Gems by Availability
Gemstone types grouped by market availability
Museum Grade Rarity
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanite | Limited Deposits | Rarely seen outside of mineral specimen collections; when available, traded among specialist collectors and museums. |
| Alexandrite | Small Crystal Size | Market supply is driven by gem-quality color-change pieces which appear rarely at auction and through specialist dealers. |
| Benitoite | Limited Deposits | Primarily appears at auction and via specialist dealers; outstanding pieces are directed to museums and high-end collectors. |
| Bixbite | Difficult Mining | Appears only rarely at auction and in specialist dealer lists; demand is driven by collectors and museums. |
| Black Opal | Limited Deposits | Fine black opals trade through specialty dealers and auctions; Lightning Ridge material highly prized. |
| Blue Diamond | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare; traded through elite auction houses; Cullinan mine (South Africa) primary historical source. |
| Clinohumite | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare in gem form; when available, sold through specialist dealers to museums and elite collectors at very high prices. |
| Grandidierite | Limited Deposits | Sporadic offerings to collectors and museums; rarely seen in retail jewelry markets. |
| Green Diamond | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare; traded through elite auction houses; natural vs treated verification critical; museum-quality specimens. |
| Hauyne | Limited Deposits | Extremely limited availability; German Eifel region primary source; trades through specialized collectors and rare gem dealers. |
| Jeremejevite | Limited Deposits | Virtually non-existent in commercial markets; when specimens appear, they're sold to museums and elite collectors through private channels. |
| Musgravite | Limited Deposits | Only a handful of gem-quality stones are traded among elite collectors and auction houses; virtually no mainstream retail presence. |
| Painite | Limited Deposits | Almost exclusively sold to museums and elite collectors when specimens surface; not present in consumer markets. |
| Paraiba Tourmaline | Limited Deposits | Among the most expensive gems per carat; Brazilian material is exceptionally rare with African sources providing limited additional supply through elite dealers. |
| Pezzottaite | Limited Deposits | Extremely limited availability; Madagascar deposit largely exhausted; trades through rare gem specialists. |
| Phosphophyllite | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare from Bolivian tin mines; collector holy grail; too fragile for any wear; museum specimens. |
| Pink Diamond | Limited Deposits | Traded through elite auction houses and private sales; Argyle certified pinks command highest premiums. |
| Poudretteite | Limited Deposits | Virtually unavailable; trades through rare gem specialists; most specimens in museum collections; extremely limited supply. |
| Sapphirine | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare in faceted quality; Madagascar primary source; trades through rare gem specialists; mostly collector specimens. |
| Serendibite | Limited Deposits | Effectively absent from general market; when found, pieces are sold privately or to museums and high-end collectors. |
| Stibiotantalite | Limited Deposits | Extremely rare in faceted quality; Brazil and Mozambique sources; trades through rare gem specialists; primarily collector specimens. |
| Taaffeite | Limited Deposits | Very rare on the open market; top-quality stones appear at specialist auctions and through private sales. |
| Tanzanite | Limited Deposits | Primary market supply comes from Tanzanian mining and licensed wholesalers; fine stones are allocated to top dealers and auctions. |
| Vayrynenite | Limited Deposits | Effectively unknown in commercial markets; extremely rare mineral with virtually no gem-quality material available. |
Collectors Market
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ammolite | Limited Deposits | Available through |
| Axinite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Mexican and Pakistan material valued; collector gem for unique crystal habit. |
| Blue Spinel | Limited Deposits | Cobalt blue spinel commands premium prices; available through specialty dealers and auctions, particularly sought by collectors. |
| Brazilianite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Brazilian material primary source; too soft for rings but collector favorite. |
| Burmese Spinel | Limited Investment | Fine Burmese spinels trade through specialty dealers and auctions; origin commands premium. |
| Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl | Limited Investment | Fine cat's eye chrysoberyl trades through specialty dealers and auctions; quality of chatoyancy greatly affects value. |
| Cerussite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Namibian and Moroccan material most valued; too soft for any wear. |
| Chondrodite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; New York (Tilly Foster) and Finland sources; primarily collector interest for warm orange colors. |
| Chrome Sphene | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Baja California and Pakistan sources; softness limits jewelry use but collector demand strong. |
| Color-Change Garnet | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; strong color change commands premium. |
| Cuprite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; transparent material from Namibia most prized; primarily specimen interest. |
| Demantoid | Limited Deposits | Premium prices and collector demand; offered through high-end dealers and auctions; Russian stones with horsetail inclusions are particularly prized. |
| Dioptase | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; Congo and Arizona material valued; brilliant color but extreme softness. |
| Emerald | Limited Investment | Fine emeralds with good clarity are traded through established dealers and auctions; commercial-grade material with typical inclusions is more commonly available. |
| Euclase | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Brazilian blue material most valued; extreme cleavage creates rarity premium. |
| Hackmanite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Afghan and Myanmar material most valued for strong color change; collector phenomenon gem. |
| Hambergite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Madagascar and Pakistan sources; valued for exceptional brilliance and dispersion. |
| Herderite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Brazil and Maine sources; primarily collector interest for beryllium phosphate rarity. |
| Imperial Topaz | Limited Deposits | Highly prized by collectors; primarily from Brazil (Ouro Preto) and traded through specialty dealers and auctions at premium prices. |
| Jadeite | Limited Investment | Fine jadeite trades through specialty dealers and Asian markets; imperial green commands premium. |
| Kornerupine | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; collector interest for rare mineral. |
| Lepidolite | Limited Deposits | Available through |
| Mahenge Spinel | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers and auctions; Mahenge origin commands significant premium; supply diminishing. |
| Opaque Hauyne | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; opaque material less common than transparent; collector and artisan interest. |
| Padparadscha Sapphire | Limited Deposits | Highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs; appears through specialist dealers and auctions; true unheated specimens command premium prices. |
| Pargasite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Pakistan and Myanmar material valued; primarily collector interest for chrome-rich specimens. |
| Parisite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Colombia and Montana sources; primarily collector interest for rare earth content. |
| Phenakite | Limited Deposits | Fine phenakite trades through specialty dealers and auctions; Russian material most valued; limited mainstream presence. |
| Pollucite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; transparent faceted material very rare; primarily specimen interest. |
| Red Spinel | Limited Investment | Fine red spinel trades through established dealers and auctions; increasingly recognized as a ruby alternative with growing demand. |
| Rhodochrosite | Limited Deposits | Transparent material available through specialty dealers; mostly cabochon grade. |
| Ruby | Limited Investment | High-quality stones trade mainly through established dealers and auction houses; market availability fluctuates by origin and size. |
| Sapphire | Limited Investment | Top-color sapphires are offered intermittently by reputable dealers and auctions; commercial grade material is more commonly found in trade channels. |
| Sphalerite | Fragility | Extremely limited in jewelry markets due to fragility; specimens and small faceted pieces trade among collectors. |
| Sphene | Limited Investment | High-dispersion, collectable gems appear via specialist dealers and auctions; durability limits mainstream jewelry use. |
| Star Ruby | Limited Investment | Fine star rubies trade through specialty dealers and auctions; good red color with sharp star is prized. |
| Star Sapphire | Limited Investment | Fine star sapphires trade through specialty dealers and auctions; quality of asterism greatly affects value. |
| Tanzanian Spinel | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Mahenge hot pink commands premium. |
| Tsavorite | Limited Deposits | Fine tsavorite appears through specialized dealers and high-end jewelers; larger clean stones command significant prices and collector interest. |
| Vietnamese Purple Spinel | Limited Investment | Limited availability through specialized dealers; Vietnamese material highly prized. Growing collector interest but supply remains constrained. |
| Yellow Diamond | Limited Deposits | Available through high-end jewelers and auction houses; vivid colors command significant premiums. |
Limited Supply
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Achroite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; less common than colored tourmalines; collector interest for complete tourmaline series. |
| Amblygonite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Brazilian material primary source; collector interest for phosphate series. |
| Ametrine | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; Bolivian material is standard source. |
| Andalusite | Limited Deposits | Appears sporadically through faceting-grade suppliers; collector interest centers on pleochroic specimens. |
| Andesine | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; treatment disclosure important; collector market cautious. |
| Andradite | Limited Deposits | Most varieties are collector-oriented; demantoid is the primary jewelry variety and trades through specialist channels. |
| Apatite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; too soft for rings. |
| Azurite | Limited Deposits | Available through specimen dealers; primarily collector interest. |
| Beryl | Limited Deposits | Widely available globally; specific varieties (morganite, heliodor) command premiums; generic beryl common. |
| Black Diamond | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; natural black diamonds less common than treated; Carbonado is museum-grade rarity. |
| Boulder Opal | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; matrix provides durability; collector interest. |
| Bytownite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Oregon copper-bearing material commands premium; collector interest. |
| Cassiterite | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; fine faceted material from Bolivia; most material opaque specimens. |
| Charoite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; single-source gem from Siberia. |
| Chrysoberyl | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; cat's eye and alexandrite command significant premiums. |
| Chrysoprase | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; Australian material valued for color. |
| Crystal Opal | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; quality of play of color determines value. |
| Diaspore | Limited Deposits | Marketed as 'Zultanite' or 'Csarite' showing color change; available through specialty dealers, primarily from Turkish deposits. |
| Diopside | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; chrome green popular but soft. |
| Elbaite | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; Brazilian and Afghan material valued; bicolor specimens command premiums. |
| Enstatite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; collector interest. |
| Epidote | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Pakistan and Austria material valued; primarily collector interest. |
| Fire Opal | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; Mexican material with play of color commands premium. |
| Hiddenite | Limited Deposits | Appears sporadically through collector channels and specialty gem dealers; rarely seen in mass retail. |
| Hyalite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; collector interest for fluorescent specimens. |
| Hypersthene | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; primarily collector interest. |
| Idocrase | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; californite variety popular for cabochons; Quebec and California sources. |
| Indicolite | Limited Deposits | Blue tourmaline is desirable and available through gem dealers; finest saturated colors are less common and appeal to collectors. |
| Kunzite | Difficult Mining | Marketed through specialized dealers and gem shows; larger clean crystals are rare and often reserved for collectors. |
| Kyanite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; blue Nepal material most valued. |
| Larimar | Limited Deposits | Available through Caribbean dealers; single-source gem. |
| Malaya Garnet | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; East African material most valued; gaining recognition for unique colors. |
| Mali Garnet | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; collector interest for unique hybrid. |
| Moldavite | Difficult Mining | Available through meteorite and mineral dealers; limited to Czech deposits; popular for metaphysical use and collecting. |
| Oligoclase | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; limited jewelry use; primarily collector interest. |
| Opal | Limited Deposits | Available worldwide; Australia major source for precious opal; requires careful handling due to water content. |
| Opaque Emerald | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; less common than transparent emerald; collector and artisan interest. |
| Orthoclase | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; collector interest for yellow varieties. |
| Petalite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; colorless material from Brazil and Afghanistan; collector interest. |
| Pink Topaz | Limited Deposits | Natural pink topaz is rare and expensive; occasionally available through high-end dealers and auctions as an alternative to imperial topaz. |
| Rubellite | Limited Deposits | True red-pink tourmaline without color shift is sought by collectors; appears through specialty dealers and high-end jewelers. |
| Scapolite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; cat's eye variety rare. |
| Scheelite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; occasionally faceted for collectors; too soft for regular jewelry. |
| Seraphinite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; popular for cabochons and carvings. |
| Sillimanite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Myanmar and Sri Lanka material valued; chatoyant stones command premium. |
| Smithsonite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Kelly Mine (New Mexico) blue material most prized; collector interest. |
| Spessartite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; mandarin orange commands premium. |
| Spinel | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; fine colors from Burma and Tanzania command premiums. |
| Sugilite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; popular for cabochons. |
| Tantalite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; primarily sold as specimens rather than faceted gems due to opacity. |
| Triplite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; Madagascar and Brazil material valued; primarily collector interest. |
| Uvarovite | Limited Deposits | Available as druzy specimens; faceted stones extremely rare. |
| Verdelite | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers and specialty shops; chrome verdelite commands higher prices; Brazilian and African material most common. |
| Vesuvianite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; californite variety popular for cabochons; Quebec and California sources. |
| Watermelon Tourmaline | Limited Deposits | Popular among collectors and designers; available through specialty dealers and gem shows, typically as sliced cross-sections. |
| Xenotime | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; occasionally faceted for collectors; too soft for jewelry. |
| Zoisite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty dealers; green zoisite and pink thulite for cabochons; tanzanite priced separately. |
Readily Available
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Albite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; peristerite variety most valued for moonstone-like sheen. |
| Amazonite | Readily Available | Widely available; popular in beads and cabochons; limited fine faceted material. |
| Aquamarine | Readily Available | Available globally through gem dealers and jewelry retailers; deep blue varieties command premium prices. |
| Bastnasite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; too soft for jewelry use; primarily specimen and collector market. |
| Blue Topaz | Readily Available | Widely available through gem dealers and jewelry retailers; irradiated material common; natural blue rare. |
| Brown Diamond | Readily Available | Available through jewelers; more affordable entry to fancy color diamonds; quality grading important. |
| Danburite | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; clean colorless specimens most valued; affordable alternative to white topaz. |
| Erythrite | Limited Deposits | Available through mineral dealers; distinctive pink color makes popular display specimen; too soft for any wear. |
| Garnet | Consistent Deposits | Widely available worldwide; specific varieties like demantoid and tsavorite are rare. |
| Goshenite | Readily Available | Available through specialty dealers; limited jewelry use; primarily collector interest. |
| Green Beryl | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; sometimes confused with low-grade emerald; moderate collector interest. |
| Grossular | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; tsavorite is premium variety. |
| Hawk's Eye | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; related to tiger's eye. |
| Heliodor | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; less demand than aquamarine or morganite; collector interest is moderate. |
| Iolite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; attractive but lesser-known gem. |
| Jelly Opal | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; limited collector interest due to lack of play. |
| Labradorite | Readily Available | Widely available; spectrolite varieties command premium; popular in designer jewelry. |
| Lapis Lazuli | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; deep blue with minimal pyrite commands premium. |
| Moonstone | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; blue sheen varieties command premium prices; popular in alternative jewelry. |
| Morganite | Readily Available | Popular in bridal jewelry; available through many retail and online outlets; deeper colors command premium prices. |
| Nephrite | Readily Available | Available through jade dealers; Chinese white nephrite commands premium. |
| Peridot | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; fine colors command premium prices. |
| Peruvian Opal | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; popular for cabochons and beads. |
| Pink Spinel | Readily Available | Popular in engagement rings and fine jewelry; regularly available through gem dealers, though finest colors command premium prices. |
| Prasiolite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; primarily treated material. |
| Prehnite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; popular for cabochons. |
| Pyrope | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; popular for antique-style jewelry. |
| Rhodolite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; popular for fine jewelry. |
| Rhodonite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; popular for cabochons. |
| Rutilated Quartz | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; quality of rutile pattern determines value. |
| Spodumene | Limited Deposits | Available through gem dealers; kunzite more common than hiddenite; large crystals from Afghanistan and Brazil. |
| Sunstone | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; Oregon copper-bearing varieties command premium prices. |
| Tourmalinated Quartz | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; attractive patterns command premiums. |
| Turquoise | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; natural untreated material commands premium. |
| White Opal | Readily Available | Widely available through gem dealers; quality of play determines value. |
| Zircon | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers; blue and colorless varieties most popular. |
Consistently Available
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Agate | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common worldwide; popular for decorative and jewelry use. |
| Almandine | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for traditional jewelry. |
| Amethyst | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally; deep saturated colors command modest premiums. |
| Aragonite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available worldwide; popular for mineral specimens and decorative use. |
| Aventurine | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for carvings and beads. |
| Bloodstone | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; traditional gem with historical significance. |
| Calcite | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common worldwide; optical calcite and colored varieties have collector interest; too soft for jewelry. |
| Carnelian | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for cabochons and beads. |
| Chalcedony | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for cabochons, carvings, and beads. |
| Citrine | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; natural citrine is rare but treated material abundant. |
| Diamond | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally through established supply chains; natural and lab-grown options span all price points from budget to luxury markets. |
| Feldspar | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally; specific varieties (moonstone, sunstone) command premiums; generic feldspar common. |
| Fluorite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; collector cuts for display only. |
| Hematite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally; popular for men's jewelry and carvings; kidney ore and specular varieties most valued. |
| Jasper | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common worldwide; popular for cabochons and carvings. |
| Malachite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for carvings and decorative use. |
| Milky Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common; used for carvings and decorative purposes. |
| Onyx | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for men's jewelry and carvings. |
| Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common worldwide; numerous varieties available. |
| Rock Crystal | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; used for carvings and crystal balls. |
| Rose Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for carvings and beads; transparent faceted rare. |
| Sardonyx | Consistent Deposits | Available; popular for cabochons and cameo carving. |
| Serpentine | Consistent Deposits | Widely available worldwide; popular for carvings and ornamental use; often mistaken for jade. |
| Smoky Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for large statement pieces. |
| Sodalite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available; popular for carvings and beads. |
| Synthetic Emerald | Consistent Deposits | Widely available from synthetic gem manufacturers; popular for affordable jewelry. |
| Synthetic Ruby | Consistent Deposits | Widely available from synthetic gem manufacturers; popular for affordable jewelry. |
| Synthetic Sapphire | Consistent Deposits | Widely available from synthetic gem manufacturers; popular for affordable jewelry. |
| Tiger's Eye | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally; popular for men's jewelry and carvings. |
| Topaz | Consistent Deposits | Widely available worldwide; Brazil major source; blue topaz abundantly available. |
| Tourmaline | Consistent Deposits | Widely available worldwide; Brazil major source; many color varieties available. |