Every Gemstone Ranked (Some Are Overpriced)

Tourmaline is B-tier, offering good mechanical properties and diverse colors, though long crystals can chip. Cubic Zirconia is B-tier for its affordability and surprising durability, despite losing crispness over time. Garnets are A-tier, a family of minerals with good hardness, no cleavage, and reasonable toughness, making them suitable for everyday wear. Chrysoberyl is A-tier, highly durable and hard, but very expensive, especially Alexandrite.

The video starts by highlighting the confusion around gemstone pricing and quality, introducing the critical distinction between hardness (scratch resistance) and toughness (resistance to breaking). It also explains 'cleavage,' structural planes where a stone prefers to split, which is crucial for durability.

Pearls are ranked F-tier due to low hardness and solubility in mild acids. Opals are also F-tier, being brittle, prone to chipping, and susceptible to 'crazing' from temperature changes due to their water content. Emeralds, despite an apparent hardness of eight, are E-tier because of their brittleness, numerous inclusions, and common oil/resin treatments that can be damaged. Tanzanite, a geographically rare stone, is E-tier due to its softness (6-7 on Mohs scale), perfect cleavage, and reliance on heat treatment for color. Synthetic rutile is placed in E-tier for its easy scratching and tendency to yellow over time.

Morganite, a beryl variety, is D-tier. While durable, it easily gets coated with skin oils and soap, dulling its appearance. Aquamarine is C-tier; despite good hardness, it chips easily and most commercially available stones are very pale. Quartz variants (amethyst, citrine, etc.) are C-tier, being affordable and common but susceptible to scratching over time. Topaz is C-tier; it's hard but has perfect basal cleavage, making it prone to splitting on impact. Peridot is D-tier, being softer and more brittle than quartz, though palasite peridot is an exception due to its unique origin.

Moissanite is S-tier, almost as hard as diamond, extremely tough, stable, and much cheaper, offering impressive rainbow sparkle. Lab-grown diamonds are S-tier, identical to natural diamonds in properties but without ethical sourcing concerns and at a fraction of the cost. Natural diamonds are C-tier due to their high price relative to performance, despite being the hardest natural material. Spinel is S-tier, underrated for its mechanical properties (hardness 8, no cleavage, very tough), attractive colors, and affordability. Corundum (Ruby & Sapphire) achieves 'God Tier' as the king of colored gemstones. With a Mohs hardness of 9, extreme toughness, high stability, and a vast array of colors, it offers superior durability and performance without structural flaws.

The video concludes by reiterating that gemstone value and durability are often disconnected from marketing and price. Understanding the material science of gemstones is key to making informed choices, as physics dictates their true performance, not prestige or cost.