Which are the most expensive gemstones?

[harbinger]

If one had a piece of X vs a piece of Y, both with the same cut,clarity and whatever, are diamonds the most expensive?

What follows?

[HerRoyalNotness]

I'm not sure which are THE most, but Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies all rate as being very expensive.

[Wishiwasanheiress]

Yes generally.
Sapphire
Ruby
Emerald would be the traditional ones.

All again have colour cut clarity tables (pink sapphire etc).

Then you can go for rarity eg opals etc

[MooseBeTimeForSpring]

A quick Google says Jadeite is the most expensive, followed by Red Diamonds.

[TattyDevine]

Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds, Garnets, Topaz, Blue Topaz, London Blue topaz, Amethyst, Peridot, Lemon Citrine, Citrine, Russian Kyanite, Russian Uvanovite (very rare at this point), Oregon Sunstone, African Morganite, Sleeping Beauty or some Arizona Turquoise - all fetch £££ in their better forms. Also chrome diopside.

You can buy rubies and emerald beads for not very much - they don't look that different than cloudy coloured glass in their worst form, but still look great in the right setting. As do most "beads" if done properly.

[TattyDevine]

I'm pretty sure that weight for weight including clarity etc, diamonds are the most rare and therefore the most expensive...

[harbinger]

Where is the cut off between precious and semi-precious gems?

Is it price,durability or something else?

[mrscumberbatch]

Tatty, the diamonds thing is actually a huge marketing coup for De Beers.

Diamonds aren't particularly rare, (a whopping huge one would be but in general they are quite run of the mill.) and in the 1940's De Beers ran a successful ad campaign saying 'Diamonds are Forever'.

This was marketed to couples as THE engagement ring and to families as THE heirloom. And so due to popularity/demand etc the price of diamonds increased beyond their actual worth.

Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds are probably slightly rarer than a diamond. Certainly if you had diamonds and emeralds of identical sizes/quality/colour etc then the emerald would be more expensive.

Also Aquamarine, Tourmaline etc are more 'expensive' jewels.

Garnets, Topaz, Peridot, Citrine etc are all less precious gems as they aren't as rare or difficult to cut.

Jadeite probably is the most expensive-rule of thumb is that the rarer it is the more expensive it will be. Diamonds are run of the mill and only rare of you get a coloured one or a ridiculously large one.

[mrscumberbatch]

harbinger, it's based on how difficult they are to find... the harder they are to find the more expensive they are.

[TattyDevine]

Interesting - if marketing is involved, then I guess the marketing has affected the market and therefore the increased demand for diamonds has pushed up the ultimate price...

[harbinger]

Thank you Mrs C. You are always so helpful.

Emerald vs Tourmaline (seen), or chome diopside (never set eyes on) ?

[mrscumberbatch]

It's pushed up the retail price anyway. Hence the ridiculous markup on diamonds. (Bog standard diamond ring- usually at least 200% markup)

[TattyDevine]

Hmmmm, there's a lot of that in jewellery in general. Even in general beading and costume stuff, it makes my eyes sting how much certain brands like Lola Rose et al charge for stuff - I've been doing a bit of beading and jewellery making in the past year and a bit and do a good wire wrap and cold fusion, and I can have gold filled (rolled gold) which basically lasts a lifetime for less than this foul electroplate which leaves a rash and goes green within a few days.

Great profit margin though! I never charge 200% though, I'm too nice

[mrscumberbatch]

The jewellery market is like that, you're mostly paying for branding. Especially with 'premium branding'. There's no difference between a Tiffany ring and a non Tiffany one, and personally, they aren't enough of a collectors item to be an investment piece like ,say, Jensen....

Beading is a totally weird and bizarre submarket methinks. Lola Rose et al clearly just buy in bulk in Thailand and flog their substandard wares for a small fortune.

When it comes to beads I do like Coeur de Lion- because at least it's a bit different- but yet again massively overpriced.

linky local (to me) company who've done alright out of beading.


I only ever buy antique because then you're not paying for the phenomenal current trading prices. Quite often will buy a kilo of 'crap' just to melt down all the silver and harvest all the stones for something more interesting. Still way cheaper than buying new from the bullion merchants!

[harbinger]

Are tourmaline and chrome diopside recognised as gems, by jewellers?

[mrscumberbatch]

Harbinger- They are recognised as gems because gems is just a coverall phrase for a semiprecious or precious mineral stone.

[harbinger]

I'm going round in circles.

Emerald or Tourmaline?

Perhaps for value?

[mrscumberbatch]

Value-wise if it's like for like stone wise (which would be quite impossible ) I think that Emerald has the better market value.

Are you looking at buying something for yourself?

[TattyDevine]

Because of everything mentioned above, which all makes perfect sense, I reckon (like with most things) just go for what you really like, what makes your eyes sing...(or your credit card buzz..whichever does it for you...)

[mrscumberbatch]

Hahahaha well said Tatty. I'd recommend much of the same, go for what makes you happy.

If said thing is a happy-making stone in a horrid ring, get it at a good price and get beautiful new ring for your happy-making stone

[harbinger]

For Meeeee at last! Sorry. I've looked in the local windows.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

This is why I love mumsnet, so many knowledgable people about.

This is very interesting. I would love a fire opal ring and keep peeking in second hand jewellers but can never see anything. A friend had one and it was beautiful.

[mrscumberbatch]

Hahaha harbinger. It's tough to find 'the one'! (Although easier than finding a partner!)

Have you looked at auction houses etc? If you go in with your business head on and a budget in mind you can get some great bargains.

GetOrf I like fire opals too- especially when they have the same flashes through them that normal opals get. Bloody hard to find though. The only 1 or 2 times I've had to source one I've went through stone merchants/cutters. (One of those jobs that nobody ever really realises that they exist.)

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I have looked online a few times, they seem very rate indeed, and nothing like my friend's ring.

I will have to marry a jeweller.

[harbinger]

This ring I've seen is 'round the corner'. That window is normally the second hand but it doesn't say that on the label.

Will they haggle?

[JoyMachine]

How expensive is Tanzanite? It's fairly rare, and such a lovely colour.

getorf- I love fire opals too- so mesmerizing.