Top 10 Gemstones with the Most Unique Color-Givers
Color is one of the most important characteristics of the gemstones. But what's responsible for their color? And why do the different gemstones have different colors? Or, why the same gem occurs in different colors?Color-Givers (chromatophores) are elements, minerals, metals, processes or inclusions that give a gem its distinctive color.
Most gemstones are colored by impurities or trace elements in their crystal structure. It's interesting that:
1) a similar color can result from different trace elements - for example, red color in ruby and beryl is produced by different factors
2) different colors can result from the same trace elements - for example, chromium will produce green color in emerald and red color in ruby.
This list is about the most unique color-giving factors that produced the most incredible colors in gemstones.
Its color is caused by "GR1 color centers in the crystal lattice produced by exposure to varying quantities of radiation." - wiki
Light is responsible for its color(s). There are no actual objects inside - it's just light interfering within the microstructure of the gem. Opal can display all colors imaginable in all combinations.
It's unique because in order for alexandrite to form, chromium, a very rare element, has to combine with beryllium and aluminum.
Light is also a color-giving factor because light can make alexandrite look green at noon and red at midnight.
It's the rarest diamond and it's red because the crystal lattice was deformed by radioactive radiation! This deformed crystal lattice causes another reflection within the diamond and it appears red.
Pay attention that the crystal lattice is only deformed and not damaged! It's diamond after all, the hardest gem. It can withstand a lot, even radioactive radiation. Red diamond is the most expensive gem.
Red diamond is found mostly in Africa, Australia and Brazil.
Its unique pink-ish to red color comes from the presence of chromium.
It's the rarest beryl variety because red is the rarest color for beryl. It receives its red color from trace amounts of manganese and it's unique because beryllium and manganese are rarely found at the same location.
The emerald ring you see in the image was sold for 5.5 million dollars not long ago. It's a high quality emerald from Colombia.
Amethyst gets its purple-ish color from the presence of iron.
One of the rarest gems in existence. Its greenish-blue color is incredible
An extremely rare gem with pale pink color
