Diamonds and rubies are both sought-after in the jewelry and gemstone world, but which is rarer?
Rubies are considerably rarer than diamonds but only in gem-quality form. The mineral that comprises rubies, sapphires, and emeralds is more common, but it’s the deep red shade a ruby comes in that is rarer. They’re much less common in jewelry than diamonds, which are always readily available.
Read on to learn more about rubies and diamonds, and the rarity scale of both.
Rare Rubies Rule
Rubies are often intensely sought-after in the jewelry world, owing to their deep red shade and incredible toughness. On the scale used to determine the hardness of a material, rubies fall just behind diamonds.
The nature of their occurrence contributes massively to their rarity. While there’s apparently no shortage of average, smaller gems, the larger and finer-quality variants are tougher to come by.
Reportedly, the history of the ruby stretches back thousands of years. They were allegedly thought to protect brave and ancient warriors in battle, being used as talismans.
The ‘top three’ colored stones are all formed in an extremely similar way. Their base is comprised of corundum, which is then colored one of three ways: green, blue, or red.
However, rubies are considered the most precious of these three. They command a higher price-per-carat than any other gem, beating emeralds and sapphires almost effortlessly.
You’ll often see rubies forming the centerpiece of an item of jewelry, flanked by crystal-clear diamonds. It’s certainly nowhere near as common to see a large diamond surrounded by smaller colored gemstones, though.
While rubies command a higher price-per-carat, they don’t make up the most expensive jewels in the world. This accolade is reserved almost exclusively for diamonds.
That’s not to say that there aren’t some dramatically expensive rubies, though.
In 2015, an incredible ring featuring a massive Burmese ruby and diamonds was sold at auction for over thirty million dollars. This piece set the world record for the value of a Burmese ruby, which are considered some of the scarcest and finest.
The toughness of a ruby means these items of jewelry will remain durable for many years to come.
Dominant Diamonds
Diamonds might be dramatically valuable, but that’s not because of their rarity. The gemstone that is a diamond is beaten in rarity by rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
They’re often much more expensive because of their beauty, size, or coloring. In 2020, a single carat diamond was estimated to be worth anywhere from two to fifteen thousand dollars.
There have been many famous diamonds in the history of the jewelry world. They’ve consistently made headlines owing to their deeply unique appearances or the massive cost they command.
Quite possibly the most famous jewel in the world is the Hope Diamond. The history of this single gemstone can be traced back almost four hundred years.
It’s had a tumultuous and complex life, being passed from pillar to post and traveling from country to country. It first entered records in France, then traveled to the United Kingdom, then the United States.
The infamous gem has resided in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC since 1958. Ultimately, the jewel has an estimated value of a quarter of a billion dollars.
Another famous diamond is the Koh-i-Noor, one of the largest cut diamonds in the world. It currently sits as part of the British Crown Jewels, with its true value being unknown.
However, estimates give this jewel a value of around half a billion dollars.
There isn’t another jewel variant in the world that can compete with these values. That is, except for the Bahia Emerald, the largest in the world with a value of around a billion dollars.
We recently discussed the Bahia Emerald and its value in another article.
These days, diamonds are the most popular gemstone in the world. They are more readily available than any other jewel, but they still command a considerable price.
They can be found in around thirty-five countries in the world. The most common countries that produce gem-quality diamonds are South Africa, Russia, and Botswana.
However, if you’d like to try and find some diamonds for yourself without leaving the country, you can travel to Arkansas. There’s a site called the Crater of Diamonds, and the public is permitted to search for diamonds here.
It’s a volcanic source and one of the only places in the world where the general public can look for diamonds. There are numerous rocks, minerals, and gems to be found here, and you can take away whatever you find.