Discovering the largest, most expensive and exceptionally rare gemstones
How about discovering the 5 largest gemstones ever discovered? These are exceptionally rare stones that even the billionaires of this world can't afford. As Elizabeth Taylor so aptly put it: " Since the gems aren't ours, we can only admire them ."
The “Star of Adam” or the blue star sapphire
The largest sapphire in the world was discovered in 2016 in Sri Lanka. It weighs 1,404 carats . What makes this gemstone so special? The sapphire reflects the image of a 6-pointed star when exposed to light. Hence its name " Star of Adam." Its value ranges between $100 million and $300 million. An expensive sapphire that remains a dream for all jewelry enthusiasts, whether it's designer or second-hand jewelry. In fact, its value increased significantly when Kate Middleton showed off her royal ring: a jewel set with a 12-carat blue sapphire .
The "Guinness Emerald" or the emerald holding a world record
Extracted from the Coscuez mine in Colombia, this 1,759-carat emerald is owned by Fura Gems. It's the largest uncut gemstone on earth, so it's only natural that it's entered into the Guinness Book of Records. Its value? $500 million once cut and polished. And guess what? The Guinness Emerald is only part of the 10% of the extraction made from the Coscuez mine. There's a very good chance that other colossal emeralds are still buried there. While waiting for its future owner, the Guinness Emerald is kept at the Banco Nacional de Colombia.
The “Chaiyo Ruby”: the mysterious ruby
Emerging from the earth of a mine in South Asia, this ruby named Chaiyo weighs around 109,000 carats , the weight of an 8-year-old child. This precious stone is worth around 448 million dollars. At present, the whereabouts of this stone are unknown. According to some rumors, the Chaiyo was in a safe in Laos before disappearing in 2000. The ruby could currently be in either Myanmar or Thailand. But, whatever the truth, the Chaiyo has entered the legend of the largest, rarest and most beautiful precious stones of the moment.
The “Bahia Emerald”
The Bahia Emerald is the largest emerald ever discovered in a single shard. Its weight? 1.7 million carats (yes, you read that right) . It was mined in Bahia, Brazil. The Bahia Emerald is safely stored in a vault in Los Angeles, USA. Its value is almost $925 million. As for its history, it is shrouded in mystery, like the Chaiyo Ruby. In fact, the emerald was stored in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It was almost swept away by the floodwaters.
It was then stolen and safely stored in a vault in Southern California in 2008. After legal battles to determine the Bahia Emerald's rightful owner, the stone has been in the hands of FM Holdings since 2015. The emerald was then seized by the US courts. When will emerald jewelry be made from the Bahia Emerald? As of 2023, it is still unclear what will become of the gigantic stone.
Also read: The most expensive gemstones in the world
The “Letseng Diamond”
The largest diamond ever discovered to date is none other than the "Letseng Diamond." This magnificent gemstone was extracted from a diamond mine in Lesotho, Africa. Despite its 910 carats (a mere grain of sand compared to others), the Letseng Diamond is highly valued ($400 million to be exact), thanks in part to its purity. Free of nitrogen, this rare diamond shows no impurities to the naked eye.
Precious stones: when rarity turns heads
Through the presentation of these exceptional gems, we realize that beyond their size, their rarity creates many stories, sometimes incredible!
