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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
10 places across the world where most expensive precious stones are found
If the discussion of the Kohinoor diamond always made you curious, or if you keep checking how the gold prices keep soaring, you know you have a knack for gem stones. You would want to know more about other precious stones that are known for their glitter and worth. And it's interesting to note that the world is dotted with glittering corners where the Earth hides its shiniest secrets and they don't come cheap. From emerald-rich Colombian mines to the diamond depths of South Africa, these places are basically some of the best places that are honoured with these dem stones. Whether you're a gem geek, treasure hunter, or just here for the sparkle, here are 10 dazzling destinations across the globe where you get to see the rarest and the precious gems. Mogok, Myanmar – Rubies Canva Nicknamed the 'Valley of Rubies,' Mogok is known to have produced some of the world's finest pigeon-blood rubies, which are deep red-colored stones with a hint of blue. These rubies are not just rare, they're among the most expensive gems on the planet, which can fetch more than $1 million per carat in auctions. Golconda, India – Diamonds Before Africa took over as the diamond capital, Golconda was where these precious stones were mined. This ancient region produced iconic diamonds like the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Golconda diamonds are revered for their size and near-flawless clarity. Colombia – Emeralds canva Colombian emeralds are the most sought-after in the world, and some of the reasons include rich green hue and excellent transparency. The Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor mines are especially famous and have been producing emeralds for over 500 years. Sri Lanka – Sapphires The 'Gem Island' of Sri Lanka, particularly the Ratnapura region, yields high-quality sapphires in a range of colours, though the blue variety is most famous. The Ceylon sapphire's brilliance has reportedly adorned royalty for centuries. Read more: O-1 Visa vs H-1B Visa: What's the difference between the two Tanzania – Tanzanite Tanzanite is found only in one place on Earth, a small stretch of land in northern Tanzania. Nestled in the Mererani Hills of the Simanjiro District in the Manyara Region, the mining zone spans just about 7 kilometers in length and 2 kilometers in width. This rare gemstone was first discovered in 1967, near the foothills of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The mines at Mererani are the only known source, and due to its limited supply, Tanzanite's value has risen dramatically in recent years. Australia – Opals canva Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge in Australia are considered the opal capitals of the world. Black opals from Lightning Ridge are particularly prised for their play-of-color and rarity, which are sometimes priced at over $10,000 per carat. Russia – Alexandrite Mined in the Ural Mountains, Alexandrite is famous for its color-changing properties—green in daylight and reddish-purple under incandescent light. High-quality Russian alexandrites are extremely rare and expensive. Brazil – Paraíba Tourmaline Paraiba Tourmaline is a stunning gemstone celebrated for its electric blue-green glow and extraordinary rarity. What sets it apart is its vibrant color, owed to traces of copper, a feature rarely seen in other tourmalines. First discovered in Brazil's Paraíba state, it's as rare as it is radiant. Whether dazzling in a ring or lounging raw in a collector's case, no wonder gem lovers worldwide are obsessed. Read more: 5 must-visit ancient sites in India that are older than the Pyramids Madagascar – Various gemstones A gem-hunter's paradise, Madagascar offers sapphires, rubies, garnets, and more. Ilakaka, once a sleepy town, became a gemstone hotspot in the late 1990s and continues to be a major global source. Afghanistan – Lapis Lazuli The Badakhshan region has been mining lapis lazuli for over 6,000 years. While not a precious gem in the traditional sense, top-grade lapis is extremely valuable and was once considered more prized than gold.
Elle
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
The Splendor of Harry Winston
Harry Winston has consistently made waves and commanded their presence in the spotlight. This is the jewelry house that was once the home of the Hope Diamond (among many other historic gems). Its founder was dubbed 'King of Diamonds' for his uncanny ability to source phenomenal stones from all corners of the globe, and jewels from the House's coffers have accompanied many an award winner onstage. But the buoyant mid-twentieth century marked a particularly impressive set of milestones for Harry Winston. In 1952 the house was reported as having the world's second-largest collection of historic jewels, trailing only the British royal family. Its place as a pop-culture icon was firmly secured when a certain blonde film megastar name-checked the House during an onscreen dance number. And she was by no means alone—all the era's most prominent tastemakers were clamoring for Harry Winston jewels. One reason for that long list of accolades is the House's pitch-perfect ability to craft classic, extravagantly beautiful jewelry that strikes a powerful emotional chord. Take, for example, the Great design has a way of bringing people together, especially when it's able to inspire hope and joy with a glance. And a piece of exceptional jewelry such as these can inspire for a lifetime, and beyond. Botanical Beauty The Sunflower Collection reinterprets the unmistakable silhouette of the blossom as an exceptional jewel. A central gem—a diamond or precious colored gemstone—surrounded by a halo of eight diamond petals forms the motif that repeats across the collection. Never out of fashion in the 75 years since it was first introduced, it exudes bright, unpretentious delight that will be equally adored in generations to come. Harry Winston Brilliant Blooms To mark the 75th anniversary of Sunflower, two new gemstones have joined the collection's luminous palette. Each brings with it a fresh, distinctive point of view. Vivid emeralds burst with vitality and evoke the spirit of nature, while luscious pink sapphires are subtle and alluring. They join earlier interpretations of Sunflower with precious stones at their center: classic white diamond, radiant yellow diamond, majestic blue sapphire, and seductive red ruby. Open Gallery Sublime Symmetry Single-minded devotion to creating spectacular jewels with nature's most prized and rare materials is what made Harry Winston a legend. That legacy remains constant today with every jewel that bears his name—very much including the Sunflower Collection. Each piece is fashioned from platinum—treasured for its supreme luster and strength that holds every gem with total security—by the House's artisans. Open Gallery Floral Forms Endlessly adaptable and utterly timeless, Sunflower translates to any hour of the day, every moment in a full and vibrant life. The collection extends from casual essentials—delicate pendant necklaces and studs, petite rings—that make everyday dressing a special event. And still its high-jewelry offerings, such as a necklace composed of end-to-end diamond sunflowers totaling more than 25 carats, are the showstoppers of galas, red carpets, and best-dressed lists. Open Gallery
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
That's no ruby. It's an extremely rare red diamond.
While it may look like a blazing red ruby, the 2.33-carat Winston Red Diamond is just that—a diamond. One of the rarest diamonds in the world, the Winston Red Diamond is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC–right near the more famous Hope Diamond. To learn more about this exceedingly rare Fancy Red diamond, Smithsonian gem and mineral curator Gabriela Farfan and colleagues spent two years researching its history and tracing its geological past. The team officially categorized the diamond and also narrowed down its potential country of origin as Venezuela or Brazil. The findings are detailed in a study published June 6 in the journal Gems & Gemology. Ronald Winston, son of famed American jeweler Harry Winston, donated the roughly 8 millimeter in diameter diamond to the Smithsonian in 2023. It is the fifth-largest confirmed red diamond in the world. Based on its old mine brilliant cut, gemologists believe that it was likely mined before the middle of the 20th century. This older style of cutting diamonds predates the more modern brilliant cuts seen today. Gemologists estimate that one in every 25 million diamonds is fancy red. According to the Smithsonian, this specific red diamond's documented history begins in 1938, when it belonged to the Cartier Family. The Cartiers then sold it to the Maharaja of Jamnagar India sometime before the 1980s. Winston purchased the stone from the Maharaja in the late 1980s and the diamond once adorned a ring worn by actress Brooke Shields in 1989. At 2.23 carats, it is smaller than the largest confirmed fancy red diamond. The Moussaieff Red clocks in at 5.11 carats and has been displayed in museums around the world. On April 1,the Winston Red Diamond officially went on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Scientifically describing and detailing the Winston Red's color and history was one of the major goals of this new study. Red diamonds are exceedingly rare, which makes studying them equally difficult. A diamond's color is largely determined by its chemical make-up. For example, a traditional white diamond is mostly composed of carbon. Small amounts of nitrogen will give a diamond a more yellow hue. If those nitrogen atoms have enough time–several millions of years–to aggregate in groups, the diamond will appear more brown. After even more years, if the nitrogen atoms form in groups of three surrounding a missing carbon atom, it will turn a yellow color. If the element boron replaces carbon, it produces a blue hue. Red and pink diamonds don't owe their color to chemistry. The extreme pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth can lead to plastic deformation within the rock. During plastic deformation, the atomic bonds in the diamond break and re-form along imperfections called dislocations. These deformations will change the diamond's atomic structure and affect how the light interacts with the stone. It's this deflection that gives it its rosy hue. Pink diamonds get their color in a similar way, since the color red is a more saturated pink. The Winston Red is also considered a Fancy Red diamond, meaning its color is pure red. It does not have any other modifying hues like purple, brown, or orange. Only 0.04 percent of fancy colored diamonds have this Fancy red color grade. The chances of finding a Fancy red diamond like the Winston Red is about one in 25 million diamonds. [ Related: The mystery behind pink diamonds just got some more clarity. ] To learn more, the team used several techniques including photoluminescence, spectroscopy, and cathodoluminescence to study the precious stone. These analyses confirmed the presence of plastic deformation bands and a pattern that officially classifies it as a type IaAB (A<B) Group 1 'pink' diamond. The diamond underwent significant pressure and temperature conditions when it was forming. They also found that the Winston Red gets its pure crimson color because it had a careful balance of the right pressure and temperature during its formation. Based on its mineralogical characteristics and mid-20th century cut, the team believes that it likely originated in Venezuela or Brazil. However, its precise place of origin is still unknown.
