness, tourmaline ranks a decent 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. As it is definitely tough and durable enough to be used for regular wear. Therefore, tourmaline finds applications in various kinds of jewellery. Furthermore, the tourmaline is the birthstone for people born in the month of October.
Tourmaline does not require heat treatment as commonly as other gems. In fact, most tourmaline pieces in the market are completely untreated. However, these gemstones (particularly the red and pink variants) are subjected to heat treatment or irradiation to enhance their hues and clarity. All in all, the tourmaline is a splendid gemstone to own.
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So there you have it! These are 15 precious varieties of gemstones that are truly the stuff of beauty and grace. Most importantly, you can get custom-cut varieties of these gemstones that suit your needs, lifestyle, and individuality.
Our expert gem cutters are trained to understand your custom requirements and craft them flawlessly into your purchase. With the right blend of hands-on expertise and extensive experience, you can rest assured that you will get the gemstone of your dreams with Iris Gems!
Even if you are completely clueless about your gemstone particulars but have some minor details in your imagination, don't worry! Our expert jewellers will help you articulate your requirements and turn them into a breathtaking gemstone that you would simply fall in love with!
Your search for the best custom-cut gemstones ends at Iris Gems! So get in touch with us at the earliest, and we will help you find your perfect gemstone easily and hassle-free!
