Mother Gaia has blessed us with a wide variety of rare and beautiful gemstones. These rare gems are scattered worldwide, hidden away, waiting to be found.
From the elusive red diamonds to the ultra-rare painite, some of the rarest and most valuable gemstones feature on our hand-curated list for 2026. Unique colors, patterns, and compositions make these precious stones highly sought after by collectors and investors.
Rather than prolong the suspense any longer, we invite you to join us as we discover the top 10 rarest gems in the world.
World’s Rarest 10 Gemstones: 2026 Edition
Our rare gemstones list features the world’s top 10 rarest and most highly prized gemstones for 2026. These are the most precious gems on Earth, so get ready to be dazzled!
1. Red Diamonds
Red diamond is the rarest type of diamond color and the most precious stone in the world. Just like other diamonds, red diamonds are formed deep underground under extreme conditions of heat and pressure.
These unique gemstones get their color from trace amounts of impurities, such as the element nitrogen. The level of nitrogen determines the depth of color in a red diamond. The rarest and most valuable red diamonds are those with a vibrant, pure red color.
Red diamonds may fetch up to $2 million per carat, making them one of the world’s most costly jewels. The world’s largest and most valuable red diamond is the 5.11-carat Moussaieff Red, which was sold for a record-breaking $8 million in 2001.
The vast majority of red diamonds come from the Argyle mine in Western Australia, the world’s only significant source of these rare gems. Other deposits have been found in Brazil and Africa, but are tiny, with minimal production.
The first recorded red diamond was the 21.25-carat Williamson Red Diamond, found in Tanzania in 1947. In 1954, the 5.03-carat Moussaieff Red diamond was discovered in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. This rare gemstone was purchased by a London jeweler in the early 1960s and sold to Abercrombie & Fitch Co. of New York in 1963.
The Moussaieff Red diamond remained hidden for almost 40 years before it was brought to public attention by its current owners, the Moussaieff jewelry family of Brazil and London.
2. Blue Diamonds
The ultra-luxurious blue diamonds are the second rarest diamonds in the world and some of the rarest, most beautiful, coveted, and most expensive gemstones. Like other diamonds, blue diamonds are also formed in the same way, under the Earth’s surface, under high temperature and pressure conditions.
The blue color in these diamonds is caused by boron impurities. The concentration and distribution of these impurities determine the depth of color in a blue diamond. The most valuable blue diamonds are those with a vivid blue color and very few impurities.
Due to their extreme scarcity, blue diamonds fetch staggering prices—up to $3 million per carat. The world’s largest blue diamond is theGraff Blue, weighing 45.52 carats. This rare gemstone was sold for a record-breaking $23.6 million at an auction in Geneva in November 2010.
Blue diamonds are very rare gems, with the Cullinan mine in South Africa being the only substantial resource in the world. Smaller deposits have been found in Australia, Brazil, and India, but they are minimal, and production is quite limited.
The first blue diamond was found in South Africa in the early 1800s. In 1868, the 28.18-carat Hope Blue diamond was discovered in the Kimberley mines. This rare gemstone was purchased by Henry Philip Hope in 1839 and remained in the Hope family until it was sold in 2001.
In 2008, the 45.52-carat Graff Blue diamond was discovered in the Cullinan mine in South Africa. This rare gemstone was sold at auction for a record-breaking $23.6 million in Geneva in 2010.
3. Painite
You may not have heard of painite before reading this article, as this unique gem is not counted among the popular gemstones. And that is precisely what makes it so rare. Discovered only in the 1950s, this mineral was initially considered a variety of zircon. However, it was later established as a hydroxide of calcium and aluminum.
So, what makes painite gemstones so rare? For starters, painite was first discovered in Myanmar (earlier Burma) by British mineralogist and gemologist Arthur C. D. Pain in the 1950s. Till 1963, only two crystals of this mineral were known to exist. In fact, for 50 years, painite was considered the world’s rarest mineral.
However, things started to change in the early 2000s when a gem-quality painite deposit was discovered in Myanmar. Even today, refining and cutting painite is considered an arduous task, contributing to its exclusivity.
As of now, Myanmar is the only source of painite. This makes it a very rare gemstone, with its price anywhere between $2,000 and $8,000 per carat. So, if you ever come across a painite gemstone, be rest assured that you have found one of the rarest gemstones in the world.
4. Alexandrite
Alexandrite, a precious gem found for the first time in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the 1830s, is one of the rarest of all gemstones. This variety of chrysoberyl is best known for its color-changing ability due to its unique optical and chemical properties.
The most remarkable feature of alexandrite is its color-changing ability. Under natural light, alexandrite appears green, but it changes to red or purple when placed under artificial light. This color-changing ability is a result of its unique optical and chemical properties.
Alexandrite is one of the rarest gems on Earth, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 per carat. The vast majority of alexandrite on the market today comes from Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Smaller deposits have been found in Burma, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Russia.
This rare gemstone was named after Tsar Alexander II, the ruling monarch at the time. Up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, alexandrite was one of Russia’s most sought-after jewels. After that, the production of this rare gemstone declined sharply.
5. Red Beryl
When discussing rare gemstone names, red beryl is sure to come up. The price per carat for this kind of beryl ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, making it one of the world’s rarest and most expensive gemstones.
Red beryl is characterized by its vivid red color, resulting from traces of manganese in the mineral. This rare gem was first discovered in rhyolites, pegmatites, and even certain forms of lava that formed in the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary.
Most red beryl deposits are found in the United States, specifically in Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. Smaller deposits have also been found in Mexico, Brazil, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.
Red beryl was first discovered in 1904 by Maynard Bixby in the Thomas Mountain range of Utah. However, it was in the 1950s that commercial mining of this rare gemstone began. Even today, only a handful of gem-quality red beryl crystals are found each year.
6. Black Opal
We all have heard about opals, right? They are pretty popular gemstones, after all. Did you know, though, that a certain kind of opal is so rare that it ranks among the world’s priciest gems? Black opal it is, ladies and gentlemen!
The dark grey to the black body color of black opal is one of its defining characteristics. This variety of opal gem is found in a number of igneous rocks, such as basalt and andesite.
The vast majority of black opal deposits are found in Australia. In fact, Australia is responsible for producing 97% of the world’s black opal supply. Smaller deposits have also been found in Ethiopia, Honduras, and the United States.
The first black opal was discovered in Lightning Ridge, Australia, in 1872. Nevertheless, the commercial mining of this rare gemstone did not start until the early 1900s. Since then, Lightning Ridge has become Australia’s most influential black opal mining area.
Due to its rarity, black opal is one of the most high-ticket gemstones in the world, with prices ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per carat.
So, if you’re on a hunt for horoscope stones that are also rare, be sure to keep black opal in mind! It just might be the perfect gemstone for you.
7. Jeremejevite
Now, that’s a cool-sounding gemstone name, isn’t it? Jeremejevite (pronounced yer-uh-mey-uh-vite) is a variety of aluminum beryllium silicate characterized by its unique sky-blue color. This rare gemstone is found in a variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as granite and gneiss.
The vast majority of jeremejevite deposits are found in Namibia, with smaller deposits also found in South Africa and Russia.
Jeremejevite was first discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1883 by Peter K. Jeremejev. However, it was in the 1960s that significant deposits of this rare gemstone were found in Namibia.
What makes them one of the rarest gemstones in the world? Well, first of all, jeremejevite is extremely rare. In fact, it is estimated that only a handful of gem-quality crystals are found each year. Secondly, most of the mined jeremejevite is used for industrial purposes and is not suitable for use in jewelry.
So, if you’re looking for a rare and unique gemstone for your collection, jeremejevite is definitely a good option! However, due to its scarcity, this gemstone can be pretty expensive, ranging from $10,000 per carat upwards.
8. Benitoite
Rare blue luxury – that’s what benitoite is! This beautiful blue gemstone is one of the rarest in the world and is only found in a handful of places on Earth. Benitoite is a variety of titanium silicate that is characterized by its unique blue color. This rare gemstone is located in various metamorphic rocks, such as serpentinite.
The vast majority of benitoite deposits are found in San Benito County, California, with smaller deposits also found in Arkansas, Japan, and Russia.
Benitoite was first discovered in San Benito County, California, in 1907 by George D. Louderback. It wasn’t until the 1950s, nevertheless, that the state was able to boast substantial quantities of this rare gemstone.
Costing anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 per carat, benitoite is undeniably one of the world’s highest-priced gemstones. Ouch, that’s a hefty price tag!
Also, did you know that benitoite is the official state gemstone of California? In 1981, the United States Department of the Interior declared benitoite a national natural landmark.
9. Musgravite
Musgravite is a variety of taaffeite that is characterized by its unique green color. This unique gem made it to the rare gemstones list because it is found in only a handful of places on Earth.
Musgravite is formed when magnesium-rich rocks, such as gneiss and schist, are exposed to high temperatures and pressures. This process results in the formation of taaffeite, which is then altered to musgravite.
The vast majority of musgravite deposits are found in Antarctica, with smaller deposits also found in Australia, Greenland, and Russia.
Musgravite was first discovered in 1967 in Musgrave Range, Antarctica, by Tahera Ahmad. However, it was in the 1980s that significant deposits of this rare gemstone were found in the region. The name “musgravite” comes from the Musgrave Ranges in Antarctica, where the gem was first unearthed.
This beautiful gemstone is quite expensive, with prices ranging from a whopping $5,000 to $10,000 per carat.
10. Poudretteite
Did you ever imagine a rarer pink gemstone besides pink diamonds? Well, poudretteite is that gemstone! This beautiful pink gem is one of the rarest in the world and is only found in a handful of places on Earth.
Poudretteite is a variety of boron silicate characterized by its one-of-a-kind pale pink hue. This rare gemstone is found in a variety of metamorphic rocks, such as marble. The vast majority of poudretteite deposits are found in Quebec, Canada, with smaller deposits also found in Burma and the United States.
Poudretteite was first discovered in 1960 in Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, by René Lavoie. Significant concentrations of this rare gemstone were not discovered in the area until the 1980s.
If you’re considering buying this unique gem, be prepared to shell out a pretty penny! Poudretteite, one of the world’s rarest and most valuable gemstones, sells for anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 per carat.
Some World-Famous Rarest Gemstones from The Pages of History
Now, as you already know about some of the rarest gemstones in the world, it’s time to take a look at some of the most famous and historical gems from around the globe that are as rare as a hen’s teeth.
Check them out!
1. The Hope Diamond
One of the world’s most famous and valuable gemstones, the Hope Diamond is a stunning blue diamond currently on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. This rare diamond weighs 45.52 carats. It is estimated to be worth over $250 million.
2. The Regent Diamond
The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, is home to the magnificent blue diamond known as the Regent Diamond, which is also among the world’s most renowned diamonds. Having a weight of 140.64 carats, this very rare diamond is valued at well over a billion dollars.
3. The Sancy Diamond
The Sancy Diamond, a magnificent yellow diamond, is one of history’s most well-known jewels and is presently on exhibit in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Valued at nearly $500 million, this unusual diamond weighs in at 55.23 carats.
4. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
Does this one even need an introduction? The Koh-i-Noor Diamond is a magnificent white diamond that is now exhibited in the Tower of London in England. It’s one of the most well-known gems in the whole world. Valued at almost $1 billion, this rare diamond weighs 105.60 carats.
5. The Hope Spinel
One of the world’s rarest and most valuable gemstones, the Hope Spinel is a stunning pink spinel currently on display at the British Museum in London, England. 118.78 carats and valued over $1 million, this diamond is a true rarity.
These are just a few of the world’s most famous and rare gemstones whose glory and legacy have been cemented in the pages of history.
Who knows, maybe one day you will also discover a rare gemstone, which will be added to this list! Haha, just kidding, but seriously good luck out there!
Which of These Rare Gemstones Names Piqued Your Fancy?
So, now that you’re familiar with the world’s rare gemstones, which of these precious stones most intrigues you?
Do you like the sound of poudretteite, with its pretty pink hue? Or perhaps you’re more drawn to the Hope Diamond, one of the world’s most famous and valuable diamonds?
No matter which of these rare gemstones most catches your fancy, they’re all truly beautiful and unique in their own ways. So, next time someone asks you what the rarest gemstone in the world is, you’ll be able to tell them with confidence!
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