Buy: Price and value of garnet

When buying garnet, you should pay attention to four factors: Color, clarity, cut, and carat. Garnet includes affordable dark red varieties, rare and valuable greens, and many colors in between. Garnet clarity often depends on the type of garnet. Red garnets often have no inclusions visible to the eye. Many garnets are cut into standard shapes and calibrated sizes so they can be used in manufactured jewelry. Garnets can be found in all sizes and weights, although some varieties are rare in large sizes.

• Purchase Factors: Color, clarity, cut, and carat.
• Garnet clarity often depends on the garnet type
• Often standard shapes and calibrated sizes
• All sizes and weights

Value per carat: Cost

To determine the price one must look at all factors. For example, a 4.95 carat tsavorite garnet with a VS clarity grade and a rare green color is valued at about $1,700, while a spessartite garnet with almost the same weight of 3.79 carats and VS-SI clarity grade is valued at $200 as of 2010. So, according to this, the type of garnet, the clarity grade and the weight has an impact on the value of the gemstone.

• Tsavorite garnet: 4.95 carats, VS, $1,700
• Spessartite garnet: 3.79 carat, VS-SI, $200

Investing in Garnet: Is it worth it?

The Mandarin Garnet in particular is a stone that is definitely worth investing in. The gemstone has only been known in the gemstone trade for 20 years, yet it is already a much celebrated star today. Its name speaks volumes. Gemstone lovers can attract attention with this fruity colored stone. However, high quality top class stones of more than three carats are extremely rare.

Both demand and price have increased significantly in recent years, so mandarin garnet is very well suited for sparkling investments. But also other types of garnets, and especially rough stones are excellent for an investment.

• Mandarin grenades are very popular
• Few specimens over 3 carats
• Rising value

Gemstone garnet: color stone with spiritual properties

Garnets come in different types and are never found in their pure state. They are always mixed with other types of garnet. Garnet is a powerful energizing and regenerating stone. It is balancing, strengthening and protective. Although it is one of the richest stones, it has different forms depending on its mineral base.

• Energizing and regenerating stone
• One of the richest stones
• Healing and spiritual properties

Rough stone: Gemstones in their natural form as an investment

In stone healing, a rough stone is an unprocessed stone taken directly from nature. A rough stone is cheaper than a cut gemstone, which is why especially fans of healing stones often buy uncut garnet stones. Rough stones come in different sizes and you can get them from different dealers. Only through the cut in which their colors, radiance or special patterns are worked out, gemstones get their luster and even more beauty.

• Unprocessed stone taken directly from nature
• Low value, often healing stone
• Various sizes and dealers
• Value added by grinding

Garnet rough stone uncut

Garnet gemstone cut

Occurrence of garnet: Origin

Depending on its specific variety, garnet comes from many parts of the world. Most garnet on the market today comes from India, Brazil, Sri Lanka and the USA. The name garnet comes from the Latin granatum for pomegranate, because the color of this crystal resembles the seeds of the pomegranate fruit.

• From India, Brazil, Sri Lanka and the USA
• Name from the Latin, Granatum for pomegranate

Garnet color: red, green and brown garnet

Although red is the most well-known garnet color, this fiery gemstone also comes in green, pink, yellow, brown, purple, and even black. Garnet can also be found in a translucent, almost colorless variety. If you’re lucky, you may come across a specific type of garnet that can change color depending on the type of lighting.

Red garnet is one of the most common and widespread gemstones. But not all garnets are as abundant as red ones. A green garnet, tsavorite, is rarer and requires rarer rock chemistry and conditions to form.

• Colors: Red, Green, Pink, Yellow, Brown, Purple and Black
• Some change color depending on the lighting

Garnet vs. ruby: differences of the red gemstones

Another red gemstone is the ruby. The ruby is made of the same mineral as the sapphire and is the second hardest gemstone in the world. The garnet has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, the ruby has a Mohs hardness of 9. A ruby must meet special requirements regarding color, otherwise it is considered a pink sapphire. The country of origin of the ruby is India, otherwise the ruby comes from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The ruby cleanses the aura of toxic energy and fills one with a sense of bliss, passion, protection and prosperity. It strengthens both the physical and emotional heart.

• Second hardest gemstone in the world
• Origin: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
• Cleanses the aura from toxic energy
• Fills one with a sense of bliss, passion, protection and prosperity

Garnet Jewelry: Jewelry Care for Gemstones

Garnet jewellery is always a great gift for loved ones. The gemstone shimmers in an extraordinary color that suits especially warm skin tones very well. The jewellery is best cleaned with lukewarm water, soap and a little ammonia. A grinding or polishing brush should rarely be used. It is important that the jewellery is not cleaned in an ultrasonic device, because the vibrations can shake the stones out of the settings.

• Great gift for loved ones
• Looks especially good on warm skin tones
• Use grinding or polishing brush infrequently
• Do not clean in the ultrasonic unit

Ring, Earrings, Bracelet & Pendant: Garnet Jewelry

An engagement ring with a dark red gemstone looks noble and elegant and earrings are especially beautiful when the red garnet can shine in its sparkling brilliant. The gemstone is often used as a gemstone because it not only has a beautiful appearance but also a positive aura. Garnet jewelry is high quality and the gemstones go well with gold as well as silver jewelry.

• Engagement ring with garnet
• Earrings especially beautiful with billant cut
• Gemstone because of beautiful appearance and positive charisma
• Gold or silver jewellery

Effect & spiritual meaning of garnet jewellery

Garnet jewelry is worn not only because it is very beautiful, but also because it is said to have spiritual significance. Garnet is known as a symbol of glory, love, regeneration, stability, beauty, truth and endurance. When worn, garnet has the potential to boost self-confidence and create a new sense of self-worth and popularity.

Garnet is often called the stone of health because it is believed to have so many health benefits, especially by strengthening the blood. Garnet’s most famous property is its ability to improve energy flow by revitalizing personal energy. Garnet is also the birthstone of January and brings good luck especially to the zodiac sign of Capricorn.

• Symbol of glory, love, regeneration, stability, beauty, truth and perseverance
• Strengthens self-confidence
• Health stone
• Stands for new chances, new beginnings
• Birthstone January, Capricorn

Red emerald: the gemstone

Red beryl is an extremely rare type of beryl that gets its red color from traces of manganese. It is known to most, however, by the name red emerald. In the entire world, crystals suitable for gem cutting have only been found in one place, the Ruby Violet Claims in the Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver County, Utah. The Utah Geological Survey estimated that one crystal of red beryl is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds.

• Rare beryl type
• Red colour due to traces of manganese
• Only in the Wah Wah Mountains of Beaver County, Utah…

Wah Wah Mountains Utah

Buy Gemstones: Value & Price

Gemstones have always been and will always be a sought-after commodity. Even when the economy is in shambles, the prices of gemstones continue to rise. And there are always people willing to buy them. If you have the money to invest, gemstones might be a good move. The key to investing is buying and selling at the right time. This means that you want to buy your gems when the price is low, and then sell them when the price goes up. Sometimes you need to hold onto the gems for a while to get the best profit.

• Gemstone prices rise constantly
• Buying and selling at the right time

Bixbit Jewellery: Rings & Chains

Because of its rarity, bixbite is above all a sought-after mineral for mineral collections or jewelry. Red beryl is almost exclusively processed into gemstones, but due to its rarity it is often replaced by irradiated or fired beryl varieties or syntheses. Faceted, pure stones with the coveted “stoplight” red are highly sought after. If they weigh more than 1 carat, they are extremely rare and have a corresponding price.

• Coveted mineral for mineral collections
• Popular gemstone
• Also fired beryl varieties or syntheses
• Over 1 carat is very rare

Emerald price (gram, carat and kilo)

Emerald is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world and is extremely rare, so it can command an exceptional price. As with all colored gemstones, the 4 Cs (color, clarity, cut and carat) determine the value, but emeralds are priced slightly differently than other gemstones because some inclusions are expected.

Especially the deep green gemstones from the mines of Colombia and Brazil achieve prices of several thousand USD per carat on the market. Less green and not quite as pure stones, on the other hand, are available for as little as 120 USD. To judge the quality of emeralds, see the globally recognized grading system at the bottom of the article.

What will interest you most now, of course

How much does an emerald cost?

As already described, emeralds are weighed in carats.

One metric carat equals 0.2 grams

Emeralds are currently valued at an average of $2,451.83 per carat.

So one gram costs on average 12,259.15 USD

Emerald Price Current (08/20):

• 1 carat 2,451.83 USD or 2080.13 EUR
• 1 gram 12,259.15 USD or 10,400.66 EUR
• 1 kilogram USD 12,259,150 or EUR 10,400,662.86

Gold price (gram, ounce & kilo) in comparison

How does the price of gold compare? Many investors who buy gold constantly keep an eye on the price. As an investor, you should too, because prices for precious metals are subject to fluctuations – even if the gold price is usually very stable.

Current difference per gram: +12,198.15 USD

Gold is currently valued at $61 per gram, compared to emeralds, which can fetch up to $12,259.15 as described, a huge difference that makes emeralds interesting for investors in any case.

Gold price current:

• 1 gram 61.14 USD or 52.47 EUR
• 1 ounce 1,901.77 USD or 1,631.90 EUR
• 1 kilogram USD 61,143.33 or EUR 52,466.80

Quality Features: The famous 4 C

A grading system introduced by the GIA was established to rate emeralds, just like diamonds or other gemstones, on four aspects. These 4 grading systems are known as “the four C’s” in which all emeralds are graded:

1. Colour
2. Cut
3. Clarity
4. Carat weight(Carat weight)

Colour (Colour #1)

Color is possibly the most important factor in evaluating emeralds, they have a unique color, exclusive to natural emeralds. Color is further divided into hue; the exact color, tone; the lightness to darkness and the saturation or vibrancy of the green color. In top grade emeralds, the hue is green, with no additional color undertones, the tone is vivid and deep, not too dark or too light, and the saturation is consistent throughout.

Facts about the colour at a glance:

• Most important factor for emeralds
• Subdivision into hue, exact color, brightness, saturation
• Top emeralds are green without color undertones
• Saturation uniform throughout

The most valuable emeralds have a pure green color with vivid color saturation evenly distributed throughout the stone and no visible color differences. If the hue tends to blue or yellow, it is not an emerald, but another beryl variety that is devalued. To be a true emerald, the gem must be dark enough and saturated enough to be called an emerald; if the color is considered too light, it is simply a green beryl. The degree of greenness has led to a number of different opinions as to whether a stone can truly be called an emerald.

Shades of precious emeralds:

• Precious emeralds have a pure green color
• Uniform and without visible colour differences
• If shade too blue or yellow: beryl variant

Cut (Cut #2)

Emeralds can be cut into almost any shape, with the round and octagonal “emerald cuts” being the most popular. Any cut that brings out the natural color and sparkle of the gemstone increases its price.

Purity (Clarity #3)

Gemstone clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions in the stone. Inclusions are any materials such as minerals, gases, liquids, or even other crystals that were trapped inside during its formation. Of the top four gemstones, the others being diamond, sapphire and ruby, emeralds are unique in the number of high quality specimens that contain inclusions, a flawless emerald is almost impossible to find. In fact, the flaws are what often give emeralds their charm, and the absence of any inclusions is often a sign of a fraudulent stone.

Facts about purity at a glance:

• Presence or absence of inclusions
• Emeralds usually contain inclusions
• Flawless emerald almost impossible to find
• Absence of any inclusions is often a sign of a forgery

Important: clarity and transparency

With emeralds, as with other colored stones, clarity and transparency are closely related. It is generally accepted that emeralds have inclusions visible to the naked eye, but only if they affect the transparency, the price is lowered.

Valuable emeralds with inclusions are so standard that there is even a name for them, Jardin-Smaragde (Jardin is French for garden and is so named because of its mossy or grassy appearance). When choosing an emerald, beware of inclusions that come to the surface of the gemstone, as they may indicate future cracks or fractures.

Carat / Weight (Carat #4)

The final indicator of price is, of course, the size of the emerald. Large carat sizes are particularly rare, so a three carat emerald gemstone is not only three times as expensive as a one carat stone, but probably six times as expensive. The size of an emerald is measured in carats (abbreviated as ct). One carat is equal to 0.2 grams (about 0.007 ounces).

Emeralds (as well as other precious colored gemstones) are often sold with a certification document that lists comprehensive details about the stone, specifically their 4 C’s. These certificates are usually authenticated by recognized organizations such as the GIA and the AGS (American Gem Society) and offer authenticity about the stone being purchased. Emeralds that are certified have a premium over non-certified.

Weight facts at a glance:

• Certification document is often sold together with the stone
• Lists comprehensive details about stone, especially the 4 Cs.
• Certified by recognized organizations
• Offer authenticity about the purchased stone
• Higher prices for stones with certificate

Authenticity test method for emeralds

To know for sure that your emerald is 100% real, you need special gemmological equipment or certificates from recognized authorities. But there are a few techniques that even the beginner can use at home. But use these techniques only as a guide and be sure to have your emerald examined by a professional before buying!

First, look for flaws with a magnifying lens or jeweler’s loupe. It is best to examine your gemstone under magnification, ideally through a jeweler’s loupe. Hold it so that the light falls on it at an angle. If you see tiny flaws or irregular patterns within the crystal, it is probably a genuine gemstone – though not necessarily an emerald. If your gem is very clear and without inclusions, you can assume it is a fake.

This is how you recognize real emeralds:

• Troubleshooting with magnifying lens or jeweler’s loupe
• Hold so that the light falls at an angle
• Tiny flaws or irregular patterns speak for authenticity
• Stones without inclusions are often forgeries

Other known test possibilities

Applying oil to an emerald usually improves its appearance, but with a synthetic stone the clarity does not change. Emeralds conduct heat very efficiently, so you can try a breath test. To do this, breathe on the gemstone and watch the mist – with a real emerald the mist disappears almost instantly, but with a fake it takes 4 or 5 seconds.

When lit, real emeralds produce little to no fire or colorful flashes; if your gem produces a rainbow of lightning, it’s not an emerald. Emeralds are also relatively hard gemstones, and while glass and other weak materials used in fake gemstones wear away quickly, emeralds retain sharp, clean edges on the facets. If the edges of the facets look soft and worn, the gemstone is likely a fake.

In addition, emeralds can be recognized by these characteristics:

• Application of oil improves the appearance
• Clarity does not change with synthetic stones
• Heat test: Real stones conduct heat very efficiently
• Relatively hard – sharp, clean edges

Emerald species and their value

Emeralds can be divided into varieties or types rather than species. Emeralds are sometimes distinguished by their place of origin or the presence of certain impurities. Some of the better known emeralds include:

Colombian Emeralds

Colombian emeralds are mined in Colombia. These emeralds are the most highly prized.

Brazilian Emeralds

Brazilian emeralds are generally lighter green gemstones than those mined in Colombia. The term Brazilian emerald sometimes refers to green tourmalines.

Zambian emeralds

The high-end market was slow to accept Zambian emeralds, but that began to change when Tiffany & Co. began promoting emeralds from Zambia in 1989. Today, Zambian emeralds are well respected and recognized for their own distinctive characteristics.

Emeralds for cat eyes

These emeralds have a cat’s eye effect called chatoyancy, which looks like a wide slit, similar to the pupil in a cat’s eye. Cat’s eye emeralds are very rare and only found in light green emeralds.

Trapiche-Smaragde

The rarest type of emerald is the Trapiche emerald, a very unusual combination of emerald and lutite. Due to the hexagonal structure of the emerald, the two minerals alternate much like the spokes of a wheel, creating a very unique formation. The only known source of these exquisite stones is in Colombia and the local name comes from its resemblance to the rollers of a mill that would extract juice from sugar cane – a trapiche.

Emerald mining in one of the largest mines in the world: Video

Popular for over 4000 years

The name emerald comes from the Greek word smaragdos and the Latin smaragdus, which means green gemstone. This further goes back to the Sanskrit maragdam and the Persian zumurrad. Emeralds were already highly valued in ancient times: the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Indians, Aztecs and Incas already revered this wonderful gemstone.

Emeralds may well have a history as long as that of civilized man, they are certainly ancient gems. In the oldest book in the world, the Papyrus Prisse, which is about 4000 years old, it is once said: But good words are harder to find than the emerald, because it is discovered by slaves among the rocks. The quote probably refers to the mines near Luxor where tools dating back to the time of Ramses II in 1300 BC have been found. Other ancient mines include Muzo, Chivor and Cosquez in Colombia and Mingora in Pakistan, where gems were mined 2500 years ago.

Throughout known history, they have been revered by civilizations around the world, from the Babylonians who wrote about their sales in the markets, to Aristotle who recommended wearing one, to Nero who owned sunglasses made of emeralds, to the Incas who worshipped Umina, a goddess represented by an emerald the size of an ostrich egg!

Popular since ancient times:

• First mention in a 4,000-year-old book
• Were revered by civilizations around the world
• Likewise from famous people like Aristotle and Nero…

Main source: South America

Emeralds are mined all over the world (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Australia, United States), but Colombia, Brazil and Zambia are the three main sources. Colombia, located on the South American continent, produces arguably the finest of all emeralds and produces 70-90% of the emeralds for the world market.

Emerald search in Austria: Video

From rough stone to gemstone: production

Unlike most gemstones, emeralds are never subjected to traditional heat treatment to change their color or improve their clarity, but this does not mean that they are not treated in any way. This is because most emeralds are not flawless and have numerous internal inclusions and fractures, as well as tiny surface-breaking fissures or cracks. For this reason, the vast majority of emeralds are treated with oils, usually cedar, to improve their clarity.

Treatment with high quality oils

Cedar oil is sticky and thick, so it is not easy to penetrate the microscopic cracks of the emerald. The process therefore requires heat to warm the oil and pressure to push the oil into the cracks. First, the emeralds are cleaned in an acid bath, then the gems are isolated in tanks along with pure cedar oil and sealed tightly. The heat liquefies the cedar oil and the pressure helps it penetrate the emerald’s tiny cracks.

The emeralds are allowed to cool and the oil returns to its viscous state, remaining in the emerald and improving its clarity and transparency. The stones are then removed and cleaned. Finally, the emerald must be oiled and cleaned again to keep it in the best possible condition.

This is how emeralds are processed:

• Cleaning in acid bath
• Subsequent treatment mainly cedar oil
• Penetrates the cracks of the emerald under heat and pressure
• When cooling, the oil remains and improves clarity

Care of the precious emerald jewellery

Precious emerald is pressure sensitive and susceptible to household chemicals. Although emerald is one of the harder gemstones, it still needs to be handled with care due to its naturally enclosed and flawed formation. Special care must be taken when handling emeralds, as they are more fragile than other forms of beryl. You should avoid wearing emerald jewelry if you work with harsh chemicals or household cleaners such as bleach or acid. To clean, you can use warm soapy water and a cloth or soft rag. Be sure to rinse the stones well to remove any soap residue.

Be careful when cleaning:

• Careful treatment!
• More fragile than other gemstones
• Avoid contact with household cleaners
• Warm soapy water for cleaning

Emeralds should still not be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners, as these can remove the oils used to enhance the emeralds. Traditional oil for emeralds is stable but not permanent, which means that most emeralds will need to be re-oiled from time to time to restore some of their lost color and luster.

Instructions for care with oil:

• Do not clean with ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners
• These remove the oils used for refinement
• Emeralds need to be re-oiled from time to time
• Restores colour and shine

Emeralds can easily scratch other gemstones, and they can easily be scratched by harder gemstones like topaz and sapphires. To avoid scratches, store your emeralds separately from other gemstones and gemstone jewelry. Store your gemstones by wrapping them in a soft cloth and placing them in a cloth-lined box.

Most Valuable Emerald Find Ever: Video

Emeralds: Interesting for investors?

Emerald gemstones are purchased primarily for their beauty, mystery, and emotional appeal, but they can also be a wise investment. Due to the rarity of large cut quality emeralds, prices are expected to rise steadily in the future. Many investors buy high quality emeralds to increase and maintain the value of their portfolios. Also, like all other gemstones, they are easy to store. However, if you are thinking of buying an emerald, you should seek advice from a professional before doing so.

Purchase should be well thought out

Short-term speculation with emeralds is practically impossible due to the value added tax and the high spreads. This can also be used as a fundamental argument against emeralds as a value investment, because the investor is first of all in the red with 19 percent after the purchase and must reckon with further discounts when selling. In addition, there is the lack of a global reference price, as it is available to potential gold investors with the London gold price.

These thoughts are not intended as a general recommendation against buying emeralds, but rather as an invitation to critically reflect on a potential purchase decision.

Grandidierite gemstone: origin

Grandidierites are lagoon and deep ocean blue gemstones discovered in Madagascar in 1902. Besides Madagascar, there are other deposits of grandidierite in Algeria, Antarctica, Canada, Czech Republic, India, Italy, Malawi, New Zealand, Norway, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and the United States. Despite all this, faceted grandidierites larger than one millimeter were found only in Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Despite the number of sources, grandidierite remains extremely rare; pockets are usually small and quickly depleted.

• Lagoon and deep ocean blue
• Discovered in Madagascar in 1902
• Facetable Grandidierites only in Madagascar and Sri Lanka
• Very rare gemstone

Buying Grandidierite: Value & Price

Grandidierite is a very rare gemstone that can fetch up to $20,000 per carat. It is often found as a companion mineral on aluminous, boron-bearing rocks with a pearly, semi-transparent, bluish-green hue.

Once you have a translucent piece of grandidierite rough, this is only the beginning of the challenge, as cutting and faceting this gemstone is difficult. The cutter will try to maximize the effect of pleochroism, which flashes two or three colors when turned to different angles, while retaining as much weight as possible. In addition, the gemstone tends to break in two directions if it is not cut with great care. This is another reason why anything larger than a carat of grandidierite becomes enormously expensive.

• Up to $20,000 per carat
• Accompanying mineral on alumina-bearing, boron-bearing rocks
• Difficult grinding and faceting

Jewellery: Grandidierite as a gemstone?

A rather rare mineral, a beautiful blue-green grandidierite is rarely found in gemstone or jewelry collections. Translucent material is sometimes cut into cabochons. Faceted pieces are very rare, but recent discoveries of translucent material may bring more to market. As cabochons, translucent grandidierites can range from 1 to 10 carats and up to about 1 inch in size. A lot of material is generally opaque.

• Rare in gemstone or jewelry collections
• Translucent material sometimes in cabochons
• Mostly 1 to 10 carat

Musgravite: gemstone, hardness, origin

Musgravite is one of the rarest of all gemstone types. Tested and certified faceted Musgravite is exceptionally rare. Musgravite is closely related to Taaffeite and the separation between the two is based on magnesium content. It is very difficult to distinguish musgravite from taaffeite. Their physical and optical properties are almost identical, and the only sure way to determine one from the other is by Raman spectroscopy. Musgravite and taaffeite are two of the hardest of the extremely rare gemstone species, with a hardness of 8 – 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Musgravite has been found at the type locality 16 km north-northeast of Ernabella Mission, Musgrave Ranges, South Australia; along Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica; and at Dove Bugt, northeast Greenland. The only sources of faceted crystals are at Tunduru, Tanzania, and a very limited find in 2009 at Mogok, Burma.

• One of the rarest types of gemstones
• Very similar to the Taaffeit
• Hardness grade 8 – 8.5
• Origin: South Australia, Antarctica, Northeast Greenland, Tunduru, Tanzania, Burma

Buy & Price of Musgravite: 4 Cs

The most important quality factors of gemstones that determine their value and price are color, weight in carats, cut and clarity. In English, these four factors are called the 4 Cs – Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity. Musgravite is also experiencing an increase in value. Color diamonds have been experiencing a financial upward trend for quite some time; blue and red diamonds are the most sought after and are offered at top prices.

But even minerals that are comparatively unknown can turn out to be a lucrative investment, especially if they belong to the rarest gemstone types, like musgravite. Musgravite is so rare that only eight gem quality stones were mined in 2005. Valued at nearly $35,000 per carat, its color spectrum ranges from translucent olive green to a grayish purple. Comparatively, a diamond can be said to cost a mere $4,500 to $6,000 per carat.

• Quality factors: Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity
• Increase in the value of musgravite
• 35,000 dollars per carat
• Olive green to greyish purple

Use: Jewellery, Decoration & Healing Crystal

Because of its rarity and its beautiful color spectrum, the Musgravite is also very popular as a jewelry stone and is usually worn on a chain, necklace or earrings. A ring with a beautiful Musgravite is also very popular, especially among connoisseurs.

Since ancient times, there has been a cultural belief that musgravite crystals can supposedly cure ailments in humans. Aside from their everyday use in embellishing ornaments and decorations, one specific therapy involves using crystals to heal chronic ailments. This practice, which utilizes the healing properties of musgravite, is known as crystal healing.

• Gemstone on chain, necklace or earrings
• Embellishment of ornaments and decorations
• Therapy with crystals against chronic suffering

Gemstone Taaffeit & Occurrence

Taaffeite is known as colorless, purple, red, green or blue. The most common colors are fairly unsaturated mauve and lavender. Deeper reds and purples, colored by traces of chromium and iron, are extremely rare. The largest taaffeite to hit the market was a 33 carat stone sold at auction in Hong Kong in 1999.

The source of the taaffeite was unknown for a long time. Eventually small fragments were found in Sri Lanka and southern Tanzania. Material also came from Myanmar, and some low-grade taaffite was found in China and Russia.

• Colour: colourless, mauve, lavender, violet, red, green or blue
• Largest carat: 33 carat
• Origin: Sri Lanka, Southern Tanzania, Myanmar, China, Russia

Taaffeit Buy: Value & Price

The question of how expensive a gemstone is, can not be answered in a general way. The price of minerals and gemstones results from the interaction of various factors – namely color, purity, weight and cut.

Light pink and dark purple taaffeite are priced from about $800 to $2,500 per carat. Finer colors with higher saturation can cost as much as $5,500 to $7,500 per carat, while stones with intense color that are clean inside can sell for as much as $15,000 per carat. A diamond, by comparison, costs about $4,500 to $6,000 per carat. Most buyers invest in jewelry with Taaffeit stones because the value of the gemstone increases due to its rarity.

The purity of minerals is essential, especially for stones with translucent transparency. Inclusions of other minerals, gases, liquids or growth lines have a disturbing effect on the brilliance and play with light in the crystal. Such defects can also be repaired with firing, so that a flawless quality exists.

• Colour, purity, weight and cut
• Average price: $3,500
• Prices from $800 to $15,000
• Errors can be corrected by burning

Gemstone and precious stone poudretteite

The natural color of poudretteite varies from colorless to a saturated pink or purple. Manganese is the primary component in this gemstone and it has a Mohs hardness of 5. The very rare poudretteites from Myanmar achieve gem quality in transparency, color and size and are traded as gemstones, but due to its rarity, poudretteite is not a common gemstone. However, those who are in possession of a Poudretteite know that this is a good investment because the value of rare gemstones is constantly increasing.

• Colour: colourless, saturated pink or violet
• Primary ingredient: manganese
• Mohs hardness: 5
• Good investment because of rarity

Buy Poudretteite: Price & Value

Gem-quality poudretteite did not appear on the market until the early 2000s, when a few specimens were found in Mogok, Burma. This is also where some of the most valuable rubies are found. Most of the poudretteites found were mistaken for scapolite. Therefore, it is possible that poudretteite is not as rare as currently thought. Despite this threat emerging in the markets, the current price for a high quality pale pink poudretteite is in the range of $3,000 per carat.

• On the market since the early 2000s
• 3000 dollars per carat

Topaz Quality Features: The famous 4 C

Topaz can be confused with a plethora of other gemstones, probably most easily with aquamarine, citrine, beryl, chrysoberyl and tourmaline. Identification by physical and optical properties such as refractive index or specific gravity should not normally be a major problem for gemologists.

A grading system introduced by the GIA was established to grade topaz, just like diamonds or other gemstones, based on four aspects. These 4 grading systems are known as “the four Cs”. Topazes, especially the more valuable ones, are graded using the following criteria:

1. Colour
2. Cut
3. Clarity
4. Carat weight(Carat weight)

Colour of the topaz (Colour #1)

Topaz occurs in a wide range of natural colors; however, most natural topaz is colorless. The most prized colors are the reds and pinks, which get their color from traces of chromium. Chromium is also responsible for the color in purple and violet topaz. One variety known as “imperial topaz” is especially prized because people enjoy its reddish-orange to orange-red colors, both of which are often found in the same crystal. Most of the world’s imperial topaz is found in Brazil. Topaz with a natural blue color is very rare and valuable.

Blue was the most popular color for topaz on the market for a while. However, almost all blue gemstones started out as colorless or pale blue topaz. A safe and very common heat and radiation treatment gives them striking, darker colors. Before this development, natural pale blue topaz was rare and valuable, while colorless topaz had always been widely available and could be bought cheaply by the ton. The consequences of modern treatment processes: The market value for blue topaz dropped rapidly. Today they are among the cheapest gemstones on the market.

Beware of color falsification

Another method of distorting the color of topaz is a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in which an ultra-thin layer of metal is deposited on the surface of the stone, usually titanium or gold. The colors produced are pink and red, green and petrol blue/green. One type of CVD-treated topaz exhibits iridescence in all the colors of the rainbow and is marketed as “Mystic Topaz.” Experience shows that the colored layer can be removed very easily with a fingernail scratch.

Yellow, brown and colorless topaz also have lower values. These colors are often heated, irradiated, coated and otherwise treated to change their color.

Facts about the color at a glance

Naturally blue topaz is quite rare and shows a fine aquamarine color only in the best cases. It never exhibits the striking and unnatural “Swiss blue” hue caused by irradiation. The only irradiation-induced color that could be mistaken for a natural color is a light blue marketed as “sky blue”.Occasionally, one encounters intensely green topaz in the markets. These stones owe their color to a diffusion treatment. The layer of color produced by this treatment is usually so thin that it can be removed by simple repolishing. The result is a colourless topaz…

Today, most topaz offered in department stores and mall jewelry stores at low to moderate prices has been treated in a laboratory. Colorless topaz can be heated, irradiated, and coated with thin layers of metal oxides to change its color.

Natural blue topaz is extremely rare and is usually light blue. Almost all blue topaz sold in stores today is colorless topaz that has been irradiated and then heated to produce a blue color. “Swiss Blue” and “London Blue” are trade names for two of the most common varieties of treated blue topaz found on the market today.

Natural pink to purple topaz is also extremely rare, but these colors can also be produced in the laboratory. The starting point is a stone cut from colourless topaz. It is first heated and then coated with a layer of metal oxide to create the pink color. When coated stones are worn in jewelry, the coating can thin or wear through over time in areas of the stone where abrasion occurs.

Some topazes are coated with a metallic oxide that gives the stone a multicolored iridescent glow. These stones, known as “mystic topazes,” appear to change color when the viewer moves the stone under light or changes the angle of observation. These coatings are also thin and can with normal wear.

Term topaz (fluorosilicate)

In 1734, the German mineralogist and metallurgist Johann Friedrich Henckel diagnosed that topaz differs from quartz due to its different cleavage. Thus, Henckel was the first to apply the term topaz to the fluorosilicate, which today bears the name and did not include other minerals.scoured.

Cut of the topaz (Cut #2)

Due to its high cleavage, topaz is a particularly difficult gemstone to work with. Even rapid temperature changes or careless setting work can lead to cracks and fissures in the stone.

Another method of distorting the color of topaz is a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in which an ultra-thin layer of metal is deposited on the surface of the stone, usually titanium or gold. The colors produced are pink and red, green and petrol blue/green. One type of CVD-treated topaz exhibits iridescence in all the colors of the rainbow and is marketed as “Mystic Topaz.” Experience shows that the colored layer can be removed very easily with a fingernail scratch.

Topaz shows perfect basal cleavage, which must be taken into account when cutting and setting. It is not particularly sensitive to acids, except concentrated sulphuric acid. Galvanic baths are not problematic.
However, topaz is very sensitive to heat and should be removed from the setting before any repair work is carried out.

Many brown and orange-brown topaz fade when exposed to light. We once had a beautiful, intensely brandy-colored specimen that faded to complete colorlessness within a year!

Purity of the Topaz (Clarity #3)

Gemstone clarity refers to the presence or absence of inclusions in the stone. Inclusions are any materials such as minerals, gases, liquids, or even other crystals that were trapped inside during its formation. Of the top four gemstones, the others being diamond, sapphire and ruby, emeralds are unique in the number of high quality specimens that contain inclusions, a flawless emerald is almost impossible to find. In fact, the flaws are what often give emeralds their charm, and the absence of any inclusions is often a sign of a fraudulent stone.

Facts about purity at a glance:

• Presence or absence of inclusions
• Emeralds usually contain inclusions
• Flawless emerald almost impossible to find
• Absence of any inclusions is often a sign of a forgery

Important: clarity and transparency

With emeralds, as with other colored stones, clarity and transparency are closely related. It is generally accepted that emeralds have inclusions visible to the naked eye, but only if they affect the transparency, the price is lowered.

Valuable emeralds with inclusions are so standard that there is even a name for them, Jardin-Smaragde (Jardin is French for garden and is so named because of its mossy or grassy appearance). When choosing an emerald, beware of inclusions that come to the surface of the gemstone, as they may indicate future cracks or fractures.

Carat / Weight of the topaz (Carat #4)

The final indicator of price is, of course, the size of the emerald. Large carat sizes are particularly rare, so a three carat emerald gemstone is not only three times as expensive as a one carat stone, but probably six times as expensive. The size of an emerald is measured in carats (abbreviated as ct). One carat is equal to 0.2 grams (about 0.007 ounces).

Topaz crystals can weigh hundreds of pounds and are often quite gemmy at this size. Gemstones of up to 20,000 carats have been cut from different colored material. Museums seem to be happy to receive monster sized topaz gemstones for display. Pink gemstones over 5 carats (Pakistan) are rare, however, and a Brazilian deep orange gemstone over 20 carats is considered large.

Heat treatments are also used to turn some yellow, orange and brown topaz into pink or red. This process is common, stable and undetectable.

“Mystic Topaz”

A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process is used to create a mystic topaz, a stone with a multi-colored coating on its surface. This is a common process. The surface coating can be easily scratched. This treatment can be detected by dipping.

Occurrence and mining areas of the gemstone

There are localities all over the world: Widespread throughout the world. Topaz is found on every continent. Mindat.org lists 1186 localities. The most important sources are Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia and Nigeria.

Topaz occurs in many places around the world where rocks such as pegmatite and rhyolite are formed. Here, topaz is usually a minor mineral in terms of quantity and a secondary mineral in terms of its time of formation.

Brazil has been the world’s most important source of topaz for decades. Almost all of the world’s high-quality imperial topaz is produced in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. The mines of Ouro Preto and Capao are the most important sources of yellow, orange, pink, red and purple topaz crystals for the gem and mineral specimen market. Brazil is also the leading producer of colorless topaz, much of which is heat treated and irradiated to produce the colors Swiss blue and London blue.

Pakistan is a smaller but notable source of pink, red and purple topaz. Sri Lanka is a very important source of colorless topaz. Other sources of topaz are: Australia, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Russia and Zimbabwe. In the United States, some topaz is produced in Utah, where it was designated a state gemstone in 1969.

1. Australia
2. Mexico
3. Pakistan
4. United States
5. Other sources

Australia

Queensland and Tasmania yield blue, colorless and brownish gem crystals. Tingha, New South Wales produces green gem-like material.

Mexico

San Luis Potosí produces fine brownish to sherry-colored crystals, as well as colorless and some yellowish, in many excellent, cuttable forms. Some of this material can be darkened by irradiation, but the color fades in sunlight.

Pakistan

Mardan produces fine pink crystals, terminated and cuttable, in limestone matrix, at Ghundao Hill, near Katlang.

United States

New Hampshire crystals are found, in Texas stones that are colorless and blue, some faceted to large. Likewise, there are areas in Pike’s Peak, Colorado. Here you will find fine blue crystals in granite rock; also colorless, reddish, yellow, some faceted.

Other sources: Germany to Sri Lanka

Other notable sources of gem quality include the following:

• Schneckenstein, Germany: faint yellow, gemmy.
• Madagascar: various colors in crystals and pebbles, often grindable.
• Myanmar: colorless, blue, brown, pink and yellow gemstone masses from gemstone grains.
• Klein Spitzkopje, Namibia: colorless and blue crystals from pegmatites, gemmy.
• Jos, Nigeria: fine blue crystals, also white, many grindable.
• Sri Lanka: colourless, yellow and blue gemstone masses from gemstone grains.
• Afghanistan; India; Japan; Vietnam; Norway; United Kingdom (Cornwall, England, Scotland); Zimbabwe.

Largest known finds

The largest known pink topaz is an oval of over 79 carats from Russia. The largest Brazilian topaz crystal of orange color ever found is said to measure 5 x 27 cm and weigh nearly 2 kg. A very fine lot (9 cutable crystals) found in the 1960s weighed over 900 grams and produced several outstanding gems, one weighing over 100 carats and several over 50 carats. Giant topazes exist in blue, colorless, and pale yellow colors. Red topaz from the tops of some Brazilian crystals is extremely rare, the largest about 70 carats.

Origin of the name

The Greek term “Topazos” is possibly derived from the name of an island in the Red Sea called Topazios. Most likely this was the island of Zebirget (Sebirget, Zabargad et al.). The island name Topazios is in turn derived from the word Topazin or Topazein, which means “to seek” or “to suppose”, since the island was usually obscured by fog and therefore difficult to find. The Greek historian Cornelius Alexander Polyhistor (Polyhistor was born a Roman citizen in 82 BC, hence the Latinized name) wrote that stones the color of fresh (olive) oil were found on the island. In volume 37 of his monumental work Naturalis Historia, Pliny writes about Topazos from the island in the Red Sea. In fact, Zebirget is the main source of peridot for a very long time.

This claim is all the more plausible because until the tenth century A.D. the word “topaz” was commonly used to describe green gemstones.

In the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, Pitdah, the Hebrew name of the second stone in the high priest’s breastplate, is given as topaz. The American mineralogist and gem collector George Frederick Kunz (in whose honor the mineral was christened kunzite) assumed that the root of pitdah was in the Sanskrit word pita, meaning yellow, and concluded that it may actually have meant the mineral now known as topaz.

The counterargument, of course, is that topaz in ancient times denoted green gemstones.

Trade names (excerpt)

There are so many Handesl names, here is just a small sample:

• Sky blue, aqua blue (reinforced)
• Swiss blue, medium blue (reinforced)
• London Blue, dark blue (reinforced)
• Mystic surface treated topaz with multiple colors
• Hyacinth or hyacinth, dark orange to orange-red
• Emperor topaz, highly saturated medium, reddish-orange
• Sherry, brownish yellow to orange or yellowish brown

Aquamarine price (gram, carat and kilo)

Since aquamarines are also available in large sizes, there is no incremental increase in value per carat for large gemstones. A 50 ct aquamarine is worth the same price per carat as a one carat gemstone of the same quality. The price of precious gemstones depends on clarity, depth of color, and to a lesser extent, purity of color. Aquamarines can be bought in very different price ranges in the market. Depending on the quality, a carat can cost anywhere from $50 to $600.

How much does an aquamarine cost?

What you’ll be most interested in now:

How much does an aquamarine cost?

As described earlier, aquamarines are weighed in carats.

One metric carat equals 0.2 grams

Aquamarines are currently valued at an average of $352.64 per carat.

So one gram costs on average 1,763.20 USD

For one kilogram of aquamarine you pay on average 1.763.200 USD.

Gold price (gram, ounce & kilo) in comparison

How does the price of gold compare? Many investors who buy gold constantly keep an eye on the price. As an investor, you should too, because prices for precious metals are subject to fluctuations – even if the gold price is usually very stable.

Difference per gram currently: +1.702 USD

Gold is currently valued at $61 per gram, compared to aquamarine, which can fetch up to $1,763.20 as described. This big difference makes aquamarines interesting for investors as well!

Gold price current:

• 1 gram 61.14 USD or 52.47 EUR
• 1 ounce 1,901.77 USD or 1,631.90 EUR
• 1 kilogram USD 61,143.33 or EUR 52,466.80

So for one kilogram of gold you get only a fraction of aquamarines!

Aquamarine color variations

Aquamarine is made of beryl, a mineral that can be light blue, light blue-green, or even light green. It is usually clear, but the iron content gives it its blue or green coloration. The green of aquamarine is a watery green without any trace of yellow. In the past, green was the most prized color in aquamarine stones. Today, however, the most prized and therefore most valuable aquamarines have a rich, sky blue color.

It depends on the angle!

Depending on the angle from which you look at an aquamarine, it can appear in shades of blue and green or look almost colorless. This is called the pleachroic effect. Almost all aquamarines on the market have been heat treated to enhance the color. To meet consumer preference for aquamarines in deep blue, the stones are heated at 426 degrees Fahrenheit, which brings out the blue color and makes the yellows and greens disappear. The light shade of aquamarine flatters all skin tones and harmonizes with all common precious metals.

Color variations of aquamarine:

• Depending on the angle of view all shades of blue and green
• This is called pleachroic effect
• Most aquamarines are heat treated
• Flattering for all skin types

Depending on the viewing angle, aquamarines can shimmer in a wide variety of shades of green and blue:

Authenticity: Identifying characteristics

Inclusions are interesting features of this gemstone. Beryl and especially aquamarine are known for having long, hollow tubes. This feature identifies a gemstone as a member of the beryl family. Aquamarines can have transparent and metallic inclusions such as biotite and rutile in skeletal crystals. They may also contain garnet, quartz and tourmaline crystals. Some stones contain what are called snow stars, irregularly shaped droplets of liquid in a star formation. The Martha Rocha aquamarine, for example, one of the largest aquamarines in the world and named after the then Miss Brazil, has notable snow star inclusions.

Key identifiers:

• Long, hollow tube inclusions
• Metallic inclusions like biotite and rutile
• May contain garnet, quartz and tourmaline crystals
• Snow star inclusions also possible

Caution – danger of confusion!

Aquamarines are most likely to be confused with the very rare natural blue topaz or the irradiated sky blue topaz commonly found in the trade. There are 2 other irradiated topaz colors. These are London Blue and Swiss Blue. However, they are too intense to be confused with aquamarine and cannot fool an expert. The identification is ultimately done by the significantly higher weight, because a topaz is much heavier than an aquamarine of the same size.

Also common are aquamarine-colored synthetic spinels, which are often referred to as synthetic aquamarines. However, this is a misstatement! In fact, there are no synthetically produced aquamarines. Identifying those fakes is easy because spinel is single refractive, which can be determined with a dichroscope. Also, synthetic spinel in aquamarine color appears distinctly pink under the Chelsea filter.

The Aquaqmarin can be confused with these stones:

• Rare natural blue topaz
• Irradiated topaz of the color Sky Blue
• Aquamarine synthetic spinels

Mining areas and deposits

Aquamarines are found on all continents. By far the most important mining areas are in Brazil.

Other significant sites include:

• Nigeria
• Mozambique
• Madagascar
• Pakistan

In addition, aquamarines are also found in India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the USA and some other countries of the world. In Madagascar, a special dark blue variety was mined.

Aquamarine in Europe

The European deposits in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria and Switzerland, for example, are of purely mineralogical interest and do not yield material useful for the gemstone trade.

Aquamarine is commonly found in cavities, gravel deposits, and sometimes in stream gravels. Beryl crystals in some coarse-grained rock forms can grow to very large sizes. Aquamarine crystals of up to 20 cm are not uncommon. The best quality stones come from Brazil, where crystals weighing several kilograms have been found.

Aquamarine mining in Pakistan: Video

Different types of grinding

The most common cut for an aquamarine is the emerald type, followed by oval or pear-shaped cuts. It is a relatively easy stone to cut and is often found in innovative shapes as cutters experiment with new shapes. Generally, all cuts used for diamonds are possible for aquamarines. It is rated 7.5 to 8 on the hardness scale, making it a fairly durable stone. Large aquamarine stones, ranging from several carats to more than 10 carats, are relatively common, as mentioned earlier. The great thing about this gemstone is that the wide price range makes it accessible to almost everyone.

• The most common cut for an aquamarine is the emerald type
• Followed by oval or pear-shaped cuts
• Easy to cut stone
• 7.5 to 8 on the hardness scale
• Durable stone

When cutting aquamarine, the primary consideration should be depth of color. Deep designs, such as barions and emerald cuts, are usually preferred. Low crown angles result in higher brilliance, but higher crowns are often used to deepen the color.

High brilliance due to polishing

The beryl family, including aquamarines, are among the easiest gemstones to polish. Diamond polishing is the most common method. A high quality polish can give bright aquamarines such brilliance that they could be mistaken for higher refractive index (RI) gemstones. Even with a moderate scatter of 0.014, bright stones with high crown angles will show off their spectral colors well. This makes them a standout gemstone. While the highest values are with the richer colors, a well-cut bright aquamarine can be one of the most spectacular examples of gemstone faceting in the world.

• The easiest gemstones to polish
• Most common method: Diamond polishing
• Can be mistaken for gemstones with a higher refractive index
• Spectral colours are brought to the fore

Aquamarine jewellery care

The best way to clean your aquamarine jewelry is with plain warm soapy water (with mild liquid soap) and a small brush. Once you have washed the stone, be sure to rinse it well with clean water. Be sure to use warm water instead of hot water to reduce the risk of thermal shock.

Detergents containing enzymes and detergents should be avoided as they can cause allergic reactions. It is also not advisable to clean aquamarine in an ultrasonic tank. Sudden temperature changes, steam formation and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals should also be avoided if possible.

• Cleaning with simple warm soapy water
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water
• Avoid detergents containing enzymes and detergents

Biggest aquamarine find ever

The largest aquamarine was found in 1910 in Brazil, near the village of Marambaia. It weighed around 110 kg, was almost half a meter long and 38 cm wide. It was then cut into smaller stones, which together yielded over 200,000 carats!

Here lies the mine where the largest aquamarine of all time was found:

Investing in aquamarine: yes or no?

As already mentioned above, aquamarines come in very different price ranges. This makes investing in aquamarines interesting even for investors with a smaller budget. A negative factor is the lack of a global reference price, as it is available to potential gold investors with the London gold price. The market can therefore be subject to strong price fluctuations in general.

These thoughts should not be understood as a fundamental recommendation against the aquamarine purchase, but rather as an invitation to critically reflect on a potential purchase decision.

Diamond price (gram, carat and kilo)

The largest diamond producer by volume is Russia (mainly Siberia). But if you look at the value of the diamonds, Botswana (mainly Jwaneng Diamond Mine) wins. Both produce over 1 million carats a year, which sounds like a lot, but is actually only 200,000 g, or 200 kg per country per year. It is these small quantities that make diamond so valuable.

The most famous and legendary of all gemstones, diamond is very unique in many ways. It is known for being the hardest substance on earth, its sparkling fire, durability and rarity make diamond the most valuable of all gemstones. No gemstone contains as much attraction and interest as diamond. Most diamonds used as gemstones are colorless or very faintly colored. Colored diamonds, called “fancies,” however, can be extremely rare and valuable, and the most valuable gemstones ever known were fancy diamonds. In fact, fancy diamonds are the most valuable substances known to mankind, with colored diamonds selling for more than a million dollars per carat in the past!

What you’ll be most interested in now, of course:

How much does a diamond cost?

As described earlier, diamonds are weighed in carats.

One metric carat equals 0.2 grams

Diamonds are currently valued at an average of $7,116 per carat.

So one gram costs on average 35,580 USD

Diamond Price Current (08/20):

• 1 carat 7,116.17 USD or 5,990.54 EUR
• 1 gram 35,580.90 USD or 30,100.16 EUR
• 1 kilogram USD 35,580,170.34 or EUR 30,100,160.81

Gold price (gram, ounce & kilo) in comparison

How does the price of gold compare? Many investors who buy gold constantly keep an eye on the price. As an investor, you should too, because prices for precious metals are subject to fluctuations – even if the gold price is usually very stable.

Difference per gram currently: +35,519 USD or diamonds are 583x more valuable

Gold is currently valued at $61 per gram, compared to diamonds, which can fetch up to $35,580 as described, a huge difference that also makes diamonds interesting for investors.

Gold price current:

• 1 gram 61.14 USD or 52.47 EUR
• 1 ounce 1,901.77 USD or 1,631.90 EUR
• 1 kilogram USD 61,143.33 or EUR 52,466.80

So for one kilogram of gold you get only a fraction of diamonds!

Countries of origin and largest mining areas

Since the 1870s, most of the world’s gem-quality diamonds have been mined in Africa.

Top 7 producing countries over 1 million carats / year

These seven countries have been world leaders in the production of gem quality diamonds for over a decade.

Production over 1 million carats:

1. Russia
2. Botswana
3. Canada
4. Angola
5. South Africa
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo
7. Namibia

Russia leads the list of producers with its gigantic areas. A large part of the productive mines can be found in Yakutia.

Mine: Yakutia, Russia

Inside Yakutia: Russia’s largest mine – video

Yakutia in northeastern Siberia is home to huge diamond deposits, where the gems are mined in huge pits dug deep into the permafrost. The Mir mine in Mirny is 525 meters deep and one of the largest man-made holes in the world.

Production countries with 100,000 + carats / year

Apart from the dominant producers, numerous countries produce less than one million carats per year, but are regular, consistent producers. They all produce over 100,000 carats of gem-quality diamonds per year and have averaged at least that much over the past decade. This production comes from smaller mechanized mines or an enormous number of artisans in alluvial deposits.

• Australia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea
• Guyana
• Lesotho
• Sierra Leone
• Zimbabwe

Number 1 in the 2nd division is Australia. Tip. Read more about production and price of Opal here.

Mine: Australia (Argyle Diamond Mine, Lake Argyle WA 6743)

Inside Argyle: Australia’s Diamonds – Video

A look inside the unique Argyle diamond mine. Located in the spectacular East Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Argyle Diamond Mine produces over 90% of the incredible Pink Diamonds. See how they recover the diamonds from deep underground in their modern block cave mine.

Russia: The largest diamond producer in the world

Diamonds were found in Russia as early as the 18th century. The first significant production occurred in 1957 from the Mir kimberlite pipe and adjacent placers. Since then, numerous diamondiferous pipes and alluvial deposits have been found. Most of Russia’s diamond production to date has come from the open pit mines of the Mir and Udachnaya pipes in the Sakha Republic of Siberia.

Today, Russia is the world’s leading producer of gem-quality diamonds by carat weight and has held this position for over a decade. Botswana is the only country with a higher production value – mainly because its production includes a high proportion of large, high-quality diamonds.

• First finds in the 18th century
• First production facility 1957
• The majority are open-cast mines in the Republic of Sakha.
• Central is Yakutia (10 of 12 mines)
• World leading producer in gemstone quality
• Holds the title for over a decade

ALROSA as the largest export company

ALROSA, a Russian group of diamond mining companies, produces almost all of the diamonds mined in the country. ALROSA sorts and sells its rough diamonds to a number of polished diamond manufacturers located mainly in Russia, Belgium, India, Israel, Hong Kong and China. Most sales are made through long-term supply agreements, but the company also makes one-time sales and is developing methods for online sales.

Primary control of ALROSA is in the hands of Russian government authorities. The Russian Federation Agency for State Property Management owns approximately 44%, the Ministry of Property and Land Relations of the Republic of Sakha owns approximately 25% and the municipal district administrations of the Republic of Sakha own approximately 8%. The remaining approximately 23% is owned by individuals and legal entities.

Away from it all, a look inside the mine is nothing short of spectacular.

Number 1: Largest diamond mine in the world – Video

Botswana: Small country, huge yield

Course a look at Botswana as a country if you don’t know much about it yet.

• Capital: Gaborone
• Currency: Botswana Pula
• Population: 2.254 million (2018, source: World Bank).

Botswana on the map, Jwaneng Diamond Mine:

Botswana was one of the first areas to use bulk sampling and indicator mineral mapping to characterize and identify diamond pipes in a large and difficult geographic area. Exploration began in the 1950s and diamond mining started in 1971.

In the mid-1980s, Botswana had some of the world’s highest-yielding mines, and the tiny country was one of the world’s leading diamond producers.

For over a decade, Botswana has been the second largest diamond producer by carat weight and the leading producer by value. It holds this position because its average diamond size is larger than those produced by Russia and of generally higher quality.

• Diamond mining began in 1971
• 2. largest diamond producer (quantity)
• PS: Measured by value, even the leading producer

Number 1 mines: The most expensive diamonds

Botswana’s Jwaneng mine is often referred to as “the richest diamond mine in the world”. The mine has been producing about 10 million carats of high quality diamonds annually. The mine is owned by a company called Debswana, a joint venture company between De Beers and the government of Botswana – hence the name “Debswana”.

The diamond industry is the most important factor for economic activity in Botswana. Diamonds account for about 60% of Botswana’s exports and about 25% of its gross domestic product. De Beers is responsible for the sale of all of Debswana’s rough diamonds and has built the largest diamond sorting and sales facility in the world in Gaborone, the capital and largest city of Botswana. There, the stones mined by De Beers in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa are sorted and offered to diamond buyers and manufacturers from all over the world in De Beers’ famous “Sightholder Sales”.

• Most important factor for economic activity in Botswana
• 60% of Botswana’s exports are diamonds
• About 25% of its gross domestic product
• Garborone has the largest diamond sorting and sales facility in the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEmCUdSnXc

Canada: The big surprise

Canada was the big surprise in the diamond industry. Geologists suspected that gem-bearing diamond pipes pierced the rocks of the Canadian Shield, but many of the world’s most experienced diamond explorers could not find them. Then in 1991, two geologists, Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson, found evidence of diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes about 200 miles north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The deposit proved commercial, and mining began there in 1998. Several other mines came on line in quick succession, quickly making Canada one of the world’s leading diamond producers.

Some of the Canadian mines have already been closed due to difficult mining conditions or ore bodies being worked out. However, the country’s position as the third largest diamond producer in the world has been maintained. Most of Canada’s mines are located in remote and cold places in the northern part of the country. Some can only get their heavy supplies by trucks traveling on ice roads that can only be traversed during the coldest months of the year. The mines must also have all the necessary facilities to house and support their workers for months at a time. The mines have proven themselves even in the face of these costly challenges.

• First diamonds were found in 1991
• In 1998 the dismantling began
• Mines mainly in the north, supply via ice roads

Popularity due to good production conditions

Canadian diamonds have been very popular with consumers. Some like them because they are produced away from conflict, because workers are well paid and because there are regulations to protect the environment. Diamond and jewelry manufacturers in Canada have advertised their national origin by labeling their belts with certificate numbers and trade logos. These include a maple leaf, a polar bear, CanadaMark symbols or the words “Ice on Fire.” These inscriptions assure consumers of the provenance of their diamond, link it to a certificate, and are a very successful marketing feature.

Mining of rough diamonds

Diamonds are mostly extracted from vents of extinct volcanoes. They are first mined in open pits, then underground. Extensive open-pit mining of this type is carried out in Botswana, Russia and Angola. In Namibia and South Africa, diamonds are also found inland in some river valleys and in submarine basins. For underwater mining, specially designed ships are used to wash the diamonds out of the sand that is sucked in.

World production of natural diamond is currently around twenty tons per year, which currently only covers around 20 % of industrial demand. Synthetically produced diamonds, whose properties such as toughness, crystal habit, conductivity and purity can be precisely influenced, are therefore increasingly filling this gap in demand.

Statistics: Development of the worldwide diamond production in the period from 2005 to 2020

You can find more statistics at Statista

Recognised grading system: The 4 Cs

A grading system introduced by the GIA was established to evaluate diamonds based on four aspects. These four grading systems are known as “the four C’s” in which all diamonds are graded:

1. Colour
2. Cut
3. Clarity
4. Carat weight(Carat weight)

Colour (Colour #1)

The color of a diamond is graded on an alphabetical scale, ranging from the letters D to Y. This scale measures color saturation, which ranges from absolutely colorless to deep yellow (or yellow-brown). D is completely colorless, with no hint of any other color. Y indicates intense deep yellow or deep yellow-brown. The letters between D and Y describe the color, depending on the degree of yellow saturation.

The color bar below shows the letter and the color saturation it represents. (The bar is not limited to yellow; it can also be yellow-brown and is not necessarily accurate, as monitor saturation can vary.) The letter Z in a diamond’s color grade can sometimes be used to indicate a fancy diamond.

Cut (Cut #2)

The cut, or facet, of the diamond is the shape and style in which it is cut. The most common cut is the brilliant cut, a facet specifically designed to bring out the most fire in the stone. Sometimes this cut cannot be given, either due to flaws or cleavage habits. A great deal of planning must be done before cutting a diamond, as a slight flaw in the facet can significantly reduce the value of the stone.

Brilliant cut and old cut

The brilliant cut is the classic cut for diamonds. The 57 facets of the brilliant cause the best possible light reflection.

The old cut is the precursor of today’s brilliant cut. This particular cut is mainly found in jewellery from private collections. Special features of this cut are a somewhat higher upper body and a smaller table as well as a cut calette. A perfectly round cut was not necessarily aimed for. This cut still enjoys particular popularity among connoisseurs today.

Purity (Clarity #3)

The brilliance of the stone also depends decisively on the clarity, which is of course very strongly reflected in the value of the diamond. Truly flawless stones are very rare and therefore also particularly valuable.

Carat / Weight (Carat #4)

The size of a diamond is measured in carats (abbreviated as ct). One carat is equal to 0.2 grams (about 0.007 ounces).

Another weight measurement sometimes used for small diamonds is the point measurement (abbreviated as pt). Each point is equal to one/one hundredth of a carat. For example, a stone weighing 34 pt weighs 0.34 ct. Larger diamonds are worth more than proportionally smaller ones, meaning that a 3 ct diamond exceeds the value of three 1ct diamonds.

Diamonds (as well as other precious colored gemstones) are often sold with a certification document that lists comprehensive details about the stone, specifically their 4 C’s. These certificates are usually authenticated by recognized organizations such as the GIA and the AGS (American Gem Society) and offer authenticity about the stone being purchased. Diamonds that are certified have a premium over non-certified.

Detect fake diamonds?

Since a diamond is real, it must have some inclusions! These inclusions are visible to the naked eye or under magnification. If no inclusions, black spots or milk spots, are visible in a diamond, then it is either a zirconia or a piece of glass.

Diamonds that have no inclusions under 50x magnification are very rare and can only be found by collectors. The small black specks that are visible in diamonds are crystals of graphite or other forms of carbon. These black specks glow under the light. Diamonds have an affinity for grease; the surface of a cut diamond generally has a film of grease when touched.

• Inclusions (naked eye or under magnification)
• No inclusions under 50x magnification = very rare
• Black spots are crystals of graphite or other forms of carbon
• Affinity for fat

Test methods for the authenticity of diamonds

The most important test of a diamond is that all light entering the front of the stone is completely reflected by the back facets, which form a series of mirrors. A well-cut diamond, when viewed from the back and held up to the light, will show only a pinpoint of light from the cult. Moreover, when you look down at a brilliant diamond, you don’t see the wearer’s finger under the stone, as you do with other stones. White light entering a diamond is scattered into a spectrum of colors, creating vials of different colors from the smaller crown facets.

Detect diamond imitations: Video

Various quartz shapes

There are many forms of quartz that can be called diamond. Many are locality specific and precede the word diamond with a locality name. Many of these names are rarely used or invented by dealers, but there are a few, such as Herkimer Diamond, that are used universally. Here are some names to consider that describe quartz varieties:

Names describing varieties of quartz:

• Arkansas
• Baffa
• Bristol
• Cape May
• Cornish
• Dauphine
• Herkimer
• Hot springs
• Marble Marsh
• Pecos
• Vallum
• Zabeltitzen

Other false names are also used which do not refer to quartz. They are as follows:

• Alaskan Black – Hematite
• Jourado – Colorless synthetic spinel
• Killiecrankie – Colourless topaz from Killiecrankie Bay at the northern end of Flinders Island, Australia.
• Matura – Colourless zirconia
• Strass – Colorless glass as gemstone simulant
• Swarovski – Highly polished form of glass

Production of synthetic diamonds

For many years, it was very legitimate to use the terms “diamond production” and “diamond mining” as equivalent – at least for gem quality diamonds. That has changed. The United States Geological Survey reports that in 2015, an estimated $52.4 million worth of gem-quality diamonds were produced in laboratories within the United States.

Already produced $52.4 million worth of synthetic diamonds in 2015

An unknown quantity is also produced in laboratories outside the United States. Most of these synthetic diamonds enter the gemstone market and are labeled as “lab-created” or “lab-grown” or “synthetic” at the time of sale to consumers. When this occurs, these man-made diamonds are generally sold at a price at least 25% below the cost of natural diamonds for stones of similar size and quality.

Still complicated and costly at the moment

It is extremely difficult and costly to distinguish man-made diamonds from natural diamonds, especially at the wholesale level when synthetic diamonds are inserted into large lots of very small diamonds. This infiltration of synthetic stones into natural stone stock has raised concerns among the gem and jewelry trade, as well as consumers. Is my diamond “natural”?

Most consumers still buy “natural diamonds” because the supply of lab-created diamonds is relatively small. However, a lower selling price attracts certain consumers to lab-created diamonds because they have the same chemical composition and physical properties and look exactly like natural diamonds to the eye. Time will tell how interested consumers will be in natural diamonds and how much of a discount they are willing to refuse.

For a layman not to recognize: The difference between natural and synthetic diamonds.

Biggest diamonds ever

In this chart you can see the biggest diamonds that were sold until 2010:

1. The Golden Jubiliee – 545.67 carats
2. The Cullinan I – 530.2 carats
3. The Cullinan II – 317.4 carats
4. The Centenary – 273 carats
5. The Millenium Star – 204.4 carats

Diamonds for investors

Investors should base the purchase decision on the “4 Cs” described above to ensure a minimum level of quality. In order to ensure successful resaleability at a reasonable price, it makes sense to keep the standards rather high.

Role of diamonds in the portfolio

In contrast to shares, ETFs or other forms of investment, the long-term price development of diamonds is characterised by a relatively steady rise. Therefore, diamonds are very well suited as a defensive addition to the portfolio to cushion strong downturns. A fundamental outperformance compared to stock indices such as DAX or MDAX, however, is usually not given.

Your motivation in buying diamonds as an investment should be to minimize risk by diversifying your assets.

This means that diamonds are not recommended in a small portfolio. If you have to exceed a maximum portfolio share of 5 percent to reach the minimum size and quality when buying diamonds, you should rather wait with the investment.

Diamond Cut: 21 Shapes & Types

Diamonds are known to have the unique property of refracting light in such a way that it sparkles intensely! So much so that diamonds continue to increase in value. Today, 1 carat (0.2 grams) will cost you 7,116.17 USD or 5,990.54 EUR. Besides the brilliance, the cut determines a large part of the purchase price. There are different shapes of cut diamonds, 21 of which I want to introduce to you today. To the cut forms belong for example round cut (also brilliant cut), heart, oval, marquise, radiant and princess (princess cut). The cut quality significantly determines the value of a diamond. When determining the value, it is all about how well the facets of a diamond interact with the light.

The cut of a diamond is crucial to the final beauty and value of the stone. Of all the 4Cs of diamonds, the cut itself is the most complex and technically difficult to analyze.

• Diamond cut: 21 types

Investing in diamonds: Yes or No?

Short-term speculation with diamonds is practically impossible due to the value added tax and the high spreads. This can also be used as a basic argument against diamonds as a value investment, because the investor is first of all in the red with 19 percent after the purchase and has to reckon with further discounts when selling. In addition, there is the lack of a global reference price, as it is available to potential gold investors with the London gold price.

These thoughts should not be understood as a fundamental recommendation against buying diamonds, but rather as an invitation to critically reflect on a potential purchase decision.