Jewelry with stones looks amazing and is pleasing to the eye. But there are stones that can safely be called the most unusual and beautiful.
So, the top 10 most beautiful stones in the world
1. Alexandrite is a variety of the rather rare mineral chrysoberyl. The uniqueness of this stone lies in its pleochroism. If we talk in simple words, then alexandrite can change color, and such changes simply excite the imagination and amaze.
So, in daylight it will delight the eye with different shades of green (grass, turquoise, olive), but in artificial light it can be crimson, purple or even red-violet. This unique ability is explained by the fact that alexandrite contains an extremely rare combination of minerals such as chromium, titanium and iron.
2. Painite belongs to the class of borates. This stone was discovered in 1956, and until recently there were only a few copies in the world, but in 2006 a new deposit was discovered. By the way, this mineral is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest. The color of painite can vary from red-orange to brownish-red.
This color range is explained by the content of iron impurities in the mineral. The latest crystals found are almost opaque and have dark colors. By the way, if you look at painite under the light of an ordinary lamp, it will turn green. And this is his distinguishing feature, which will reveal the original. But it is still almost impossible to acquire real painite.
3. Benitoite. Such a stone was found only in the USA, so it is also considered one of the rarest. But at the same time he is also incredibly handsome. Under normal lighting the color will be deep blue. But if you shine ultraviolet rays on benitoite, you can see a stunning picture. The stone will glow from the inside, as if LEDs were placed in it.
This unique property still does not have any clear explanations, although the composition of the mineral was thoroughly studied a long time ago. Since 1984, this stone has been considered a national gem in California. And its price can reach 4 thousand dollars per carat!
4. Red Diamond. In the entire history of mankind, only a few of these minerals have been found, because the red hue for diamonds is considered extremely rare. Only a few jewelers were lucky enough to hold this miracle of nature in their hands, much less work with it.
The largest specimen, which is known as the Red Shield, weighs a little more than 5 carats (which is almost 1 gram), and this weight, of course, compared to ordinary white diamonds (their weight can reach 600 carats) is negligible. Currently, searches are underway, but the deposits have not yet been discovered.
5. Red beryl. If you look at the photo, you can see amazing beautiful stone bright scarlet hue with a violet tint, shimmering in the light. It is incredibly durable and even when heated to 1000 degrees Celsius, it retains its properties.
This mineral is mined exclusively in the USA, and in only one state (Utah). Until recently, red beryl was available only to the wealthiest and most famous collectors, but to this day it remains quite rare and very expensive. The largest specimen weighs approximately 10 carats, which is about 2 grams.
6. Blue Garnet. In general, everyone is accustomed to the fact that garnet has a purple tint (this is probably why it got its name). But in fact, the tones of this mineral can be varied. The most common colors are red, pink, brown, black, orange, and yellow. Green and purple are much less common.
And blue is the rarest and one of the most beautiful. In daylight, such a stone pleases the eye with various shades of blue-green. But if you look at it under a lamp, it can turn dark purple.
7. Grandidierite. It is one of the rarest minerals on the planet (it is in the top ten). The deposit is found only in Madagascar, but the very first and most likely purest specimen was found in Sri Lanka.
There are very few crystals suitable for cutting; only a few cut stones are known in the world. Grandidierite is distinguished by pleochroism, that is, it can change shade from almost transparent or light green to rich green or even blue. Color will depend on viewing angle and lighting.
8. Padparadscha. This unusual word translated as “morning dawn” or “sunrise”. Indeed, this stone, which, by the way, belongs to sapphires, has a stunning pinkish-orange color, which looks like the morning sun barely appearing over the horizon.
Deposits of this unique mineral are found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. But today all the copies have been recovered, and the last and one of the purest ones was sold 20 years ago. The stone is considered a collectible, and one carat of weight is estimated at 30 thousand dollars.
9. Poudretti. The first minerals were discovered in Canada, and the stone itself got its name thanks to the Poudrette family, which, by the way, still owns the mine. The first mineral was extracted in 1987, but truly pure and high-quality specimens appeared only in the early 2000s. Powdertite has a delicate light pink tint. But an ordinary person is unlikely to be able to look at it, since there are only about 300 minerals in the world.
10. Taaffeit- a mineral that was discovered by Count Richard Taaffe (the stone was named after him), finding it in a batch of gems. The shade of this stone can vary from pale pink to lavender, and it shimmers amazingly in the light.
This mineral is found only in Tanzania and Sri Lanka. But still the deposits are negligible, so the total number of specimens is small. The largest stone weighs more than 9 carats, and the cost of one carat varies from 2 to 10 thousand dollars.
These were the most amazing stones in the world.
The depths of our planet conceal countless treasures - minerals. Their indescribable diversity and beauty have always conquered human hearts. We invite you to admire a selection of these beautiful examples of frozen natural harmony.
1. Petrified wood with opal veins
Under certain conditions, fragments of a fallen tree do not decay, but mineralize, turning into real stones of bizarre shape. This requires hundreds of years and no access of air to the material, resulting in a unique mineral that resembles fragments of icy wood, speckled with sparkling inclusions of opal or chalcedony.
2. Uvarovit
A stone related to garnets, discovered in the 19th century in Siberia, was popularly nicknamed the “Ural emerald.” Fascinating green gives the mineral chromium. In nature, it is extremely rare, and the few finds are of very modest size. By the way, it was this mineral that Alexander Kuprin meant in his work Garnet Bracelet.
3. Fluorite
This mineral, which has long been used for decorative purposes and delighted the eyes of high society with graceful translucent vases and figurines that glow in the dark, has now found more practical applications in optics, becoming an excellent material for creating lenses.
4. Kemmererite
A very fragile fuchsia-colored stone - kemmererite - is considered a collector's item. To make a piece of jewelry out of it, the craftsman needs to apply all his scrupulousness and precision. For this reason, the cost of the processed mineral is extremely high.
5. Hematite, rutile and feldspar
The ability of the black mineral hematite, when processed, to color water in a blood-red color has become the reason for many ineradicable superstitions regarding this stone. But this is not the only reason why it is popular - hematite is very common in nature and is used in addition to decorative materials in many applied areas.
6. Torburnite
As bewitchingly beautiful as this mineral is, it is just as deadly. Prisms of torbernite crystals contain uranium and can cause cancer in humans. In addition, when heated, these stones begin to slowly emit radon gas, which is extremely dangerous to health.
7. Bladeclase
The rare clinoclase crystal has one small secret - when heated, this exquisitely beautiful mineral emits a garlicky odor.
8. White barite studded with vanadinite crystals
Vanadinite received its name in honor of the Scandinavian goddess of beauty Vanadis. This mineral is one of the heaviest on the planet because it has a high lead content. Vanadinite crystals should be stored away from sunlight, as they tend to darken under their influence.
9. Fossil egg? No – geode with opal core
In places rich in minerals, you can find geodes - geological formations, which are cavities containing various minerals inside. When cut or chipped, geodes can look extremely outlandish and attractive.
10. Silver stibnite with barite
Stibnite is a sulfide of antimony, but it appears to be composed of high-grade silver. Thanks to this similarity, one day someone decided to make luxury cutlery from this material. And this was a very bad idea... Antimony crystals cause severe poisoning, even after contact with skin it is necessary to wash it thoroughly with soap.
11. Chalcanthite
The enchanting beauty of these crystals hides a mortal danger: once in a liquid environment, the copper contained in this mineral begins to rapidly dissolve, threatening all living things that stand in its way. Just one small blue pebble can destroy an entire pond with all its flora and fauna, so you should treat it with extreme caution.
12. Cacoxenite
Acting as an inclusion, this rare mineral is capable of giving quartz and amethyst a unique color and higher value. As a representative of needle-shaped crystals, cacoxenite is incredibly fragile.
13. Labradorite
Mined in the northern regions, the mineral’s appearance seems to reflect the sky under which it was found: the color tints against the background of the darkness of the stone speckled with sparkling stars are reminiscent of the northern lights blazing on a long polar night.
14. Black opal
The most valuable type of opal. Despite the word “black” in the name, this mineral gets the highest value if it has multi-colored sparkle against a dark background. What more varied shades its radiance - the higher the price.
15. Kuprosklodovskite
Needle-shaped crystals of kuprosklodovskite attract admiring attention with the depth and variety of their green colors, as well as their interesting shape. However, this mineral is mined in uranium deposits and is highly radioactive and should be kept away not only from living beings, but even from other minerals.
16. Blue halite and sylvite
Milky white or whitish sylvite is often found in volcanoes, and blue halite (sodium chloride) is often found in sedimentary rocks.
17. Bismuth
Artificially grown crystals have a recognizable iridescent shine on their dark surface. This effect occurs due to the oxide film covering it. By the way, bismuth oxide chloride is used in the creation of nail polishes as a means to give them shine.
18. Opal
Noble gem opal is picky about the humidity around it: if it stays in excessively dry conditions for a long time, it can fade and even crack. For this reason, opals should be occasionally “bathed” in clean water, and also worn more often if they are presented in the form jewelry so that the stones are saturated with moisture coming from human body.
19. Tourmaline
Juicy red and pink colors, smooth transitions shades with the most unexpected ranges make tourmaline one of the most popular collectible minerals. According to historians, it was these stones that crowned many of the members’ jewelry and accessories. royal families and eminent persons: from Catherine the Second to Tamerlane.
20. Baildonite
The rare baildonite crystal owes its color to the copper it contains, and its brilliance to a high percentage of lead.
21. Osmium
Having the status of the densest natural substance, osmium is extremely difficult to process in any way. The widespread use of this metal in medicine, manufacturing and defense makes its demand incredibly high. And given the rarity of osmium in nature, the cost of one gram of its isotope is currently equal to twenty thousand dollars.
22. Malachite
The bizarre arrangement of copper layers in the voids of karst caves, where malachite originates, determines the future structure of its patterns. They can be represented by concentric circles, star-shaped scatterings or chaotic ribbon patterns. Archaeologists estimate the age of malachite beads found in the ancient city of Jericho to be 9 thousand years.
23. Emmonsite
A rather rare mineral emmonsite, presented in the form of small needle-shaped crystals with a glassy luster, is found in the mines of North and South America.
24. Aquamarine on potassium mica
For the similarity of its edges to the purest waves of the sea, the Roman thinker Pliny the Elder gave this noble stone the name “aquamarine”. Bluer aquamarines are more valuable than greenish ones. This mineral is very popular among designers and jewelry lovers, and its highest strength helps to create jewelry of any configuration.
25. Pallasite meteorite
In 1777, the German scientist Pallas delivered to the Kunstkamera museum samples of a rare metal discovered in Krasnoyarsk at the site of a meteorite fall. Soon the entire block of extraterrestrial origin weighing 687 kg was transported to St. Petersburg. This material was called “pallas iron” or pallasite. No substance similar to it has been found from those mined on our planet. According to experts, this meteorite is an iron-nickel base with numerous inclusions of olivine crystals.
26. Sick
Small cubic crystals blue– boleites – are especially valued in the countries of South and North America. This rare mineral has not yet been seen in use in Russia.
27. Crocoite
The name “crocoite” comes from the ancient Greek word meaning “saffron”, since the similarity of the crystal surface with this spice is noticeable to the naked eye. Red lead ore, which is this mineral, is of particular value to collectors and connoisseurs.
What in inanimate nature delights and amazes people more than gems? Precious stones are amazingly beautiful and rare, possessing them makes a person wiser and more majestic - in any case, this is what numerous legends and beliefs associated with these most beautiful of minerals claim. But which stone is the most expensive in the world? Let's find out the opinion of experts about the cost of the most expensive stones.
10 Emerald and sapphire
On average, a good sapphire (about 6,000 per carat) turns out to be more expensive than a not very high-quality emerald. This certainly applies to regular blue or light blue sapphire. As for the rarest orange gem (it is called padparadscha), we will talk about it further. This is certainly one of the most expensive stones in the world.
As for emeralds - dark green or grass-colored stones - despite their relatively large number, there are very few pure specimens. They are the ones who are valued so highly.
There are a couple of amazing examples to note. Firstly, this is the Millennium - a 61 thousand carat sapphire, decorated with carvings - 134 portraits of the world's most prominent celebrities of the millennium, including, for example, Beethoven, Shakespeare and Einstein. IN at the moment its price is 180 million dollars.
And the largest emerald is the Bahian nugget, which weighs 1.9 million carats and costs $400 million.
This is the rarest red beryl, which is mined exclusively in the states of Utah and New Mexico in the USA. Only a few stones are known, of which the largest weighs just over 3 carats.
One carat costs at least 10, or even 12 thousand dollars. This is explained not only by its beauty, but also by the exceptional rarity of the gem.
IN present moment About three and a half thousand faceted bixbits are known, and no new ones have yet been found.
The first gem capable of changing its color was found in the first half of the 19th century near Yekaterinburg (however, as it later turned out, some garnets and sapphires also have this ability, which is explained by the presence of chromium oxide in the composition).
And since then, alexandrite has never ceased to amaze people both with its beauty and its ability to look completely different depending on the lighting. Under sun rays the stone is greenish, and electric (or simply evening) light makes it reddish, purple or violet.
The stone was named in honor of the 16th anniversary of the future Emperor Alexander II, on whose birthday the first alexandrite was allegedly found and described.
The price of alexandrite ranges from 10 to 37 thousand dollars per carat, although this is not very rare stone. For example, a druse of 22 stones weighing more than 5 kilograms was found in the Urals in the same 19th century.
Nowadays, alexandrites are found not only in Russia, but also in Brazil, Madagascar, etc. Faceted natural gems are not that common and are usually small in size.
7 Paraiba Tourmaline
This is a unique mineral that has long been found exclusively in Brazil. Paraiba has an incredible turquoise color and an even more unique neon glow even in the twilight - this property is not found in any other stone.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to capture this glow in a photo. Currently, Paraiba tourmalines are also found in Africa and Madagascar, but they are valued much lower than Brazilian ones.
Small tourmalines usually cost about 15 thousand dollars, while large specimens can only be cut into the hands of a true master, in which case the product will have almost museum value - and a fantastic price.
Paraiba tourmaline is a rare mineral; such stones are found 10,000 times less frequently than diamonds. The largest gem weighs 192 carats and is worth up to $125 million.
6 Precious Ruby
Ruby is usually placed in sixth place in the ranking of the most expensive stones in the world. This is corundum, a stone related to sapphire. In the Old Russian language, both stones were usually called yakhonts. The blood-red stone was known and appreciated in ancient times in India; it was known to both the Greeks and the Romans.
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Rubies are mined on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica, but not all of them are valued equally. The most expensive gems are Asian ones, the color of “pigeon’s blood”. They usually sell for 15 thousand dollars per carat.
The most expensive ruby, weighing 25 and a half carats, was sold at auction last year for $30 million. So far this is a record.
A diamond (a cut diamond is called a brilliant) is certainly one of the most beautiful gems loved by rich people. Its shine is mesmerizing, and its hardness is very high (due to which it is also used in technology, etc.).
For this reason, diamond is often considered a “masculine” stone, a symbol of purity and hardness. Some diamonds are believed to be up to 2 and a half million years old; Among them there are also minerals of extraterrestrial origin.
The price of a diamond depends on its purity and color (except for colorless ones, yellow, brown, blue, even black diamonds are known) and can range from 15 thousand. per carat
The largest diamond is the Cullinan, weighing more than 3,100 carats; The largest Yakut diamond is called “XXVI Congress”; it weighs 332 carats.
4 Transparent gem Jadeite
Transparent jadeite is called imperial, and it is one of the most expensive gemstones in the world. This is a green gem, quite rare and therefore very expensive.
An imperial carat is valued at $20,000. Among the Aztecs, jadeite was considered a sacred stone, and the famous “Emerald Buddha” - the talisman of Thailand - was also carved from jadeite and decorated with gold.
This is a rare mineral that is currently mined in only two deposits. The name means "Sunrise". Stone coloring classic version should consist of three colors: red, orange and pink.
Since there are almost no such stones, they are highly valued, starting from 30 thousand dollars per carat. It is acceptable to call two-color minerals padparadschas, although this is not entirely true. But an attempt to pass off an orange or pink single-color sapphire as a padparadscha is an obvious deception!
There are many unique fakes: the so-called “heated padparadscha” are corundums that have been heated in special ovens and have changed color because of this. They are also very expensive, but still they are not real padparadscha!
This rare gemstone is amazingly beautiful. Pale blue, it shimmers with three colors at once: white, blue and green. It is named after the scientist who first described it, Alfred Grandidier.
The beauty and rarity of the stone make it almost priceless. It's worth what they pay for it. Only 8 stones in the world have been proven to meet grandidierite standards, so they pay 100 thousand per carat for each of them!
1 The most expensive stone is Red Diamond
And finally, the most expensive gem in the world is the red diamond. Its fantastic value (up to a million per carat) is explained by the amazing beauty and extreme rarity of the stone.
Red diamonds are found exclusively in Australia, and in minute quantities, literally a few stones a year. Moreover, gems weighing as much as 0.1 carats are highly valued!
The world's largest red diamond was presented at the Smithsonian exhibition. Its weight is just over 5 carats, and the cost is hard to even imagine. To give you an idea of prices: a few years ago, a red diamond weighing just under a carat was sold for a trillion dollars.
| Place in the ranking | Gem name | Approximate price per 1 carat |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | astronomical | |
| 2 | from 100 thousand | |
| 3 | from 30 thousand | |
| 4 | from 20 thousand | |
| 5 | from 15-17 thousand | |
| 6 | from 15 thousand | |
| 7 | Paraiba | from 13-14 thousand |
| 8 | from 12 thousand | |
| 9 | 10-12 thousand | |
| 10 | Emerald, sapphire | 8 thousand |
Forget about blue sapphires and icy diamonds - minerals can be just as beautiful, expensive and rare.
Opal contra pocket
“Contra Luz” translates as “against the light.” If you look at the stone from a certain angle, you can see the underwater world, distant galaxies, volcanic eruptions and the birth of new stars.
Fire opal
When you hold a fire opal in your hands, it seems like a drop of red-hot gold.
Black opal
The refraction of light reveals the secrets of the birth of a new Universe. A very rare and very expensive mineral.
Opal fossil
Reminiscent of the fossilized shell of an ancient snail.
"Empress of Uruguay"
The world's largest amethyst geode in cross-section sparkles in all shades of black, purple, and lilac. The play of glare involuntarily evokes associations with a portal to the endless Universe. By the way, the outside of the geode is an inconspicuous black stone.
Boulder opal
Algae sway inside the translucent stone, and colorful fish swim melancholy in the water warmed by the sun’s rays.
Fluorite
Fluorite is translated from the Latin fluor - “flow”. This unusual name was given to the mineral for its unique color: emerald green smoothly flows into soft lilac and dark purple.
Bismuth
What is this? Alien computer, chip or microcircuit? No, it's a dense and soft metal. When interacting with water, it oxidizes and becomes covered with a film that plays with the colors of the rainbow. Artificially grown bismuth has clear geometric shapes.
Titanium quartz
Multi-colored crystals are extremely popular at auctions: who would have thought that a rainbow mineral is the creation of scientists?
Rose Quartz Geode
Are the cosmogonic myths that the Universe originated from the World Egg really not an invention of the ancients? The regular rounded shapes of the geode, created by Mother Nature, and the amazing mixture of light and color prompt philosophical reflections on the mysteries of life.
Chrysocolla in malachite
Chrysocolla is a hydrous copper silicate that gives ornamental malachite a delicate bluish tint.
Azurite
Sparkling azurite shimmers in all shades of blue.
Scolecite
An unusual flower with coldly sparkling edges will be a worthy gift Snow Queen. Perhaps he will melt the heart of the unapproachable beauty.
Watermelon tourmaline
The name of schorl speaks for itself: the bizarre combination of colors resembles a juicy slice of watermelon. Due to its polychrome (multicolor) nature, the mineral is classified as a precious stone.
Burmese tourmaline
Magical reflections of burgundy, rich sparks of garnet and pink flicker mysteriously. Drop-shaped minerals are used to make stunningly beautiful pendants.
Crystalline bismuth
It seems that this is an artificial city with skyscrapers and suburban houses... No, this is crystalline round bismuth - space for the jeweler’s imagination.
Realgar on calcite - ice and fire
In the embrace of cold ice rests a raging flame that is beyond the control of anyone - flashes of crystals will soon melt the block and break free! Or not? Realgar and calcite will forever be together.
Cobaltocalcite
This rare pink mineral of unusual color is highly valued by collectors. Transparent stones are used for cutting.
Uvarovite
In the main photo there is a sharp, daring, crystal clear, perfectly regular mineral that arouses the genuine interest of collectors and jewelers, since it is... garnet. No, not the usual blood cherry, but rich green. The second name is Ural emerald.
Crocoite
Translated, “crocoite” means “saffron”. Indeed, oblong crocoite crystals look like dried crocus flowers.
Rhodochrosite
The second name is “Inca rose”. The Incas believed that the blood of their ancestors turned into a stone that could give the people strength. It is considered one of the oldest ornamental stones.
Pink rhodochrosite
Another variety of Inca rose is a matte pink mineral.
Botswana (banded) agate
It seems that the Creator-artist brushed watercolors - there is no other way to explain these fantastic stains from milky white to coal black with a glaze of dark blue, dirty purple and azure blue...
Alexandrite
It is capable of changing shade depending on the time of day and lighting, which is why it is valued by jewelers. It is about this stone that they say that it is a ruby in the evening, and an emerald in the morning. The amazing property of changing shade is called pleochroism.
Ammonite
A variety of multifaceted opal, on the smooth surface of which you can see imprints of algae from the Proterozoic era and inclusions of unprecedented simple organisms... But this is just a fantasy! You can look at opals endlessly, finding more and more interesting landscapes with every second.
Cornelian
The stone, which resembles solidified lava, is indeed of volcanic origin: forming in a crater or bubbles of lava, it is imbued with the power of earth and fire.
Bentoite
The union of titanium and barium silicate gave birth to a very rare mineral, which is not inferior in beauty to precious sapphire.
Polychrome tourmaline
The mineral shimmers in more than five shades: from soft pink to red, from red to green. Translated from Sinhala it means “attractor of ash” and “magical multi-colored stone.”
