Either way, that’s the basis for this article, discussing the most expensive crystals and gemstones in the world, what they look like, how much they can cost, what they are meant to symbolize, how they can be used, and more.
And to top that off, there’s also a section where we answer your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight into it.
Most Expensive Crystals And Gemstones
Here follows a list of some of the most expensive crystals and gemstones in the world. (They aren’t listed in any particular order.)
1. Blue Diamond – $3.39 million per carat
It may interest you to know that there are different types of diamonds, and that not all diamonds are created equal…
One of the questions most frequently asked about blue diamonds is whether or not they are actually real. And it gets asked because of just how rare it is.
While diamonds are often treated to give them a specific predetermined color, you can also get diamonds that have naturally-derived different shades of color.
It turns out that less than one percent of all the diamonds that are mined are naturally blue in color. But I can assure you that they are genuine diamonds. To be more specific, they are classed as type IIb diamonds.
While they undergo the same formation process as white diamonds do, under the earth’s lower mantle over many years, they have a blue color which is derived from minute traces of boron.
The most expensive crystal in the world is called Blue Moon and weighs about 50 carats. Such jewelry is usually owned by property billionaires and the Hollywood elite.
Blue diamonds are seen as a symbol of eternity, devotion, chastity and spirituality.
2. Pink Diamond – $1.19 million per carat
Next after blue diamonds comes pink diamonds. And the reason for their exceedingly high cost is down to just how rare they are. Real pink diamonds are not to be confused with ones that owe their color to deliberate treatment.
Real pink diamonds originate from Australia, and this is the main place they are mined. That said, pink diamonds are still occasionally found in diamond mines in Brazil.
And as with blue diamonds, the percentage of diamonds mined that are naturally pink in color is incredibly low. In fact, it comes in at less than one percent of all the rough diamonds from that mine (see also ‘20 Beautiful Rough Crystals‘).
In other words, for every single million carats of rough diamond mined there, only one carat of pink diamond will be there that’s suitable for resale.
Unfortunately, however, pink diamonds are liable to fade in sunlight or heat, so despite its high price tag and rarity, it may not be a good investment if you are unable to take proper care of it.
Pink diamonds are seen as a symbol of love, innocence, tenderness and romance. How fitting.
3. Ruby – $1.18 million per carat
Rubies are one of the more popular precious gemstones. They are typically blood red in color, but it’s also possible to get pink ones as well.
Untreated natural rubies are extremely rare. Rubies are significantly more rare than white diamonds, and they are significantly rarer than sapphires (see also, ‘Which One Should You choose: Sapphire or Diamond‘) too. And it’s because of this rarity that they are so expensive.
And while rubies can on occasion look very similar to red garnet gemstones, they have a completely different chemical makeup. Red garnets owe their rich red color to the presence of iron, why rubies owe their red color to the presence of chromium microelements.
Surprisingly, despite their rarity, rubies can be found in several countries the world over, and including the United States itself. They are typically found at a depth of 10 to 30 meters. You can tell if a ruby is fake if you are able to scratch it.
Colored rubies are considered one of the safest investments out there. This is because they hold their value and market demand better than even diamonds do, especially as they become increasingly rarer.
Rubies are frequently associated with wealth and prosperity (well, they ought to at that price!). And they are also associated with courage and good fortune. The color is considered to be linked with raw emotion, love and passion.
4. Emerald – $305,000 per carat
Beautiful emeralds with their rather striking, bold green color are also considerably rarer than white diamonds. In fact, it has been calculated that they are approximately 20 times rarer than white diamonds, which is why they cost so much more. And they tend to hold their value, too.
Emeralds owe their intense green color to trace amounts of chromium, or on occasion vanadium. You can tell whether you have a genuine emerald by shining a light through it, and finding either a weak orange-red or green color.
Synthetic and imitation emeralds will present either a dark red undertone or a yellow or brown one.
Emeralds are one of the hardest crystals out there, but they can still get chips and cracks if they are not looked after.
Emeralds are often referred to in myths and legends, and are occasionally referred to as the jewel of the kings. But they are also considered symbolic of wit, eloquence, and foresight.
5. Grandidierite – $20,000 per carat
Grandidierite is a rare mineral that was discovered as recently as the early 1900s. And it’s still being mined to this day, with Madagascar hosting one of the main mines.
Its shades range from cyan to turquoise, or blue-green. The more iron the crystals contain, the bluer they will appear. It looks wonderful in items of jewelry, where it is often shaped into cabochons.
Again, you can identify a grandidierite crystal by emitting light through it. Depending on the angle of the light approaching the crystal, the gem is capable of emitting three different colors of light, namely dark blue-green, colorless, and dark green.
The light blue in grandidierite is thought to assist the throat chakra, while the green in it is deemed to influence the heart chakra, making you more open to giving and receiving love.
6. Black Opal – $9,500 per carat
Black opal is one stunning crystal. And it’s very different in appearance to its much lighter counterpart, ordinary opals.
Both black and regular opals have a wonderful rainbow of different colors on display, but the key difference in their appearance is that black opal has a real darkness to it, thanks to its dark body tone.
And this in turn serves to allow the various other colors in the gemstone to really stand out against their background.
Mining for black opals is quite the feat. They are mainly found in Australia, and even after heavy investment in black opal mining going into the thousands, you may not find a single one.
And it’s this very low supply of available black opals that drives their value up so high. In fact, the largest black opal sold at auction came to a whopping $143,750.
Imitation black (and white opals) are frequently made and distributed because of their beautiful appearance, so be sure to check that yours is really genuine if you think you have one. Imitation gemstones are often made from glass or resin.
Black opals are considered to be restorative and cleansing, making them the perfect crystal for purification rituals.
Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
What Crystal Is Worth More Than Diamond?
The truth is that there are different types of diamond. As we have mentioned earlier, blue diamonds, pink diamonds and red diamonds are very expensive, all of them coming in at $1 million and above.
That said, however, emeralds usually cost more than most regular diamonds, and the price of rubies is between that of pink and red diamonds (see also, ‘Emerald vs Diamond: Which One is Worth More?‘).
What Stone Is More Expensive Than Gold?
Many crystals are with much more than gold, as this article has already shown. Of all the different precious gemstones, the one most commonly known for being more expensive than gold and frequently used in jewelry is diamond.
What Makes A Crystal More Valuable?
There are several factors that affect a crystal’s worth. The first is how rare, unique, unusual, or hard to come by the crystal is, then as a general rule, the more expensive it is.
The other thing that raises the value is how well-formed the crystal is, especially if it’s a large one. Also, whether it has been damaged in any way or if it has fractures can decrease the value of the crystal.
Wrap Up
I trust that you’ve found this article informative, and at the very least have learned the names of some of the most expensive crystals in the world. And if you can’t afford to buy them yourself, you can at least dream of the day when you can! Namaste.
Hi, my name is Andrea Daehma and I have been collecting and using crystals in my everyday life for just over six years now.
I have my own collection of crystals gracing my house, several for every scenario I could think of.
Learning about crystals has truly changed my life, and I want to help others turn their life around too. Please enjoy my website and find your own small stone to begin your crystal journey with!
