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What Is the Most Expensive Birthstone?
The most expensive birthstone is typically a natural diamond, the birthstone for April. Diamonds are renowned for their exceptional hardness, brilliance, and rarity, particularly in larger sizes and high-quality grades. Other expensive birthstones include natural rubies, emeralds, alexandrites, and sapphires, which are highly prized for their color, rarity, and historical significance.
Understanding the value and characteristics of birthstones highlights their unique qualities and the reasons behind their desirability. Whether rare or accessible, each birthstone carries its own appeal, making it a meaningful choice for personal jewelry or as a thoughtful gift.
Most Expensive Birthstones
In addition to diamond, these are the other most expensive natural birthstones:
- Ruby (July): Rubies derive their value from their deep red color, with the most prized stones displaying a pure and vivid red tone. The durability of rubies and their historic association with royalty contribute to their status as one of the most valuable gemstones.
- Emerald (May): Emeralds are valued for their rich green color, which ranges from bluish-green to vivid green. The most desirable emeralds have a vibrant hue with even saturation. Though inclusions are common in emeralds, those with minimal inclusions are particularly prized.
- Alexandrite (June): Alexandrite, which can be more expensive than diamond, is highly coveted for its remarkable color-changing property, shifting from green in daylight to reddish-purple under incandescent light. This phenomenon, combined with its extreme rarity, makes it one of the most sought-after and valuable gemstones in the world. Alexandrite’s allure lies in its uniqueness and the challenge of finding high-quality specimens.
- Sapphire (September): Sapphires are highly prized for their color, rarity, and historical significance. While blue is the most traditional and valued color for sapphires, they can also come in other colors. Their durability and cultural importance contribute to their status as one of the more expensive birthstones.
Least Expensive Birthstones
Some birthstones are naturally more abundant, making them accessible and affordable. Examples include:
- Amethyst (February): Amethyst, a purple variety of quartz, is widely available and appreciated for its striking violet hues. Its affordability is due to the plentiful supply of high-quality stones, making it a popular and accessible choice.
- Citrine (November): Citrine, a golden-yellow quartz, is valued for its warm and sunny appearance. Its abundance contributes to its affordability.
- Turquoise (December): Turquoise is cherished for its vibrant blue and green hues and opaque nature. Found in large quantities across several regions, its accessibility makes it one of the more affordable birthstones.
- Peridot (August): Peridot, a gemstone with bright greenish-yellow tones, is relatively common and found in various locations worldwide. Its affordability is due to its widespread availability and lower mining costs.
Most Expensive Birthstones in Order
Though it can shift based on a gemstone’s quality, here’s how the birthstones generally rank based on their market value for a natural stone:
- Diamond (April)
- Alexandrite (June)
- Ruby (July)
- Emerald (May)
- Sapphire (September)
- Black Opal (October)
- Spinel (August)
- Tanzanite (December)
- Aquamarine (March)
- Tourmaline (October)
- Garnet (January)
- Pearl (June)
- Zircon (December)
- Topaz (November)
- Peridot (August)
- Sardonyx (August)
- Amethyst (February)
- Citrine (November)
- Turquoise (December)
- Blue Topaz (December)
Birthstone Prices Chart
Birthstone | Month | Price Level |
|---|---|---|
$$$ | ||
$$$ | ||
$$$ | ||
$$$ | ||
$$$ | ||
Opal | $-$$$ (because of rare varieties of opal like black opal) | |
$$-$$$ (because of rare colors of spinel like red & blue) | ||
$$ | ||
$$ | ||
$$-$$$ (because of rare varieties of tourmaline like Paraiba) | ||
$-$$$ (because of rare varieties of garnet like demantoid) | ||
$-$$$ (because of rare attributes and pearl origins) | ||
Zircon | $ | |
$-$$$ (because of rare varieties of topaz such as imperial) | ||
$ | ||
Sardonyx | $ | |
$ | ||
$ | ||
Turquoise | $ | |
$ |
FAQ
What are the three most expensive birthstones?
The three most expensive natural birthstones are:
- Diamond (April)
- Ruby (July)
- Emerald (May)
What is the most expensive December birthstone?
Tanzanite is the most expensive December birthstone. Other December birthstones include zircon, turquoise, and blue topaz, which are more affordable options.
What is the least expensive birthstone?
The least expensive naturally-occurring birthstones include turquoise, blue topaz, citrine, and amethyst. These gemstones are more abundant, making them accessible and affordable without compromising on charm.
How much do birthstones cost?
Birthstone costs vary widely based on their rarity, quality, and market demand. While some like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds command exceptionally high prices due to their rarity and demand, others, such as peridot and amethyst, offer more affordable options without compromising on beauty. Understanding the relative value of birthstones helps in making informed choices.
What month has the most expensive birthstone?
April has the most expensive birthstone, which is diamond. June is also one of the most expensive birthstone months because it has alexandrite and pearl, which are both expensive naturally-occurring birthstones.
Are birthstones expensive?
irthstones vary greatly in price. While some, like diamonds and emeralds, command exceptionally high prices due to their rarity and demand, others, such as peridot and amethyst, offer more affordable options without compromising on charm. Understanding the value of different birthstones helps in making informed choices for personal jewelry or as a thoughtful gift.
