After diamonds, sapphires are the next hardest gemstone and one of the most valuable. Sapphires belong to the corundum family of rock minerals, which occur in many colours. All colours, other than red corundum, are known as sapphires, with a blue sapphire being the most coveted even though other colours may be rarer.
There are many gems that are more valuable than diamonds. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, garnets, and alexandrite, just to name a few. But the most valuable gem of all time is a type of diamond.
Durability and Hardness
Moissanite ranks second to diamond in hardness. While a diamond is a 10 on the Mohns hardness scale, moissanite comes in at 9 1/4. This means that moissanite is a great choice for an engagement ring, as it will still appear *sparkly* over a lifetime of wear.
What Stones are Comparable to a Diamond? Moissanites or white sapphires are most comparable to a diamond. While there are visible differences, these gems will look the closest to a diamond while offering a more affordable price.
Moissanite: The Second Hardest Mineral in Nature after Diamond. The colors seen in moissanite from the Mount Carmel area of northern Israel range from dark blue to light green. photo by Aurélien Delaunay. Moissanite is the name given to naturally occurring silicon carbide and to its various crystalline polymorphs.
Indentation strength tests have shown that wurtzite boron nitride (w-BN) is stronger than diamond, and that lonsdaleite, which is also known as hexagonal diamond due to its carbon composition and similarities to diamond, is 58% stronger than diamond.
Scientists have found a mineral stronger than diamond. They say lonsdaleite could be used to fortify industrial tools like drill bits and saw blades - AND teach us about the evolution of earth.
Moissanite is actually more brilliant than a diamond!
Brilliance, which refers to a stone's ability to reflect white light, is a good measure for how much a gemstone will 'sparkle'. Moissanite's brilliance is higher than diamond's due to its higher “refractive index” (Diamond's is 2.42, whereas Moissanite's is 2.65).
Tanzanite is a shocking 1000 times more rare than a diamond. Discovered for the first time in 1967 and only found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, these gemstones go for about $1,500 per carat. Tanzanite has the ability to change color depending on the angle of light it is in.
Moissanite has more fire and brilliance than diamond – it isn't as noticeable in smaller stones, but in stones over 5mm, it's much more noticeable. Moissanite is known for its “disco-ball” effect because rainbow light quickly flashes around the gem.
Jade can cost more than diamonds in certain areas when it is of higher quality like the Burmese Jade. Burmese Jade remains one of the highest quality variations of this gemstone known for its firmer, denser, and more lustrous shine.
Moonstone is a fairly abundant and inexpensive gemstone, though specimens with higher transparency and blue sheen are more sought after and therefore more valuable. Prices will vary based on size and quality but you can get a high-quality moonstone around the same size as a 1ct diamond in the ballpark of $500USD*.
Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.
2. Pink Diamond – $1.2 million per carat. The second most expensive natural gemstone on this list is a pink diamond. Pink diamonds, like red diamonds, are classified as fancy-colored diamonds.
The Rarest Birthstones
For example, April's diamond, though pricey, is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. While on the topic of alexandrite, this is currently the rarest gemstone on the birthstone list and can come at quite a cost. Black opals are also incredibly rare.
Diamonds are on top of the gemstone hierarchy whereas tanzanite is somewhere down below. It's not just that it is so much less durable than a diamond and that it does not offer the brilliance, sparkle, or clarity of a diamond; it's everything combined.
Though sapphires are rarer than diamonds, they are often a more affordable diamond alternative or accent. The brilliance, durability and timelessness of diamonds keeps them as the more expensive of these two gems. A diamond of similar carat, cut and quality will cost more than a comparable sapphire.
The classic round brilliant cut without a doubt produces the best sparkle. The facet pattern, which is made of 58 facets, ensures light can pass through it in such a way that it creates the perfect sparkle.
Diamond replacements include moissanite, cubic zirconia, garnet, lab-grown diamonds, and more. These faux diamonds are used in jewelry pieces for their similarities: They are just as clear as diamonds, and in some cases, such as moissanite, they shine even brighter.
The Guinness Book of World Records claimed that in 2005, painite was the rarest gemstone in the world, even rarer than diamonds.
These are the areas where atoms are not tightly bonded. Diamonds do not shatter when dropped, but they may chip from powerful, accidental blows. They can also break when there is pressure buildup inside the stone called 'strain. ' A small tap results in breakage for the pressure to escape.
For many, the biggest advantage of opting for an aquamarine engagement ring over a traditional diamond is the price tag; aquamarine is much more affordable, even in larger carat weights.
The hardest mineral on the scale, diamond, is given a hardness rating of 10. Since obsidian is rated at 5-6 on Moh's Hardness Scale, it is not stronger than a diamond; it's softer than a diamond. The diamond is one of the hardest natural substances known to scientists.