“Diamonds are among the rarest gemstones on Earth.”

The terms "gem" and "gemstone" mean any mineral or organic material (e.g., pearl and petrified wood) used for personal adornment, display, or object of art because it possesses beauty, rarity, and durability. Of the 2,700 mineral species, only about 100 possess all these attributes.

A precious gemstone has beauty, durability, and rarity, whereas a semiprecious gemstone has only one or two of these qualities. A gem is a gemstone that has been cut and polished. Diamond, corundum (ruby and sapphire), beryl (emerald and aquamarine), topaz, and opal are generally classed as precious stones.

Yet diamonds are very rare because the mantle has a relatively low abundance of carbon. Furthermore, diamonds are far from evenly distributed throughout the earth—they are found in mineable quantities only in very unique geologic settings.

Diamonds may not be as rare as once believed, but this finding in a new Johns Hopkins University research report won't mean deep discounts at local jewelry stores. "Diamond formation in the deep Earth, the very deep Earth, may be a more common process than we thought," said Johns Hopkins geochemist Dimitri A. Sverjensky.

In terms of its natural abundance on earth, diamond is a relatively rare mineral. Prospectors and geologists who make a career searching for diamond deposits tend to come up dry. Furthermore, only about one-third of the 110–130 million carats of diamond mined each year is actually of gem quality, with larger and higher-clarity diamonds being the scarcest.

Today, many diamonds are both widely available and very affordable. Yet large, fine-quality diamonds with high clarity and good color are still quite rare. Red diamonds, green diamonds and blue diamonds with medium to dark tones and moderate saturation are extremely rare.

Hidden deep in Myanmar's metamorphic rocks lies Painite — a gemstone so rare, only a few hundred exist on Earth. Red Beryl, found almost exclusively in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah, is over 1,000 times rarer than diamond, with an estimated one gem-quality crystal for every 150,000 diamonds mined.

All gem-quality materials are rare. They compose just a tiny fraction of the Earth. However, diamonds actually number among the most common gems. Our current knowledge of gem formation indicates that diamonds are likely the most common gem in nature.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover ten gemstones that are actually rarer than diamonds, each with its own fascinating characteristics and history. Benitoite exceeds diamond's rarity as well as its "fire" or dispersion, combined with its often sapphire-blue color.

The country that produces the most diamonds is Russia, with 113,600 thousand carats produced between 2016 and 2020. This large amount translates to 22,720 kilograms worth of diamonds, for a more direct comparison to the other many other gemstones on the list.

Diamonds only form under very specific conditions, which are extreme heat and pressure 90–150 miles beneath Earth's surface. For them to reach the surface, rare kimberlite and lamproite volcanic eruptions must occur, geological events that are extremely uncommon in Earth's history. This scarcity ensures that natural diamonds remain among the most precious gemstones in existence.

Compared to other precious gemstones like emerald, sapphires and rubies, diamonds are actually quite plentiful. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) released a study stating that an estimated quadrillion tons of rough diamonds lie deep below the Earth's surface.

While diamonds are often considered the standard of precious stones, there are others that are far rarer. Red Beryl, another rare beauty, is estimated to be 1,000 times rarer than diamonds, with most specimens coming from a single location in Utah.

Diamonds are not the rarest or most valuable gems. Most diamonds produced are not jewelry-grade diamonds. While high-quality, jewelry-grade diamonds are certainly valuable, there are many other gemstones like red beryl and tanzanite that are more valuable than diamonds.

While a 5 carat diamond ring or flawless engagement ring can fetch a fortune, some gemstones outprice even the priciest GIA certified stones. Alexandrite, for example, with its limited deposits, is rarer than lab grown diamonds.

Red Beryl: This is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth. It is found in only a few locations in Utah and New Mexico. It requires a specific volcanic environment called a rhyolite flow.

The truth is, diamonds are not rare in the sense that De Beers — the creator of the campaign — made them out to be so many years ago. In fact, diamonds aren't even the rarest of the gemstones. Gemstones that are rarer than diamonds include rubies, emeralds, and sapphires because they are harder to find.

Diamonds are valued and prized for their rarity, but they aren't the rarest gemstones in the world. There are several gemstones that are even rarer. Only one crystal of red beryl exists for every 150,000 diamonds.

The funny thing is that Diamonds aren't actually that rare as a gem material (there are rare Diamonds though!) and there are many other gemstones that are a lot rarer, so let's take a look at what these rare gems are… Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Spinel, Black Opal, Paraiba Tourmaline, Tsavorite Garnet, Alexandrite, Tanzanite, Jadeite, Padparadscha Sapphire, Demantoid Garnet are all rarer.

Red Beryl (Bixbite) – Rarer than Diamonds. This gemstone stands immensely rare because it exists 8,000 times more scarce than diamonds. Scientists regard Painite as the most scarce mineral ever found on our planet.

There are only four gemstones considered to be truly precious: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. When these stones were first categorized, it was mainly due to the rarity and the value of the 4 precious stones versus the rest.

Although the popularity of the diamond is well known, a vast array of other gems are much more rare and pricier per carat. Tanzanite... is one thousand times rarer than a diamond.

Red beryl, sometimes called bixbite, is far rarer than diamonds. Its deep red hue and limited supply make it one of the world's priciest gemstones per carat.