12 Things You Didn’t Know About Gemstones & Crystals! That’ll have you leaving your diamonds behind!

Gemstones have long been sought after for their rarity, beauty, durability and symbolism. In today's world, the Diamond industry has spent Billions on advertising and successfully convincing the western world there is no comparison. While Diamonds are and always will be an inspirational Gemstone providing beauty and symbolism, Gemstones & Crystals are worthy of your praise and possibly your investment! So, we've listed 12 things you may not know about Gemstones & Crystals, let's go!

1. Gemstones & Crystals Have Been Around For Thousands Of Years! 

Crystals and Gemstones have been used for centuries. The first documentation of Crystals comes from the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia who used them in magical formulas for healing between 4500 and 2000 B.C. Softer Crystals were used by ancient Sumerians to inscribe phrases or images that depicted important events such as a religious ceremony, birth, or marriage. These were integrated into temples and used for religious ceremonies.

Ancient Egyptians also used Gemstones and Crystals particularly Lapis Lazuli stones associated with Isis. Some ancient Egyptian burials have uncovered Quartz Crystals placed on the foreheads of the mummified individuals designed to provide them safe travel as they continued into the afterlife.

Ancient Greece also used crystals. In fact, the word we use today, crystal, comes from the ancient Greek word for ice, krustallos.  It was believed by the Greeks that Quartz and other clear crystals were actually forms of eternal ice sent to them by the Gods. The God Of Wine Dionysus who was behind the name given to Amethyst stones.

2. Tanzanite Is One Of The World's Most Valuable Gemstones! 

While there are many Gemstones that are prized in different areas of the world that have been prized at different points in time, Tanzanite is one of the most valuable or most prized Gemstones. Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 in a very specific area of Tanzania. In fact, the mining area for Tanzanite is 4.3 miles by 1.2 miles and it is the only area that exists around the world for this particular Gemstone.

3. Gemstones Can Be Worth More Than Most Diamonds! 

Determining the worth of Gemstones versus Diamonds comes down to many factors. At face value, Diamonds are considered one of the most valuable precious stones around the world. However, rare Gemstones and Crystals are quickly becoming more valuable in large part because they are more difficult to find. The demand for Diamonds has been tightly controlled and cultivated throughout history especially by the world's largest diamond company, De Beers which currently controls roughly 90% of all Diamonds that are mined and sold every year.

They have placed a lot of money into advertising whereas there is no equivalent company that owns all or most of the Gemstone mining and sales around the world. Nonetheless, there are plenty of situations where you will find Gemstones that are worth more than Diamonds. There are a handful of Gemstones that are actually rarer than Diamonds including Tanzanite, Kashmir Sapphire, Jadeite, Burma Ruby, and Alexandrite.

4. Jadeite, Emeralds, and, Black Opal Are Some Of The Most Expensive Gemstones! 

There are many expensive gemstones and crystals around the world. 

 

• Jadeite, one of the most vivid Gemstones to exist as part of the Jade family, is a dense mineral typically found in large necklaces and beads. Jadeite cost an average of 3 million dollars per carat making it one of the most expensive Gemstones in the world. Keep in mind this is Jadeite not Jade.
• Beyond that are Emeralds. Emeralds are Gemstones known for their green color. Most Emeralds are not very resistant to breakage so you have to take extra caution when caring for your Emerald bracelets or necklaces. At a recent auction the most expensive Emerald ever sold was sold for $305,000 per carat.
• Black Opal is another of the top gemstones and crystals in terms of cost. Black Opals come from Australia and they are characterized for their dark tone which, as the name suggests, exists anywhere from dark gray all the way through jet black. Black Opals can also have a vibrant range of color typically rainbow in its assimilation. Black Opals cost $15,000 per carat on average.

5. Some Gemstones Are Highly Prized!

There are literally dozens of prized Gemstones that are found around the world. Black Opal, for example, is one of the most expensive Gemstones and Crystals on the market today. Black Opals are found in Australia. Another prized Gemstone from Australia is Musgravite which takes on an olive gray color and was found in the Musgrave area of Australia in 1967.

China is home to a great deal of historical lore and legends surrounding Imperial Jade. Jadeite comes from the Jade family and can be found in several colors. The largest collection of Jadeite around the world comes from Myanmar or Burma although smaller reservoirs have been found in Russia, Guatemala, Japan, and California.

Tanzanite is another equally popular gemstone named for the only area where it exists: Tanzania. Alexandrite is a unique Gemstone that changes colors based on light and temperature. Alexandrite was originally found in Russia but today can be found in Tanzania, India, and Sri Lanka.

The United States is home to Red Beryl, a Gemstone that was only ever found in specific areas of Northern Mexico, Utah, and New Mexico. While the title does contain the word read, most of the Gemstones found have a very dark pink color to them.

Precious stones like Emeralds are one of the most popular Gemstones in the world and have literally been found everywhere with some of the most well documented Emeralds found in Colombia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Brazil.

6. Kings & Queens Preferred Gemstones Over Diamonds!

It can be argued that Kings and Queens throughout history have preferred Gemstones over Diamonds. Given the geographic locations for different Gemstones it makes sense that Kings and Queens would find themselves adorned with Gemstones rather than Diamonds when they took over a new area of land or received tribute from a new area. Different Gemstones from around the world have made their way into jewelry, crowns, burial Chambers, religious centers, and castles around the world.

While many royal families including the British Royal Family today have a great collection of Diamonds, history has exposed many Gemstone based heirlooms among royal families around the world.

For example, Queen Maxima Zorreguieta of Argentina Don Sapphire earrings and a Sapphire brooch when she visited The Netherlands. In fact, these Gemstones remain part of the Dutch Royal collection today, a collection that includes Sapphire and Diamond tiaras.

The Duke of Windsor married an American by the name of Wallis Simpson who had Gemstone jewelry made for her that included Citrine Tiaras, Aquamarine necklaces, and a heart-shaped Amethyst necklace with 27 Emeralds in addition to her famed Draperie necklace. St. Edward's crown includes a collection of Emeralds, Sapphires, Rubies, Diamonds, and Amethyst.

Ancient Chinese Royals boasted jewelry and accoutrement that included a great deal of Jade in addition to other Gemstones. In ancient Egypt in ancient Rome, Royal members of the family War Gemstones for protection and prosperity. Ancient Egyptians have been buried with Lapis Lazuli and Emeralds. Queen Cleopatra was another to boast Gemstones over Diamonds. 

7. Gemstones & Crystals Are Older Than Diamonds!

Diamonds are created in the Earth's crust when carbon is exposed to deep pressure and high heat. Crystals and Gemstones are minerals. Gemstones and Crystals are between 970 million years old and 3.2 billion years old. Diamonds were formed between 93 and 155 miles deep in the Earth's mantle and most are aged between 1 billion years old and 3.5 billion years old.

This means that on average Gemstones and Crystals are about the same age as Diamonds; however, the individual Gemstone or Crystal you evaluate or purchase could be older than a Diamond you evaluate or purchase, and vice versa.

8. There Are No Two Gems Alike! 

When you evaluate Gemstones, they are generally put into two classes: precious Gemstones and Semi-precious Gemstones. The only three gems that are considered precious gemstones are Sapphires, Emeralds, and Rubies. Semi-precious include things like Opal, Topaz, and Amethyst.

Gemstones are technically all one of a kind in that they are each distinctly made naturally. If you purchase fake Gemstones, these are not one of a kind. This is in large part what makes Gemstones so popular; you could invest in multiple Gemstones that are the same, but each would have slightly different variations or striations inside of them because of the way they were naturally crafted.

9. Jadeite Is One Of The Most Sought After Gemstones Today!

There are many popular Gemstones and Crystals today including Red Beryl, Muscovite, Emeralds, Opals, Jadeite, Tanzanite, and Alexandrite. Jadeite is one of the most sought-after especially after its legendary association with Chinese lore and ancient Chinese royalty. Jadeite is associated with prosperity and wealth along with bringing happiness and serenity.

Rubies are Gemstones often associated with passion and energy. Rubies can cost approximately 1.18 million dollars per carat. They are sought after for their association with Divine creativity. It is said that Rubies will boost energy levels and promote spiritual wisdom, love, fortune, and intuition. It is considered an aphrodisiac stone, something that brings vigor to the owner. 

Another precious stone that is one of the most sought-after are Emeralds. In ancient Greece and Rome Emeralds were associated with the goddess Venus and by extension love and hope. Today they still hold true to the symbol of love and honesty, with some people associating the stone with that of intuition.

Musgravite is a rare Gemstone from Australia which was originally discovered in 1967 and since that time has only been discovered in eight other areas. Alexandrite is able to change colors based on the light in the temperature to which it is exposed which means investing in an Alexandrite Gemstone might have a green tinge like an Emerald or pink like a Ruby. Alexandrite has been heavily associated with love, good luck, and good fortune. In fact, in Russia, it is a stone that is thought to be a good omen, something that brings balance to the spiritual and the physical world.

10. Red Diamonds Are The Most Expensive Gemstones Today!

According to a recent 2020 World auction, the most expensive Gemstone today is the Red Diamond which costs over $100,000.00 per carat. There have only been 30 Red Diamonds discovered around the world and the majority of these Red Diamonds are less than half a carat in size making them particularly valuable. 

11. Gemstones Are Considered Sacred!

Many different Gemstones are considered sacred and have been throughout history. As mentioned, different groups of people from ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, and ancient Greece would use different Crystals in religious ceremonies and different Gemstones for sacred purposes.

12. Gemstones Are Becoming More Popular Than Diamonds!

Throughout history different cultures have valued or prized Gemstones and Crystals for their healing properties as well as their beauty. While Diamonds have been heavily advertised over the last few hundred years and have made a name for themselves as the most valuable item in the jewelry market, Gemstones are thought to be more popular today as opposed to diamonds because people are returning to the Beauty and the value to be found in different Gemstones from Mother Nature.

For example, a single Diamond might have a higher rating than a second Diamond when it comes to purity, carats, or clarity, but to the naked eye two Diamonds in a ring or a necklace might otherwise look exactly the same. This is not the case when it comes to Gemstones. Gemstones exist in so many different forms with such a beautiful range of color that people enjoy investing in popular Gemstones like Muscovite, Alexandrite or Tanzanite.

Moreover, Diamonds today are not as heavily associated with healing properties compared to Gemstones. As individuals look for ways to improve upon their spiritual health, and their metaphysical existence, Gemstones are entrusted to help people navigate their inner well-being.  

Overall, Gemstones are quickly becoming more popular than Diamonds around the world not just because they have more originality but because they have a wider range of spiritual and healing properties.