20 Rarest Crystals in the World

Crystal rarity is determined by something we can call the “3 Cs:” cut, color, and carat. The rarest crystals in the world all have one thing in common – they appear in a specific geographical place and nowhere else. 

Rare healing crystals are well sought-after and expensive. You might not come across one in this life, yet you can still discover their profound and beautiful significance and origins. Heritage, cultural significance, scarcity, and a range of other factors signify a crystal’s rarity. 

Jadeite

• Jadeite is like the holy grail of crystals because it is found solely in Burma. There is a large mine in Tawmaw, Burma, which is exclusive to the origin of Jadeite.
• In 1997, a small handful of Jadeite gemstones were sold for more than $9 million. In the same year, a piece of Jadeite jewelry comprising 27 beads was sold for nearly $10 million. 
• Jadeite is not the same as Jade, a more common and much less rare type. You can only find Jadeite in metamorphic rocks, hence its high price and scarcity. Today, Jadeite is sold for up to $3 million. That’s how rare it is. 
• Market price: $3 million per carat! 

Red Diamond

• A close second to Jadeite, Red Diamond is so rare that there are only around 50 gemstones in existence. 
• One particular type of Red Diamond is called the Moussaieff Red, which is known as the most flawless Red Diamond in existence. The 5.11-carat Moussaieff Red was reported to have sold for $8 million in 2001. 
• Market price: $2 million per carat. 

Serendibite

• Serendibite was discovered in Sri Lanka in 1902 and is simultaneously derived from the Sanskrit word for “Sri Lanka.” 
• There are only three Serendibites in existence, making it one of the top rare healing crystals known to mankind.
• Market price: $2 million per carat. 

Grandidierite

• Nearly making the top three in the top 20 rarest crystals, Grandidierite is found and mined in Madagascar. 
• The person who discovered this rare crystal was the French mineralogist, Alfred Lacroix, in the early 20th century.  
• Grandidierite emits white, green, and blue light. Only a few hundred gemstones are known to exist. Grandidierite has a unique hexagonal lattice structure that makes it undeniably beautiful. 
• Market price: $100,000 per carat. 

Painite

• Painite is exclusive to Burma and once held the Guinness World Record for the rarest mineral. There are fewer than 100 Painite crystals in existence today. 
• Before 2001, only three Painite crystals were known to exist! After its official identification in 1951, only two gemstones existed for the following several decades. One of these is currently owned by the British Museum in London, England. 
• Market price: $60,000 per carat. 

Musgravite

• Musgravite is unique to Australia, Iceland, and Greenland. There are only eight pieces of Musgravite, which makes it one of the rarest crystals in the world. 
• This crystal’s name is derived from the person who discovered them – Musgrave Ranges (Australia). Although Musgravite appears a majestic purple in some lighting conditions, it is a dark enigmatic gray. It’s a translucent gemstone with a trigonal structure. 
• Market price: $35,000 per carat. 

Padparadscha Sapphire

• Padparadscha Sapphire is a member of the Sapphire family. It was originally found in Sri Lanka but can also be discovered in Africa and Vietnam. 
• Padparadscha Sapphire has an exquisite heritage that can be traced to the Middle Ages. The crystal’s name is derived from the Sinhalese term for “lotus flower.”
• Market price: $30,000 per carat.

Pezzottaite

• Pezzottaite was found in Madagascar in 2002. Italian mineralogist, Federico Pezzotta, discovered this ancient gemstone.
• Pezzottaite is one of the rare crystal formations due to its emergence from cesium and lithium which, over time, create Beryl. It has a trigonal structure system. 
• Pezzottaite was officially recognized by the International Mineralogical Association in 2003 and sells for up to $13,000 per carat! 
• Market price: $13,000 per carat. 

Alexandrite

• Alexandrite was named after the Russian Tsar Alexander II and is part of the Emerald family. It was discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia, in 1830. 
• Alexandrite is often called “Emeralds by day, Rubies by night” because they have unique and captivating color-changing qualities. Alexandrite shifts from jade-green to iridescent blue in natural light, and from scarlet red to dark purple in artificial lighting. 
• Alexandrite’s full spectrum of color vibrations and frequencies makes it one of the most phenomenal rare healing crystals in this world. 
• Market price: $10 to 15,000 per carat.

Paraiba Tourmaline 

• Paraiba Tourmaline comes from Paraiba in North Brazil and was unearthed in the 1980s. 
• It has a low Mohs, meaning you should take precautions when wearing it or bathing with it (although it is unlikely you will ever own one, as this is the top 20 rarest crystals). 
• There is only one Paraiba Tourmaline for every 10,000 diamonds in existence. It is neon blue beauty and hexagonal structure make it one of the rarest gemstones this world has seen. 
• Market price: Up to $12,000 per carat. 

Red Beryl

• Red Beryl is so rare that only one is found in comparison to the discovery of 150,000 diamonds. Red Beryl belongs to the Emerald family and is exclusive to the Wah Wah Mountains in Utah, USA. 
• Red Beryl contains a high level of manganese and only forms in specific conditions. It is sometimes referred to as the “Red Emerald” of gemstones. 
• Market price: $10,000 per carat. 

Emerald

• Emerald is found worldwide, but the most gorgeous green gemstones today are reported to originate in South America.
• In ancient times, Emeralds were respected and revered by ancient Egypt. As far back as 1500 BC, Egyptian mummies were buried with Emeralds, as they were believed to symbolize fertility, rebirth, and eternal youth. Today, we can equate this with longevity. 
• The Incas and Aztecs were also known to value green Emeralds, further worshiping them as Gods and deities. 
• Market price: Up to $8,000 per carat. 

Benitoite

• Benitoite is found in the San Benito river in California, USA, and was discovered in 1907 by George D. Louderback. 
• Benitoite glows beneath ultraviolet light and has a lot of historical significance in California. It’s an uncommon gemstone and is formed from hydrothermally metamorphosed rocks. 
• Market price: $5,000 per carat.

Black Opal

• Black Opal is the rarest and most valuable member of the Opal family. It originates in Australia, but there is another rare type of Opal that should be mentioned here.
• Fire Opal is a unique type of Black Opal that is dark red, dark orange, or dark yellow. Fire Opals are found in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Michoacan, and Hidalgo. 
• Market price: $3,000 per carat. 

Poudretteite

• Poudretteite is known to Quebec, Canada, and is unsuitable for rings due to its soft nature, or low Mohs value. It can be worn as earrings or brooches, and other sturdier types of jewelry. 
• Poudretteite was discovered in 2000 in Mogok specifically, a quarry owned by the Pudrette family, hence the name. It is a rare gem due to there being only a small number of crystals known to mankind. 
• This crystal is sometimes mistaken for or confused with Amethyst. You can use Amethyst as a cheaper and more available alternative. 
• Market price: $3,000 per carat. 

Blue Garnet

• Blue Garnet was found in Madagascar yet can also be unearthed in Tanzania. The Umba River Valley is the origin of the Tanzanian Blue Garnet variety. 
• Blue Garnets are one of the top 20 rarest crystals worldwide because it’s unusual for garnets to be blue. Like emeralds, they were widespread in ancient Egypt where they were worn as jewelry.
• Market price: $2,000 per carat. 

Taaffeite

• Although near the bottom of the list, Taaffeite is still one of the rarest crystals. It’s a million times rarer than a diamond! Taaffeite was named after Richard Taaffe in 1945. 
• This special gem is found in China, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka. Taaffe, who was a geologist, bought a package of Taaffeite thinking they were cheap spinels. After closer study, he realized their value and sent them away for a professional evaluation.
• This is one of the rare healing crystals because it’s the first stone globally to be identified as being formed from both beryllium and magnesium. 
• Market price: $2,000 per carat. 

Jeremejevite

• Jeremejevite originates from Siberia but can also be found in Namibia, which is where the highest quality gemstones are found. 
• This gemstone is pronounced, “yer-ah-mee-yay-vite.”
• Jeremejevite is piezoelectric, meaning they produce electricity when pressure is applied. They’re transparent, beautiful, and highly desired gemstones. 
• Market price: $2,000 per carat. 

Royal Dementiods

• Royal Dementiod gives the appearance of an Emerald, yet it is part of the Garnet family. 
• Royal Dementiod was discovered in the middle of the 19th century in West-Central Russia, in the mountainous regions. 
• This unique crystal was first identified under and during the reign of Alexander II. Its name was given accordingly due to it being sought-after by royals.
• Market price: $2,000 per carat. 

Tanzanite

• Tanzanite was discovered in Tanzania by a Maasai tribesman, in 1967. Tiffany & Co. claimed ownership of it and gave it its name to pay homage to its country of origin. 
• Tanzanite is only found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, thus making it a sacred gemstone. It is 1,000 times rarer than diamonds. 
• Tanzanite is one of the few crystals known worldwide for its incredible trichroism, which signifies the capacity to show three different hues. 
• Only one mine in Kilimanjaro produces all the Tanzanite crystals in the world. This famous mine is 4.3 miles long by 1.2 miles wide. It’s considered a “one-generation” gemstone due to its rarity. 
• Market price: $1,500 per carat. 

FAQ

• What is the rarest crystal structure?

Hexagonal, which can be found in the Benitoite crystal. 

• Why are diamonds traditionally seen as the rarest type of crystal? 

Marketing and stockpiling strategies gave rise to the increase in diamond costs. 

• What is the rarest crystal color?

Crystals that have unique “color-changing” or similar properties, such as Alexandrite and Jeremejevite, for their piezoelectricity.