Next to diamond, next most valued stone???

Hi.
Next to a diamond, what's the next most expensive/valued stone?

On Thu, 03 Jun 2004 19:06:34 -0700, in rec.crafts.jewelry "Lawrence"
wrote:

Hi.
Next to a diamond, what's the next most expensive/valued stone?

Your post appears to start from an incorrect assumption, that being that
diamond is the most valuable gem. This is incorrect in a couple significant
ways.

First, and this applies to all gems, you cannot just put gems in a universal
order of value, since for any given gem, some will be exceptionally fine and
valuable, while others will not be. You can get diamonds which are very very
costly, and you can get some that are dirt cheap. meanwhile, you can get some
varieties of stone that ordinarily are quite cheap, but in the finest examples,
can run a lot of money.

Second, is just the assumption that diamond is generally more valuable than
other stones. it IS costly, indeed, but it is neither the rarest, nor the most
costly of the gems by any means. What it MAY well be, is the most costly of
the gems that are widely available in large quantities. Diamond, while not
exactly so common that you can pick it up in your back yard, is nevertheless
found on literally every continent in the world, and is mined, worldwide, in
very large amounts. Consider, if it's so rare, why is it that every jeweler
has hundreds or thousands of the things, far more than any other gem in most
cases. And it's one of the few gems that is so available that prices are
almost predictable as a commodity sort of thing, rather than being like most
gems, much more variable depending on supply and demand, location, who's
selling, etc. Many of the fine and desireable colored gems are far rarer than
is diamond. Some of the most valuable gems are indeed valuable simply because
they are exceedingly rare, but the public doesn't hear as much about them,
simply because the stones are so rare that the public doesn't see them for sale
often, if even at all.

Compare, if you wish, the prices of really top quality alexandrite, or really
top quality ruby, with that of diamonds of similar quality, and you'll usually
find those two colored stones to be priced higher, if you can even find them
offered for sale at all. Exceptional quality fine emeralds and a small number
of other stones may also quite substantially exceed the prices of diamonds in
some cases. The same can be easily said if one considers the special cases of
fancy colored diamonds, which are priced totally differntly from the usual
color range offered. Some of the fancy colors of diamond found in nature are
so rare that few ever see a fine specimin.in person. Some of these types
really should be treated as seperate classes of gems than the usual range of
diamond, and some of them have been among the most costly gems ever sold. But
as with the very rare fine qualities of other stones like ruby or emerald, it
becomes difficult to give an exact price figure, since with most very fine and
rare gems, the price will depend on highly subjective factors, and one needs to
really judge each individual gem on its' own merits. Putting them in a list
that catagorically states that such and such a gem type is more valuable than
some other, is too often just not predictable or correct.

Peter

Lawrence wrote:

Hi.
Next to a diamond, what's the next most expensive/valued stone?

And what makes you think that a diamond is the most expensive/valued stone.

Besides comparing precious stones to each other by price and perceived value is
like comparing apples to oranges. A fruitless endeavor.
--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

Lawrence wrote:

Hi.
Next to a diamond, what's the next most expensive/valued stone?

Oh, I forgot. If you really want to make this silly comparison, I challenge
you
to find a very fine Alexandrite in any size and see if you can get it for less
than a diamond. Any diamond currently available on the open market.
--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

like comparing apples to oranges. A fruitless endeavor.

lol