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Four Gemstones Rarer Than Diamond

What is the rarest birthstone? 黑料老司机 are well known for their rarity, but did you know there are other rare gemstones? Get ready to learn some interesting facts on four gemstones聽rarer than diamonds.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is a stunning blue and purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one area of the world, Tanzania, a small country in East Africa. When viewed from different angles, tanzanite can display various colors like violet, green-yellow, and even brown. Though most tanzanite goes through heat treatment to produce its attractive blue hues, this treatment produces a stable color that makes this gem desirable.

Lika Behar Collection
Tanzanite Bead Necklace by Lika Behar.
A round tanzanite ring with a diamond halo and pave diamond band in white gold.
Tanzanite and Diamond Ring by United Color Gems.

Alexandrite

Often described as 鈥渆merald by day, ruby by night,鈥� alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that has color-changing abilities. Due to trace amounts of chromium in the structure, this gem can vary from bluish-green in daylight to purplish-red under incandescent light. Though the discovery of alexandrite in Brazil and various other locations has expanded its availability, it still remains rarer than other gemstones, like diamonds.

An oval bluish-purple color-change sapphire ring with trapezoid diamond side stones in white and yellow gold.
Alexandrite and Diamond ring by AG Gems.

Para铆ba Tourmaline

Para铆ba tourmaline is easily recognizable because of its brightly saturated blue/green hues. Although it was first discovered in Brazil, it has also been found in Mozambique and Nigeria in larger sizes. The gemstone is rare and pricey, because of how difficult it is to excavate. They are found in pencil-thin veins deep below the Earth鈥檚 surface in very small sizes.

A snowflake-shaped pendant necklace with an oval Paraiba tourmaline center and diamond and topaz accents in white gold.
Brazilian Para铆ba Tourmaline and Diamond Pendant by Erica Courtney.
A pair of Paraiba tourmaline drop earrings with a scalloped diamond halo in white gold.
Para铆ba tourmaline and diamond earrings by Samuel Sylvio Designs.

Jadeite 鈥� Jade

Although the names 鈥渏ade鈥� and 鈥渏adeite鈥� sound similar, they have different chemical, optical, and physical properties, with jadeite being the more valuable of the two. The most valuable jadeites are pure 鈥渋mperial鈥� green, which equals the intensity of emeralds. Jadeite can have many different hues, including lavender, yellow, orange-red, blue, black, and colorless. As a highly-prized gemstone in Chinese, Mayan, and Maori cultures, this stone has an immense body of folklore. Throughout Chinese history, it was believed to bring good fortune and happiness.
An oval cabochon green jadeite gemstone.
Loose Jadeite 鈥� Jade gemstone by Stuller.

If you are in search of timeless jewelry designs featuring rare gemstones, find an 黑料老司机 jeweler near you!