Gems by Investment Appropriateness
Gemstone types grouped by investment appropriateness (from config)
Blue Chip Investment Gems
| Gem Type | Investment Description |
|---|---|
| Alexandrite | Strong color-change alexandrite from Russia or Brazil highly sought; established collector market with proven appreciation; investment-grade requires strong color change; excellent long-term potential. |
| Diamond | Established international market with standardized grading; colorless diamonds (D-F, VS+) and fancy colors offer strong liquidity and proven long-term appreciation; widely accepted as wealth preservation. |
| Emerald | Colombian and Zambian stones with minimal treatment command premium prices; strong auction presence and international recognition; investment-grade requires good color with acceptable inclusions. |
| Ruby | Burmese pigeon's blood and Mozambique unheated rubies are premier investment gems; strong international auction market; proven appreciation over decades; high liquidity for fine specimens. |
| Sapphire | Kashmir, Burmese, and Ceylon sapphires with no heat treatment are top-tier investments; established grading standards; strong auction presence; excellent liquidity and proven appreciation. |
Emerging Investment Gems
| Gem Type | Investment Description |
|---|---|
| Blue Spinel | Cobalt blue spinel extremely rare and valuable; strong appreciation for finest colors; growing investment market but smaller than red spinel; excellent potential for top specimens. |
| Demantoid | Rare green garnet with exceptional dispersion; Russian stones with horsetail inclusions highly prized; strong collector market with proven appreciation; excellent potential for investment-grade specimens. |
| Imperial Topaz | Rare orange-pink topaz from Brazil with collector demand; finest colors show appreciation; limited supply with growing recognition; investment-grade requires natural color and good saturation. |
| Padparadscha Sapphire | Rare pink-orange sapphire with strong collector demand; unheated Sri Lankan stones command exceptional prices; growing auction presence; excellent appreciation potential for fine specimens. |
| Paraiba Tourmaline | Brazilian copper-bearing tourmaline among most valuable gems per carat; original deposits nearly depleted; strong auction market and proven appreciation; excellent investment potential despite African sources. |
| Pink Spinel | Hot pink spinel gaining popularity; increasing use in fine jewelry; moderate to strong appreciation for vivid colors; growing recognition as investment-worthy gem. |
| Red Spinel | Growing recognition as ruby alternative; fine unheated red spinel from Burma and Tajikistan showing strong appreciation; increasing auction presence and collector demand. |
| Tanzanite | Single-source gem from Tanzania with finite supply; strong market recognition and dealer network; investment-grade requires vivid blue-violet and good size; appreciation potential but supply risk. |
| Tsavorite | Rare green garnet from East Africa gaining investment recognition; limited supply with growing demand; stones over 3ct with vivid color show strong appreciation; increasing auction presence. |
Speculative Collector Gems
| Gem Type | Investment Description |
|---|---|
| Afghanite | Rare from Afghanistan; very limited gem material; small specialist collector market; minimal liquidity; primarily mineralogical interest. |
| Benitoite | California rarity with limited production; strong collector demand; proven appreciation for finest specimens; small but dedicated market; requires long-term holding. |
| Bixbite | Extreme rarity from limited Utah deposits; small collector market with very high prices; difficult to authenticate and resell; requires specialized knowledge and long holding period. |
| Clinohumite | Extremely rare from Tajikistan; very small collector market; high prices for gem material; illiquid but potential for appreciation among specialists. |
| Grandidierite | Rare blue-green gem with growing recognition; limited faceted material; strong appreciation in recent years; small but expanding collector market. |
| Jeremejevite | Extremely rare aluminum borate; very small collector market; high prices but virtually no liquidity; requires expert authentication; museum-grade rarity. |
| Musgravite | Among world's rarest gemstones; virtually no market liquidity; museum-quality rarity with exceptional prices; highly speculative with long holding periods required. |
| Painite | Formerly world's rarest gemstone; extremely limited market; museum-quality specimens command extraordinary prices; highly illiquid but potential for appreciation. |
| Serendibite | Exceptionally rare with handful of known faceted stones; no established market; museum-quality only; extremely speculative with no liquidity. |
| Taaffeite | Extremely rare with very limited market; difficult to authenticate; small collector base with high prices; requires expert knowledge; very illiquid but potential for appreciation. |
| Vayrynenite | One of world's rarest minerals; virtually no market; museum specimens only; purely academic and mineralogical interest; no practical investment market. |
Fashion/Trend Gems
| Gem Type | Investment Description |
|---|---|
| Ametrine | Limited primarily to Bolivia; moderate collector interest for strong bicolor specimens; fashion-driven market with some appreciation potential for finest material. |
| Andalusite | Pleochroism creates collector interest; limited market size; moderate appreciation for finest specimens; fashion-influenced with niche appeal. |
| Andradite | Investment potential concentrated in demantoid variety; most other andradites are collector-oriented with limited markets; demantoid should be evaluated separately. |
| Aquamarine | Large clean stones readily available limit appreciation potential; market driven by jewelry fashion trends; suitable for personal enjoyment rather than investment. |
| Blue Zircon | Most material is heat-treated; diamond alternative with high dispersion; fashion-driven market; limited investment potential due to treatment and availability. |
| Danburite | Good brilliance but limited market recognition; collector-oriented; moderate appreciation for finest specimens; small niche market. |
| Diaspore | Color-change variety marketed as Zultanite/Csarite; moderate investment potential; primarily Turkish source; fashion-influenced with limited but stable market. |
| Grossular | Investment potential varies by variety; tsavorite and hessonite have different markets; generally fashion-driven with moderate collector interest for certain colors. |
| Heliodor | Limited collector interest; moderate availability reduces scarcity premium; primarily decorative with some collector appeal for saturated colors. |
| Hessonite | Moderate availability limits investment appeal; primarily collector and alternative jewelry market; some appreciation for finest cinnamon-orange colors but generally fashion-driven. |
| Hiddenite | True green spodumene rare with collector appeal; limited market size; moderate appreciation for finest colors; better for collection than pure investment. |
| Hyacinth | Traditional red-orange zircon with historical significance; limited modern market; minimal investment potential; primarily vintage and collector interest. |
| Indicolite | Blue tourmaline with moderate collector interest; saturated colors command premiums; fashion-driven market with limited investment potential; better for personal collection. |
| Iolite | Moderate availability with pleochroism appeal; fashion-driven jewelry market; limited investment potential; suitable for personal enjoyment. |
| Kunzite | Large clean crystals available; color fading concerns; fashion-driven market with moderate volatility; limited long-term investment potential. |
| Labradorite | Bohemian jewelry trend driver; readily available with labradorescence; fashion-driven market; no long-term investment potential; personal enjoyment focused. |
| Moonstone | Market driven by bohemian jewelry trends; finest blue-sheen material has collector appeal; moderate volatility with fashion cycles; better for personal enjoyment than investment. |
| Morganite | Rose gold trend boosted popularity; abundant supply limits investment potential; primarily fashion-driven jewelry market with moderate volatility. |
| Peridot | Birthstone demand provides stable market; fine green without brown has moderate value; fashion-driven with limited appreciation potential; suitable for jewelry use. |
| Pink Topaz | Natural pink topaz quite rare but limited market recognition; moderate collector appeal; some appreciation potential for natural untreated material but illiquid market. |
| Rhodochrosite | Faceted stones rare with collector appeal; primarily cabochon material; moderate interest for finest transparent pink; limited investment potential due to small market. |
| Rhodolite | Popular raspberry-pink garnet in jewelry market; moderate availability; fashion-driven with stable demand; limited appreciation potential. |
| Rubellite | True red tourmaline without color shift has collector appeal; moderate market with some appreciation for finest colors; fashion-influenced with trend sensitivity. |
| Spessartine | Mandarin garnet variety has collector appeal; vivid orange stones command premiums; moderate market with some appreciation for finest colors; trend-sensitive pricing. |
| Sunstone | Oregon sunstone with copper schiller has niche collector market; fashion-driven with moderate interest; limited but stable demand for finest transparent red material. |
| Verdelite | Green tourmaline relatively common; limited investment appeal; primarily fashion-driven jewelry market; suitable for personal enjoyment rather than appreciation. |
| Watermelon Tourmaline | Novelty bicolor tourmaline with collector appeal; primarily designer jewelry market; limited investment potential; valued for aesthetic uniqueness rather than appreciation. |
| Yellow Sapphire | Moderate investment potential; unheated stones with vivid color have collector appeal; market influenced by jewelry trends; better suited for personal enjoyment than pure investment. |
| Yellow Zircon | Moderate availability and vintage appeal; limited modern market; minimal investment potential; primarily collector and vintage jewelry interest. |
Non-Investment Gems
| Gem Type | Investment Description |
|---|---|
| Almandine | Most common garnet type; extremely abundant worldwide; no scarcity premium or investment value; historical jewelry use but no appreciation potential. |
| Amazonite | Common microcline feldspar; craft and bead market; no scarcity or investment value; affordable decorative material only. |
| Amethyst | Extremely abundant worldwide; very large supply eliminates scarcity premium; no investment potential regardless of quality; purely decorative and affordable jewelry use. |
| Andesine | Treatment controversy severely damaged market; natural material scarce; diffused stones have minimal value; no investment potential due to market issues. |
| Anyolite | Decorative rock material; no gem investment potential; used in carvings and ornamental objects; readily available with minimal value. |
| Axinite | Rare collector stone with very limited market; no jewelry demand; minimal investment potential; specialist collectors only. |
| Bastnasite | Rare earth mineral with limited gem use; very small collector market; no investment potential; primarily mineralogical interest. |
| Black Tourmaline | Extremely common schorl variety; primarily mineral specimen and metaphysical markets; no jewelry or investment value due to abundance and low desirability. |
| Blue Topaz | Nearly all material is irradiated and heated; extremely abundant treated stones; no investment value whatsoever; mass-market jewelry use only. |
| Calcite | Extremely soft (Mohs 3) and abundant; no jewelry use; collector specimens only; zero investment value. |
| Citrine | Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst; abundant supply and low prices eliminate investment potential; suitable only for affordable fashion jewelry. |
| Epidote | Limited jewelry use and collector interest only; no investment market; small faceted stones primarily for collectors. |
| Fluorite | Extremely soft (Mohs 4) despite attractive colors; no durability for jewelry; abundant supply; collector specimens only with no investment value. |
| Goshenite | Abundant colorless beryl with minimal market demand; no investment potential due to low desirability and ready availability; purely decorative use. |
| Orthoclase | Limited demand for faceted material; primarily collector-oriented with small market; no significant investment potential due to limited desirability. |
| Prasiolite | Most material is heat-treated; limited natural occurrence but treatment abundant; no investment potential due to ready availability of treated stones. |
| Pyrope | Common garnet variety with limited market value; no investment potential due to abundance; suitable only for affordable jewelry applications. |
| Rose Quartz | Very common massive quartz; no scarcity or market demand for investment; used in decorative applications and affordable jewelry only. |
| Sillimanite | Small collector market; cat's eye varieties have limited appeal; no significant investment potential due to minimal demand. |
| Smoky Quartz | Abundant variety found worldwide; large clean stones readily available at low prices; no investment value; decorative and affordable jewelry use only. |
| Sodalite | Common decorative stone; cabochon and bead market only; no scarcity or investment value; affordable craft material. |
| Sphalerite | Extreme dispersion but too soft for jewelry; collector specimens only; fragility eliminates investment potential. |
| Staurolite | Primarily specimen interest for twinned crystals; faceted stones extremely rare; no investment market; collector curiosities only. |
| Thulite | Limited demand and primarily cabochon material; no investment market; decorative and craft use only. |
| White Zircon | Diamond simulant with limited demand; abundant treated material; no investment value; used in budget jewelry applications only. |