20 Glimmering Facts About Rare Gemstones You Didn’t Know

Ammolite is an opal-like gemstone that can be found in an infinite array of colors and is one of a few known biogenic gemstones. It is formed from the fossilized shells of Ammonites (a pre-historic squid-like creature).

Black onyx stones are actually never completely black. The ones you can buy in-store have instead either been treated to become much darker or are various other types of the gemstone made to look like onyx stones.

The garnet gemstone was named after the seeds of a pomegranate, a plant whose fruits contain abundant and vivid red seeds, which are similar in shape, size, and color to these garnet crystals.

Peridot was Cleopatra's favorite gemstone.

The Graff Pink Diamond is the most expensive single jewel ever sold at auction. The diamond is 24.78 carats and was sold for $46 million.

One of the largest sapphires is known as the Star of Asia, which is currently housed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It is said to once have belonged to the Maharaja of Jodhpur (India).

Crazy Lace agate is mined only in Mexico and because of this it is often called Mexican Lace Agate. This stone is found exclusively within the area known as Chihuahua, in Northern Mexico. Crazy lace agate is believed to have been created in the cretaceous period, about 65-90 million years ago.

In the Middle Ages, women would wear Opals in order to protect the color of their blonde hair.

Once Amethyst Gemstones were considered to be one of the most valuable gemstones on the earth, but the equation changed overnight when huge reserves of it was found in Brazil.

Amber is considered to be the softest and lightest gemstone on the face of the earth. This beautiful gemstone is so light that it floats in saltwater.