The Most Valuable Gemstones in the World Today

Gemstones have been treasured for thousands of years, valued not just for their beauty but also for perceived spiritual, cultural, and even medicinal significance. Modern assessments determine the value of a gemstone by its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. However, unique qualities and overall rarity are often the common denominators across the world’s most expensive stones and the rare gemstones list.

Blue Diamond:

• Top value: The most famous stones are valued as high as $4 million per carat..
• Why it's valuable: Extremely rare natural blue color caused by trace amounts of boron. Famous stones like The Oppenheimer Blue and The Blue Moon of Josephine have sold for tens of millions.
• Notable sale: The Oppenheimer Blue, 14.62 carats, sold for $57.5 million, one of the most expensive gemstones in the world.

Pink Diamond:

• Top value: Famous rare ones can fetch over $2 million per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Exceptionally rare and often found only in the now-closed Argyle Mine in Australia.
• Notable sale: The Williamson Pink Star, 11.15 carats, sold for $57.7 million in 2022.

Red Diamond

• Top value: Legendary rarities valued up to Around $1 million+ per carat.
• Why it's valuable: The rarest color among diamonds. Almost all red diamonds are under 1 carat.
• Notable piece(s): The Moussaieff Red Diamond, 5.11 carats, estimated value of $20 million.

Jadeite

• Top value: World-renowned gems can reach prices of over $3 million per carat for imperial jadeite.
• Why it's valuable: Especially prized in Chinese culture. Imperial jadeite, which is vivid green and translucent, is extremely rare.
• Notable piece(s): The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace sold for $27.4 million.

Ruby

• Top value: Famed one-of-a-kind stones are valued as high as Over $1.2 million per carat.
• Why it's valuable: The vivid “pigeon blood” rubies from Myanmar are highly prized for their rich color.
• Notable piece(s): Estrela de Fura, 55.22 carats, sold in 2023 for $34.8 million.

Emerald

• Top value: Up to $300,000+ per carat for flawless Colombian stones.
• Why it's valuable: Deep green color and clarity, with historical significance and scarcity of high-quality specimens.
• Notable piece(s): Rockefeller Emerald, 18.04 carats, sold for $5.5 million.

Alexandrite

• Top value: Over $100,000 per carat for Russian-origin, high-carat, color-change stones.
• Why it's valuable: Rare color-changing property (green in daylight, red in incandescent light) and limited deposits.
• Notable piece(s): High-quality specimens over three carats can sell for $50K–$100K+ per carat.

Musgravite

• Top value: Famed one-of-a-kind stones are valued as high as Around $35,000 per carat.
• Why it's valuable: One of the rarest gemstones ever discovered, with very few cut stones in the world.
• Notable piece(s): The current biggest known stone is the Ophir Grand Musgravite at 214 carats.

Black Opal

• Top value: $10,000–$30,000+ per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Rarest and most valuable opal due to vivid "play-of-color" on a dark base.
• Notable piece(s): The Virgin Rainbow, valued at over $1 million.

Red Beryl 

• Top value: Can go for $20,000–$50,000 per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Found only in Utah, and in very small quantities. Much rarer than emerald or ruby.
• Notable piece(s): The American Museum of Natural History owns two of notable red beryl gemstones — the "Scarlet Wonder" and the "Red Beryl Suite".

Gemstone value is influenced by more than just size or sparkle. Four primary factors — color, clarity, cut, and carat weight — make up the standard valuation model used by gemologists. However, additional variables, such as origin, rarity, durability, and market demand, influence prized gemstones and their value.

For instance, diamonds are widespread but still hold immense value due to their cultural symbolism and demand in engagement rings. In contrast, red beryl or musgravite — found in extremely limited geographical areas — are highly valuable simply because so few quality specimens exist. A pigeon blood ruby or an alexandrite with strong color-shifting effects can fetch significantly more than other stones of similar weight. Source