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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Serendibite | Limited Deposits | Effectively absent from general market; when found, pieces are sold privately or to museums and high-end collectors. |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Spinel | Limited Deposits | Cobalt blue spinel commands premium prices; available through specialty dealers and auctions, particularly sought by collectors. |
| Demantoid | Limited Deposits | Premium prices and collector demand; offered through high-end dealers and auctions; Russian stones with horsetail inclusions are particularly prized. |
| 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. |
| Imperial Topaz | Limited Deposits | Highly prized by collectors; primarily from Brazil (Ouro Preto) and traded through specialty dealers and auctions at premium prices. |
| Padparadscha Sapphire | Limited Deposits | Highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs; appears through specialist dealers and auctions; true unheated specimens command premium prices. |
| Red Spinel | Limited Investment | Fine red spinel trades through established dealers and auctions; increasingly recognized as a ruby alternative with growing demand. |
| 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 (Titanite) | Limited Investment | High-dispersion, collectable gems appear via specialist dealers and auctions; durability limits mainstream jewelry use. |
| Tsavorite | Limited Deposits | Fine tsavorite appears through specialized dealers and high-end jewelers; larger clean stones command significant prices and collector interest. |
Limited Supply
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Andalusite | Limited Deposits | Appears sporadically through faceting-grade suppliers; collector interest centers on pleochroic specimens. |
| Andesine | Treatment Controversy | Market presence complicated by treatment controversies; natural material is scarce while treated stones have limited acceptance. |
| Andradite | Limited Deposits | Most varieties are collector-oriented; demantoid is the primary jewelry variety and trades through specialist channels. |
| Axinite | Limited Deposits | Collector-oriented; offered sporadically by mineral dealers and at specialized auctions. |
| Bastnasite | Limited Deposits | Primarily offered to collectors and museums; not commonly used in mainstream jewelry markets. |
| Danburite | Limited Deposits | Available through specialty gem dealers; appreciated by collectors for clarity and brilliance but not widely known in mainstream markets. |
| Diaspore | Limited Deposits | Marketed as 'Zultanite' or 'Csarite' showing color change; available through specialty dealers, primarily from Turkish deposits. |
| Hiddenite | Limited Deposits | Appears sporadically through collector channels and specialty gem dealers; rarely seen in mass retail. |
| Hiddenite (Spodumene) | Limited Deposits | Appears sporadically through collector channels and specialty gem dealers; rarely seen in mass retail. |
| 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. |
| Kunzite (Spodumene) | Difficult Mining | Marketed through specialized dealers and gem shows; larger clean crystals are rare and often reserved for collectors. |
| Orange Kyanite | Limited Deposits | Niche market demand with occasional offerings from regional dealers and specimen sellers. |
| Orthoclase | Limited Deposits | Faceted orthoclase is mainly collector-oriented; yellow and champagne colors appear occasionally through specialty dealers. |
| 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. |
| Rhodochrosite | Limited Deposits | Market supply is often in collectible specimens and small cabochon material; fine faceted gems are scarce and command premium prices. |
| Rubellite | Limited Deposits | True red-pink tourmaline without color shift is sought by collectors; appears through specialty dealers and high-end jewelers. |
| Sillimanite | Limited Deposits | Mainly of interest to collectors; small quantities appear through specialist mineral and gem dealers. |
| Staurolite | Limited Deposits | Mostly sold as distinctive twinned specimen pieces to collectors; facetable material is rare. |
| Watermelon Tourmaline | Limited Deposits | Popular among collectors and designers; available through specialty dealers and gem shows, typically as sliced cross-sections. |
| Yellow Chrysoberyl | Limited Deposits | Occasional small-lot offerings from mine-direct sources and niche dealers; not common in mainstream retail. |
Readily Available
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amazonite | Readily Available | Common in beaded jewelry and cabochons; widely available through craft markets and jewelry retailers at affordable prices. |
| Ametrine | Limited Deposits | Primarily from Bolivia's Anahi mine; regularly available through gem dealers and jewelry retailers specializing in unique stones. |
| Anyolite | Readily Available | Common in lapidary and decorative markets; sold as polished slabs, carvings, and collector pieces rather than fine faceted gems. |
| Anyolite (Ruby in Zoisite) | Readily Available | Common in lapidary and decorative markets; sold as polished slabs, carvings, and collector pieces rather than fine faceted gems. |
| Aquamarine | Readily Available | Common in jewelry markets across all sizes; readily available from wholesalers, retail jewelers, and online platforms. |
| Blue Apatite | Readily Available | Common in collector and bead markets; facetable material is sold through gem shows and specialty dealers. |
| Blue Fluorite | Readily Available | Available in small gem sizes and often sold to collectors; larger fine-quality stones are uncommon. |
| Blue Kyanite | Readily Available | Sold as cabochons and faceted stones in small sizes via specialty dealers; prized for pleochroism in jewelry. |
| Blue Zircon | Readily Available | Popular diamond alternative with high dispersion; commonly available through jewelry retailers, mostly heat-treated material. |
| Citrine | Readily Available | Widely available in jewelry markets; much commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst, making it abundant in retail. |
| Epidote | Readily Available | Often sold as minerals and occasional cabochons; faceted pieces are small and sold through niche channels. |
| Green Apatite | Readily Available | Available in small to medium sizes via specialty dealers; larger gem-quality stones are uncommon and command collector interest. |
| Grossular | Readily Available | Various colors are offered through gem dealers; green tsavorite and orange hessonite are the most commercially significant. |
| Heliodor | Readily Available | Common in commercial beryl offerings; typically sold in small to medium sizes to trade and retail markets. |
| Hessonite | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers specializing in garnets; popular in alternative jewelry markets and with collectors. |
| Hyacinth | Readily Available | Red-orange to brown zircon sold through gem dealers and used in vintage-style jewelry; appeals to collectors of traditional gemstones. |
| Iolite | Readily Available | Available from major gemstone dealers in a range of sizes; used widely in commercial jewelry and online retail. |
| Labradorite | Readily Available | Popular in bohemian and artisan jewelry; widely available as cabochons and beads with strong labradorescence from multiple sources. |
| Moonstone | Readily Available | Popular in jewelry, especially bohemian and vintage styles; widely available from budget to fine quality with adularescence. |
| Morganite | Readily Available | Popular in engagement rings and fashion jewelry; widely available through mainstream jewelry retailers and online markets. |
| Peridot | Readily Available | Widely available in jewelry markets at moderate prices; common in birthstone jewelry (August) and fashion jewelry. |
| Pink Sapphire | Readily Available | Smaller and treated pink sapphires are common in retail; untreated, fine-color examples show up occasionally in specialty markets. |
| 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 jewelry retailers as a green quartz option; most material is heat-treated to achieve the green color. |
| Pyrope | Readily Available | Available as smaller faceted stones through gem dealers; often used in commercial jewelry at accessible price points. |
| Rainbow Fluorite | Readily Available | Popular as specimens and polished pieces; offered frequently by mineral dealers and at gem shows. |
| Rhodolite | Readily Available | Popular purplish-red garnet in commercial jewelry; readily available through gem dealers and jewelry retailers in various sizes. |
| Rhodonite | Readily Available | Common as cabochons and beads in craft and jewelry markets; massive material with black veining is widely available. |
| Sodalite | Readily Available | Common in bead and cabochon markets; widely sold through lapidary and craft channels. |
| Spessartine | Readily Available | Orange to red-orange spessartine (Mandarin garnet) is popular in jewelry; available through specialty dealers and retail jewelers. |
| Sunstone | Readily Available | Available through specialty gem dealers; Oregon sunstone with copper schiller is particularly popular in alternative jewelry. |
| Thulite | Readily Available | Mostly available as cabochons and ornamental pieces through craft and specimen markets; jewelry-grade material is modest. |
| Verdelite | Readily Available | Green tourmaline is common in commercial markets; available in various sizes through jewelry retailers and gem dealers. |
| White Zircon | Readily Available | Used as a diamond simulant historically; available through jewelry retailers and vintage markets at budget-friendly prices. |
| Yellow Apatite | Readily Available | Sold occasionally through niche dealers and at gem shows; market demand is primarily from collectors. |
| Yellow Sapphire | Readily Available | Commercially available in various sizes through gem dealers and jewelry retailers; fine unheated stones are less common but still accessible. |
| Yellow Topaz | Readily Available | Commercially available in a range of sizes and often marketed as affordable yellow gems; larger fine-color stones are less frequent. |
| Yellow Zircon | Readily Available | Available through gem dealers in various sizes; often seen in vintage jewelry and offered as an alternative yellow gem. |
Consistently Available
| Gem Type | Availability Driver | Availability Description |
|---|---|---|
| Almandine | Consistent Deposits | Widely available and historically used in jewelry; common in antique pieces and still sold through budget to mid-range channels. |
| Amethyst | Consistent Deposits | Extremely common in all market segments; available everywhere from craft stores to fine jewelers in all sizes. |
| Black Tourmaline | Consistent Deposits | Very common as mineral specimens and in metaphysical markets; occasionally used in mourning jewelry or as accent stones. |
| Blue Topaz | Readily Available | Extremely common in jewelry markets due to irradiation treatment; available everywhere at very affordable prices in all sizes. |
| Calcite | Consistent Deposits | Mostly sold as mineral specimens and polished pieces; facetable gem material is niche and low-volume. |
| Diamond | Consistent Deposits | Widely available globally through established supply chains; natural and lab-grown options span all price points from budget to luxury markets. |
| Fluorite | Consistent Deposits | Very common in mineral specimen markets and as decorative stones; faceted gems are niche due to softness but readily available. |
| Goshenite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available as a budget-friendly clear beryl; commonly sold in bulk and through online dealers and specimen markets. |
| Green Fluorite | Consistent Deposits | Sold primarily as specimens and carvings; faceted gem material is common in smaller sizes via niche sellers. |
| Purple Fluorite | Consistent Deposits | Widely available as specimens and decorative stones; gem-grade fluorite is offered through mineral dealers and collectors' channels. |
| Rose Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Very common in beads, cabochons, and carvings; widely available through craft markets, jewelry retailers, and online. |
| Smoky Quartz | Consistent Deposits | Readily available in various sizes; common in jewelry and mineral specimen markets at accessible prices. |
| White Topaz | Consistent Deposits | Readily sold through mass-market jewelry channels and online retailers as a cost-effective colorless gem. |