Forum Ranks

[zuriatman]

Hi,
I need a little help. I am going to use gemstones for my forum ranks and I am not sure which gemstone is more valuable than the other.
Is there any expert on precious stones, who could rearrange the following list for me, from the cheapest to the most valuable stones.
1. Moonstone
2. Peridote
3. Kunzite
4. Jade
5. Beryl Morganite
6. Ametrine
7. Andalusite
8. Alexanderite
9. Opal
10. Amethyst
11. Aquamarine
12. Tourmaline
13. Diopside
14. Citrine
15.Sapphire
16. Garnet
17. Topaz
18. Ruby
19. Emerald
20. Diamond
Your help will be appreciated.
Thank you.

[Karen Mac]

Hmm.. I would guess it would depend where you are dear.. but a Diamond is a girls best friend...followed by rubies, emeralds, saphires, topaz, garnet, amethyst, opals, jade... all the rest i think are semi precious and are more localized.

Karen

[Vasili]

Don't mind Karen ... she must not have many baubles! LOL

Fifteen years ago, there was still a division between Precious and Semi-Precious gemstones.
Nowadays, however, with so many more people in the world with a never-decreasing desire for beautiful jewelry and an ever more precarious supply being produced, the lines have been blurred and many once semi-precious gems can now honestly be considered "precious" based on a number of factors:
1. Rarity - is the specimen of singular quality, size, or specifc color?
2. Availability - i.e. tanzanite prices quadrupled 1999-2003 only because the civial wars prevented supply making it to the markets (no one wanted to support rebels)
3. Purity - is the specimen of significant purity as to contribute exponentially to Quality?
...and so on. The key concept here is that gems are now being FIRST considered as "specimens" rather than with the cavilier familiarity once held, and this puts everything into play.

This being said, there will always be the prestige of The Trinity: Diamonds, Rubies, and Emeralds. Sapphire comes in very close and above the remaining, but there are too many colors, and too much treatment to set a true quality standard, so it defaults back to the "specimen" perspective.

OK....want MY list, with #1 being the top in value and prestige?
1, Diamond
2. Ruby
3. Emerald

4. Sapphire
5. Tanzanite (the new stone for December, BTW, replacing Blue Zircon and the later substitute, Blue Topaz)
6. Alexandrite
7. Aquamarine
8. Opal
9. Jade
10. Tourmaline
11. Chrome Diopside (a type of tourmailine)
12. Precious & Imperial Topaz (only)
13. Andicalite
14. Andalusite
15. Spassertite
16. Morganite
17. Amethyst
18. Kunzite (the CA gemstone)
19. Garnet
20. Peridot
21. Iolite
22. Citrine
23. Amertine
24. Topaz (white, blue, champagne)
25. Zircon (natural)

So .... don't take my opinion as to rank, as they all fluctuate regularly according to the market. Just remember that every gem is now prized as a "specimen" and thus each time you are in front of one may be the last time you get to see it, let alone possess it!

[zuriatman]

Great!

Thank you Karen and Thank you Vasili for your list.

I will use it as a guide for my forum ranks.

Cheers.

[Vasili]

Whoops! #13 is supposed to be spelled Indicalite .....

[Karen Mac]

LOL.. Eric hasnt seen my baubles.. My husband used to say that if the plane i was on would ever get hijacked theyd be cutting my fingers off for the BLING..lol.. diamonds .. rubies, saphires and opals.. and opals and opals and opals..lol cuz thats my birthstone.. and those JEWELERS like Eric keep telling me that you cant wear opals.. i have them on all the time...for over 15 years some of them..lol

Karen

[zuriatman]

Thanks Vasili, the correction is noted.

Karen dear,

Here is a Black Opal for you. Happy Birthday.

[Karen Mac]

LOL.. Thank you.. ill save it for October!

Karen

[zuriatman]

Thank you both of you.

I love my forum ranks they are sparklers!