Regarded as coveted treasures, gemstones take millions of years to form and have been sought after by humankind since ancient times. As a third-generation manufacturing jeweller, DeGem has been setting the pace in sourcing precious gemstones directly from the mines, ensuring the highest quality materials are acquired at optimal prices. Notably, some of their selected rare pieces can even be found in auctions worldwide.
Out of the hundred identified stones, diamonds are deemed the most precious. Natural diamonds originated deep within the Earth’s surface more than a billion years ago, formed under extreme temperatures exceeding 1,150°C and pressures 45,000 times greater than sea level. Today, natural diamonds are mined in countries such as Russia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Canada and Australia. Although natural and lab-grown diamonds can look identical to consumers, trained gemmologists and advanced equipment can detect subtle differences in their growth structures.
However, certain gemstones are even more scarce, making them incredibly valuable and potentially worth more than a diamond. Due to the finite supply of genuine stones, holding on to higher quality specimens of colour, clarity, carat and cut can lead to their appreciation in value over time. Padparadscha sapphires are among the rarest and highly cherished gemstones found on Earth. Taken from the Sinhalese word for aquatic lotus blossom, Padparadscha sapphires are recognised for their pink and orange hues, reminiscent of a sunset. Mined predominantly in Sri Lanka and Tanzania, these sapphires can be priced up to several thousand dollars per carat. Meanwhile, the value of the finest rubies is largely determined by its colour, ranging from pinkish red or purplish red shades to fiery red tones. As opposed to diamonds, untreated rubies can command an increase in value quicker, especially in larger carat sizes. In today’s market, the merit of both sapphires and rubies has surged significantly as the industry sees a decline in their mining production.
Generally depicted as ‘emerald by day, ruby by night’, Alexandrite is a costly gem known for its colour shift from bluish-green in daylight to purplish-red under incandescent light. It was uncovered less than two centuries ago in the emerald mines near the Tokovaya River in Russia’s Ural Mountains, and was given its name after Czar Alexander II during his coming-of-age ceremony in the early 1830s. A top-grade Alexandrite can be priced at three to four times greater than a colourless diamond. Similarly, emeralds have been dubbed the ‘Jewellery of Kings’ as Egyptians would use it for both jewellery and royal burials for protection, dating all the way back to 330BC. Characterised by its intense green or bluish-green shades, finding a pristine raw emerald can be challenging due to its intrinsic defects.
Finally, the Paraíba tourmaline is compounded by the limited number of mines compared with other gemstones, and are found in deposits across Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. Thus, the pricing is largely influenced by the geographic origin of the stone, making provenance a crucial factor. They are also known to have red colour components due to chemical elements like manganese—skilled cutters will employ heat treatment to remove these crimson bits to enhance its pure blue aspects. Buyers who invested in this gemstone during the late 1980s have reaped substantial returns, as prices have skyrocketed several times since then.
DeGem’s commitment to securing some of the rarest and most valuable gemstone echoes through centuries of admiration for these singular finds. With more than four decades in jewellery manufacturing, DeGem continues to uphold its reputation for prime craftsmanship by offering discerning collectors access to nature’s finest creations that transcend time and trends.
Lead image: Precious gemstone rings by DeGem, including (from left to right) Tsavorite Garnet, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Paraiba Tourmaline, Emerald and Alexandrite.
