Painite was once thought to be a new type of ruby. Chemists were baffled. Turns out, it’s an entirely different mineral. Whoops.
Top 10 Rarest Gemstones On Earth
For years, only two specimens existed—one in the British Museum, one in a private collection. They were like celebrity relics.
In 2004, a third crystal popped up. Then a fourth. The world gasped. Now we have a couple hundred—still fewer than the number of uncontacted tribes.
Painite is so hard (8 on Mohs scale) that it can scratch most gemstones. It’s tough but shy.
The Price Tag That Hurts (In a Good Way)
A decent Painite can cost $60,000 per carat. Yes, you read that right. For a stone most people have never heard of.
Compare that to a diamond at $2,000-$10,000 per carat. Painite makes Tiffany’s look like a garage sale.
And because it’s so rare, the price is basically made up. There’s no real market. It’s a gem for billionaires with a sense of humor.
