Not only are they the most concentrated form of wealth and beauty on the planet, they tell a story millions of years old. Gemstones have been used for adornment since man began. The word gemstone translates to an inorganic and precious stone usually cut, polished and set into jewellery and worn for its durability, rarity and beauty. A gemstone should really possess these features, especially diamond, to be high value.

As a lecturer on the topic of corundum – sapphire and ruby I am a little biased when it comes to recommending a gemstone with durability, rarity and beauty. This gemstone, especially sapphire can be found in virtually every colour of the rainbow, is next hardest on the scale after diamond and has some of the most vibrant colours you will see in any gemstone.

If I was to categorise gemstones in groups of highest value at the top it would include:

Coloured diamonds
White diamonds

Ruby & sapphire
Emerald
Aquamarine
Jade

Tanzanite
Tourmaline
Garnet

Peridot
Topaz
Amethyst

Hardness of a gemstone is very important, especially when it is to be worn in a ring, more so in consideration of how it will be worn and maintained going forward.
MOHs scale of hardness is very useful when considering a type of gemstone you would love to wear:

“A diamond is forever”
This commonly used phrase is justified. Why? Diamond is the hardest substance on earth and frequently used for wedding jewellery for this reason. If treated reasonably well diamond will look as beautiful as it is when it was purchased in a piece of jewellery in 50 years time.