The World of Rare Stones: Painite is the World's Rarest Gem
The world's rarest gem is believed to be painite, a gem that most have never even heard of. Rarity does not equate to beauty in gems, however. The painite is an orangish or reddish brown, with the brown tint coming from iron in the crystal. It was first discovered in Burma in the 1950s and was widely considered to be the rarest of all gems, with only two faceted crystals in existence. Within the last couple of years, however, the source of the original painite crystals was discovered, and now a few hundred faceted stones exist.A more widely recognized (but still very rare) gem is the red diamond. There are many more red diamonds available than some other rare gems, but very large red diamonds are extremely rare. The largest cut natural red diamond may be the one owned by Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd, a 5.11 carat trillion cut.
The rare blue diamond, made famous by the Hope Diamond, gets its deep blue color from traces of boron in the stone. It is a natural blue diamond, in contrast with most of today's blue diamonds, which are turned from clear to blue with a process involving irradiation and heat.
The Hope Diamond was believed to be originally over 112 carats, but was poorly cut. It was recut in the 1600's, resulting in a stone just over 67 carats. It changed hands many times, and got its name from Henry Philip Hope, who acquired the diamond in 1839. After it changed hands a few more times, the Hope Diamond came to rest in the care of the Smithsonian, and now weighs over 45 carats.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
WASCO2150 Jan 31st 2008 2:32PM
I thought that a 3 caret Alexandrite was more valuable than
a red diamond
Mea Jan 31st 2008 3:53PM
Not that I am going to be out buying any of these, but in most cases who would know that your colored stone is an expensive colored diamond and not some other stone? The big push around here is for the chocolate diamond. Do you have to tell people it is a diamond and not some old brown gem?
Molly Jan 31st 2008 4:21PM
Exactly! I have a Russian demantoid garnet with horsetail inclusions, which is one of the rarest garnets (it is green) and the inclusions make it more valuable. I took it to have it set in a ring, and the jeweler marked it a a peridot. I guess if you've never see one and don't test it for it's chemical composition, you say it is what you think it is. So is it a chocolate diamond or a smokey quartz?
Tracy Coenen Jan 31st 2008 4:14PM
The best way to be assured that you're buying what you think you're buying... is to buy from a reputable jeweler with a certified appraiser on staff. Make sure they give you paperwork that details what you're buying, so that if you would later take the item to an independent appraiser and find that it's not what they said it was, you would have some recourse.
L. Civitello Jan 31st 2008 4:20PM
Never heard of red diamond? What do you think the movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo di Caprio, was about?
Sue Jan 31st 2008 4:38PM
Umm, Blood Diamond is about the blood shed in Sierra Leone and other near by countries to buy weapons and support warring factions using the diamonds mined in the area. The diamonds are not red. The blood is. Might try reading a movie review.
Toni Feb 3rd 2008 11:13AM
"Blood Diamonds" are not red! This was and is a term for diamonds that have been in countries where genocide was occurring and smuggled to other African countries, determined to be "free" countries, therefore "free" diamonds. It has nothing to do with the color.
nashvill69 Feb 22nd 2008 11:51AM
NO! THE MOVIE BLOOD DIAMONDS IS ATRUE STORY ABOUT during Sierra Leone's bloody civil war in 1999, a smuggler who sells "blood" diamonds used to finance terrorists. whose son has been forced into a child amy and the world's major diamond centers. And we still have blood diamond in some of out major high end stores. that why you sould always ask the store who supples them there diamonds. because i don't want a ring on my hand that someone else die over just from minning it. but this is a way of life for us over there. that's why i am glad i am safly here.
Suzanne Mar 4th 2008 11:54PM
"Blood Diamonds" are not red! This was and is a term for diamonds that have been in countries where genocide was occurring and smuggled to other African countries, determined to be "free" countries, therefore "free" diamonds. It has nothing to do with the color.
However, there are "real" Red diamonds ... they are rare and VERY valuable.
Sarah Jan 31st 2008 4:56PM
A brown diamond is worthless in the real world of jewelry, and they are very common. Unless you have one that is over three carats and immaculately cut, you won't even be able to pawn it.
Tracy Coenen Jan 31st 2008 5:18PM
A brown diamond is worthless UNLESS you know how to market it! Justine Simmons (Rev Run's wife) was recently developing a line of jewelry with BROWN SUGAR... their marketing spin on brown diamonds. That could sell if the marketing folks do their jobs!
nashvill69 Feb 22nd 2008 12:11PM
MAY I ASK WHERE YOU GOT YOUR INFORMATION FROM. I HAVE EVERY COLOR DIAMOND THERE IS UPTO THIS DATE AND ALL HAVE $$$$ APPRAIRAL VALUE FROM THEM. I CAN PAWN THEM AND OVER $1000.00 FOR ANY OF THEM AT ANY TIME.
jeff Jan 31st 2008 5:16PM
that's all nice and good...but... the "star of India" stolen back in 1964...could of been mine today... my uncle, roger clark, was one of the jewel thiefs who stole it...
kevhead Jan 31st 2008 6:26PM
I once took a cigar from my dad, who said he took it from his dad, who said he took it from Al Capone ?
Lois Jan 31st 2008 5:46PM
First, Molly, if your jeweler thought your demantoid garnet was peridot, I would find a new jeweler.
...and Second, brown diamonds are getting a bad name and it's a shame. The 4 C's apply to this stone too. Unfortunately, there are tons of crumby stones out there. Mine, while only a carat is as sparkly and beautiful as any white diamond but with added interest. For color it would be categorized as cognac and clarity is excellent plus it was cut well. I love white diamonds, but this one is special and didn't cost any where near as much as it's pale cousin.
Linda Jan 31st 2008 7:37PM
I own several pieces that contain colored diamonds. All of them have been artifically color enhanced except for those that are in the brown tones.
The brown stones are beautiful. That is because they are stones of quality. They are properly cut, have high clarity ratings, and are very refractory. I do not think a color rating is given to a stone that is brown. Color ratings apply to white stones.
Brown stones that do not meet the quality standards necessary for jewelry are used for industrial tasks, as are white diamonds of equal quality.
Pat Amundson Jan 31st 2008 7:11PM
Coffee, tea and champagne colored diamonds are certainly brown tone and they can be pricey, even if they're not 3 carats. My mother had a fetish for the colored stones and they were appraised (and the appraiser offered to buy them!) for a price much higher than a clear or brilliant diamond. Pat
Linda Jan 31st 2008 7:15PM
Just learned, I was wrong. There are color ratings for colored stones.
MANDY Jan 31st 2008 8:32PM
have been buying gem stones for years. currently have black, blue,red, champagne, candlelight and good old white diamonds. any doubt just go buy a diamond tester. paid $59.99 for mine and it workes just fine. also have pariba tourmaline and alexandrite to name a few in my collection.
nashvill69 Feb 22nd 2008 12:10PM
I AM WITH YOU I LOVE MY COLLECTION ALSO. I BUY GEM STONE IN "GEM STONE LOTS" AND MAKE MY OWN JEWERLY. AND IT IS A LOT OF FUN. I THINKS THAT I MAY HAVE JUST ABOUT GEM STONE THERE IS UNDER THE SUN. I TELL MY HUSBAND THAT I AM A GEM STONE BILLIONARI