People throughout the ages and from around the world have treasured and valued gemstones of all sizes, shapes, and shades. Gemstones have been used for religious ceremonies, healing acts, and, most popular among today's admirers, as decorative ornaments. Looking at these gorgeous stones, it's not hard to see why they've held their value and attraction for so long. The following is a look at three of the most prized gemstones and the reasons for their value:

The 3 Most Valuable Gemstones

1. Blue Diamonds. You might remember that in the movie Titanic, Rose throws a blue diamond called The Heart of the Ocean overboard. While that specific diamond was fake, it does feature some clear facts about blue diamonds as a whole. First, all blue diamonds are so rare and unique that each cut one has a name. Their blue color happens when a boron atom substitutes carbon within the crystalline lattice and thereby produces the unique blue color transmission and holds that color for over a billion years. It's a big deal whenever a blue diamond comes onto auction and the last one to be sold went for a staggering $14.9 million. 
2. Jadeites. This is a very vivid gemstone that comes out of the jade family of gemstones and can be found in a rich array of colors, including black, red, and yellow. However, the highest gemstone values of jadeite are those with a specific semi-transparent shade of emerald green. Also known as Imperial jade, this gemstone has a high hardness rating on the Mohs scale and true, flawless Imperial jadeite jewelry can fetch prices in the millions per carat. While China tends to buy the most of this gemstone due to its significant role in their culture and history, most of today's Imperial jadeite is mined in Guatemala and California. 
3. Rubies. Rubies come in a wild spectrum of red hues ranging from soft pink to the darkest and richest of reds. They are a variety of the mineral corundum, with their color coming from their chromium and iron content. Uniquely, the trace mineral content and thus the exact hue of any given ruby will largely depend upon the geological formation that created the ruby. This is why many of these gemstones have geological names, such as Burmese ruby, but it also means buyers and sellers should do their research, as these names may indicate where the ruby was sourced or it may simply indicate the ruby's specific color.

Get Your Jewelry Appraised and Know Your Gemstone's Value Today

Are you interested in selling some of your gemstone jewelry? Or maybe you simply want to get an appraisal to know how much your precious gemstone pieces are worth. In any case, our team at Ralph Mueller & Associates is here for you. Our highly trained gemologists will offer appraisals on both certified and non-certified gemstones and we buy all manner of precious gemstones both alone and as pieces within finished jewelry, watches, and other signed pieces. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an in-person or mail-in appraisal.