These gemstones have been used as symbols of wealth, power, and status, often associated with luxury and allure.
The rarity and beauty of gemstones make them incredibly valuable, with prices reaching staggering heights at auctions. Investing in gemstones can be a smart move for those seeking long-term investment opportunities.
Several factors contribute to the high value of gemstones, one of which is rarity; some types can only be found in a few locations worldwide. This scarcity drives prices higher as collectors and investors compete for these precious stones.
Another factor is the quality of the stone. Gemstones are classified based on several criteria, including color, clarity, and cut. A flawless gemstone, perfectly cut with vibrant color, will be worth significantly more than a stone with visible inclusions or dull color.
According to Prestige Online, the cost of white diamonds can reach up to $15,000 (over 350 million VND) per carat. However, this amount is just a small fraction compared to the billion-dollar gemstones listed below.
Gemstones are relatively stable in value and can be a suitable investment category in the context of inflation (Photo: Prestige Online)
5. Alexandrite valued at up to 1.6 billion VND per carat
Due to its exquisite beauty and value, Alexandrite is increasingly popular for high-end jewelry. Its unique property of color change has earned it the nickname “emerald by day, ruby by night”.
During the day, Alexandrite appears blue or peacock green. At twilight, it transforms into a stunning purple with red hues. This change occurs due to the way Alexandrite absorbs light.
The price of Alexandrite varies depending on its size. This is because larger stones are very rare, leading to potentially exponential price increases. According to Rare Gem Collection and Prestige Online, the wholesale price for one carat of Alexandrite can range from $20,000 (about 470 million VND) to as much as $70,000 per carat (around 1.6 billion VND).
The largest Alexandrite to date weighs 65.08 carats and is valued at over $4 million (about 94 billion VND), currently housed at the Smithsonian Institution (the largest museum, education, and research complex in the world, located in Washington, D.C., USA).
Prosperity, royalty, and wealth are the most evident symbols of Alexandrite. This stone is also considered the gem of intelligence, change, and luck. (Photo: Rare Gem Collection).
4. Emerald – up to over 7 billion VND per carat
With its alluring emerald green color, it’s no surprise that emeralds rank among the world’s most favored gemstones. Perfect emeralds are extremely rare, and high-quality emeralds are often harder to find than diamonds. Once discovered, emeralds can sell for exorbitant prices.
Although the quality classification systems for diamonds and emeralds are similar, the color of emeralds is given greater emphasis than that of diamonds. This means a small emerald with vibrant color can be more expensive than a large diamond with many cloudy inclusions.
An example of this is the Rockefeller Emerald, weighing 18.04 carats, which was gifted by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller to his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. Later, the stone appeared at a Christie’s auction and was sold for a record-breaking $5.5 million (nearly 130 billion VND), equivalent to $305,000 (over 7 billion VND) per carat.
The Rockefeller Emerald is the largest and most perfect emerald in the world. (Photo: Christie’s).
3. Pink diamonds priced at nearly 28 billion VND per carat
The color of diamonds is often a result of impurities. However, for red and pink diamonds, this hue originates from minor defects in the crystal lattice structure.
Primarily mined at the Argyle mine in Australia, this diamond is highly sought after for its romantic pink hue. Although the price of this type of diamond is quite high, buyers can find more favorable pricing when pink diamonds are sourced outside the Argyle mine.
The most expensive pink diamond ever sold fetched $57.7 million (over 1.3 trillion VND) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong (China) in October 2022. Dubbed “Williamson Pink Star”, this cushion-cut diamond is noted for its “remarkably vivid pink hue and perfect interior.”
This price made the 11.15-carat Williamson the most expensive diamond per carat ever sold.
The Williamson Pink Diamond. (Photo: Ali Haider, Sotheby’s)
2. Red diamonds priced at up to 37.5 billion VND per carat
Red is the rarest color for diamonds, and due to this rarity, red diamonds easily become one of the most expensive gemstones in the world. To date, only about 20-30 red diamonds exist, most weighing less than ½ carat.
The largest red diamond, weighing 5.11 carats, was sold for $8 million (nearly 188 billion VND), equivalent to $1.6 million per carat (over 37.5 billion VND per carat).
Moussaieff Red Diamond is the largest red diamond in the world. (Photo: Diamond Buzz).
1. Blue diamonds valued at up to 92.2 billion VND per carat
Buyers will not find a blue diamond outside of auction houses due to the rarity of this stone. When information regarding blue diamonds surfaces, collectors or investors flock to seize the opportunity to acquire them. Only a few mines worldwide produce blue diamonds, located in Australia, India, and South Africa.
Blue diamonds get their color from the element boron, which replaces some carbon in the diamond’s crystal structure. Although not as rare as red diamonds, blue diamonds can grow much larger than red diamonds and are typically sold at higher prices. Like other colored diamonds, blue diamonds become more expensive as their color intensity and carat weight increase.
Christie’s staff examining the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Blue diamond. (Photo: Martial Trezzini/EPA, The Guardian).
To date, the highest recorded price is for the Oppenheimer Blue, sold for an astonishing $57.5 million (over 1.3 trillion VND) at a Christie’s auction in 2016. This rectangular-cut stone weighs 14.62 carats and was previously owned by the Oppenheimer family, who dominated the global diamond trade for many years.
