List Gems by Value

[kenny]

I''ve always been curious:
(For equal size and quality)

Is emerald more valuable than ruby?
Is diamond on top?
Where is tansanite?
Saphire?

Anyone have a list?

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Price-wise,I believe it depends on where the emerald,sapphire or ruby came from. A good Colombian emerald will cost more than an African one and sometimes more than a diamond. A Kashmir sapphire will cost more than Sapphires from other places and a Burma (pigeon blood?) Ruby will cost more than a ruby from Thailand. Because Tanzanite is so fragile, it isn't as expensive and isn't considered as valuable--it's still categorized as semi-precious in a lot of places. I believe "value" also may have a bit more to do with culture - some cultures value rubies and emeralds more than diamonds.

 

[oldminer]

I think that if you stick to the "finest" you also probabaly have to also pick a carat weight. Some gems are more rare in smaller sizes, while others are more rare in larger sizes.

The finest 3 carat unheated ruby is more costly than sapphires or emeralds
In a 1 carat size, one might find the finest emerald most costly.

You''d find a 1 carat superfine Aquamarine very expensive, but at 25 carats, not nearly as costly Per carat. Large aquamarines are less rare. Also, as they get larger, they become more difficult to use in commercial jewelry.

Like many questions asked about gemstones, there are few simple answers. So much of the value depends on so many variables. The market for colored gems is erratic compared to the one for diamonds. The sources are diverse and rather disorganized. There is little standardization of grading. Distribution channels are highly individualized. Treatments; acceptable, unknown, questionable, unacceptable and outright fruadulent, cloud the situation even further.

 

[The Joker]

Interesting topic!

At the top of the list might be The Moussaieff Red Diamond. I heard it sold for 1.9 million/ct.

Does anyone have something to top it????

Joker....

 

[Richard Sherwood]

It all depends on the gemstone, carat weight & country of origin.

If you're talking top quality gemstone from important country of origin over four carats in size, I would rank them as following:

Ruby & Alexandrite
Diamond & Sapphire
Emerald

Tanzanite would bring up a distant fourth (fifth, sixth?). There's so many other stones worth more, such as fine quality demantoid garnet over four carats, or tsavorite.

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 12/21/2005 1:49:28 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
It all depends on the gemstone, carat weight & country of origin.

If you''re talking top quality gemstone from important country of origin over four carats in size, I would rank them as following:

Ruby & Alexandrite

Diamond & Sapphire

Emerald

Tanzanite would bring up a distant fourth (fifth, sixth?). There''s so many other stones worth more, such as fine quality demantoid garnet over four carats, or tsavorite.

Wow, Rich, no kidding?! I am really surprised! I always thought that (all other things being equal) that diamonds reigned supreme as #1!!! Hmmmmm, wonder why we all aren''t ruby or alexandrite addicts???!

 

[indecisive]

Thats what a great ad campaign will do for you. My birthstone is a ruby and I have gotten them since I was a baby(and i do love them!) but I want a diamond right now so much I spend hours on pricescope researching!!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 12/21/2005 6:16:07 PM
Author: Lynn B

Date: 12/21/2005 1:49:28 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood

It all depends on the gemstone, carat weight & country of origin.

If you''re talking top quality gemstone from important country of origin over four carats in size, I would rank them as following:

Ruby & Alexandrite

Diamond & Sapphire

Emerald

Tanzanite would bring up a distant fourth (fifth, sixth?). There''s so many other stones worth more, such as fine quality demantoid garnet over four carats, or tsavorite.

Wow, Rich, no kidding?! I am really surprised! I always thought that (all other things being equal) that diamonds reigned supreme as #1!!!

The qualifiers are important in that statement Lynn:

Top quality (& non-treated)
Important country of origin
Over 4 carats in size

In that category, ruby & alexandrite reign supreme. Otherwise, you are correct in that diamond would generally be more expensive.