What are the Most Expensive Birthstones?

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If you’re in the market for a birthstone necklace cheap, you need to have an idea about the most expensive gemstone, as well as the most expensive birthstone per carat. Today’s blog will also give you some information about the different birthstones per month.

Table of Contents

The Most Expensive Gemstones

Blue Diamond

Topping our list of the priciest gemstones, as well as the most expensive birthstone per carat, is the regal and unbeatable Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond.

Birthstone price

A Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong sold a five-carat ring for $13.83 million; bring up the carat value of this particular blue diamond to $2.766 million.

But mind you, the blue diamond isn’t alone (not by a long shot) in bringing in top value during auctions. In the mixed gemstone category, we have to mention a unique diamond and pearl pendant from the historic collection of Marie Antoinette. This dazzling pendant was from the eighteenth century, which makes it a ‘reasonable buy’ for $36.17 million.

Garnet

Birthstone price

A pair of Wallace Chan garnet earrings with jade and diamond pendants fetched a hefty $87,698 in another auction. A 1915 Cartier amethyst necklace set with other precious stones like turquoise and diamond fetched double ($161,491), proving that multi-stone constructions will eventually bring in more value especially as the age of the pieces.

This particular piece of jewelry was taken from the collection of the Duchess of Marlborough. For those born in March, hold on to your aquamarine jewelry because a pair of earrings dubbed the Charlize sold for an amazing $199,078. The pair was crafted by Cartier and is one of the most valuable pendant earrings ever made.

Emerald

Birthstone price

The emerald, birthstone of May, can sell for more than a million dollars as proven by the sale of an 1820 diamond and emerald necklace. The said necklace was actually from the Order of the Saint-Esprit, and it sold for more than $1.6 million in Geneva. For those born in July, your fiery birthstone ruby has been selling quite well for years. Proof of this is the recent auction of a mind-boggling, 24.70-carat ruby ring for $11 million.

Ruby

ruby

Birthstone price

This brings rubies to an average range of $445,000/carat. The peridot, which is the birthstone of August, also created a buzz when a multi-gemstone construction (a pendant necklace) called Maia commanded a stunning $103,521 in a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. The said necklace was also set with coral, onyx, and a diamond sautoir.

If you were born in September, don’t be lonesome, because sapphire can be just as luxurious and expensive as rubies and pearls.

A Cartier exceptional sapphire ring sold for a luminous $3.8 million in Geneva, making the ring one of the most expensive single-stone constructions in the world.

November’s citrine can also be exceptional, as a uniquely designed dress necklace made with fine gold fetched a nice sum of $262,269 in Geneva, too.

Further reading: What is the Rarest Birthstone?

Birthstones by Month

January – Garnet

The birthstone for January is the garnet, which usually comes in a nice, burgundy color. Garnets come in a variety of colors, from violet-red (as in the rhodolite garnet of Sri Lanka) to deep, scintillating green (like the Tsavo garnet that was found in a national park in Tanzania). Garnet is associated with inner guidance and illumination.

February – Amethyst

February’s birthstone is amethyst, which comes in many hues of reds and purples. It is a precious stone that has been omnipresent in many eras of human history. In modern times, amethyst is sourced from Brazil mainly. This birthstone is a protective ward and is also said to be effective in warding off the effects of intoxication.

March – Aquamarine

Those born in March have aquamarine as their birthstone. The name itself is derived from the Latin word that refers to seawater.

This is self-explanatory as aquamarine has an ethereal blue color that rivals the natural brilliance of clear seawater. Aquamarine is associated mainly with courage during seafaring and protection from mishaps and accidents during travel at sea.

April – Diamond

April’s birthstone is the diamond, which is considered a woman’s best friend. The white diamond is well-known, but there are other hues and colors available. Fancy color diamonds can be very pricey due to their rarity. Diamonds are associated with being mentally and physically balance, and abundance. Diamonds are also thought to bring strength and determination to their wearers.

May – Emerald

The amazing emerald is the birthstone of May. It comes in different shades of green, with various levels of transparency and translucence, too. Generally speaking, you can expect lots of visible lines throughout emerald crystals. Emeralds are mainly used to attract wealth, luck, and abundance. In ancient times, the Egyptians also associated emeralds with rebirth.

June – Pearl/Alexandrite

The birthstone of June is the pearl and the alexandrite.

Natural pearls are quite expensive and they’re rare especially if you’re looking for perfectly round pearls.

Alexandrite is another birthstone associated with June, and it’s notable for reflecting light differently depending on the level of lighting available in the room. Again, Brazil takes the lead for alexandrite production.

July – Ruby

The fiery ruby is the birthstone of those born in June. It is associated with passion and love, many people give ruby jewelry to their significant others as a sign of their tender love and care for these people. Rubies are mined all over the world, from Thailand to the Eastern region of Africa. The ruby is considered “The King of Gemstones”.

August – Peridot

Peridot is an extremely pretty birthstone associated with August that has a nice, green color that’s different from emeralds. It is considered a spiritual protector and may be worn to protect the wearer from evil spirits and intentions.

September – Sapphire

The lovely sapphire is the birthstone of September and can come from a variety of regions, including Kashmir and the mystic Sri Lankan mines. Sapphire comes in different hues and structurally, is a relative of the ruby. Sapphire symbolizes a lot of things, from protection from different kinds of poisons to inner strength.

October – Opal/Tourmaline

Opal and tourmaline are associated with October. These gemstones are spiritually intense and have been prized for centuries. The opal, particularly, was beloved by the royalty of colonial times.

November – Topaz

Topaz comes in multiple colors, but the yellow-born variant is most common and is also the most easily recognizable. It is a silicate type of gemstone, and the physical crystal structure creates possibilities of color variations for this gemstone. Topaz symbolizes wealth and abundance.