With buyers increasingly becoming more sophisticated and expressive in their choice of gemstones, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, among other gems, have soared to prominence even more.

Alongside this popularity is rising investment value. In 2015, Sotheby’s Geneva sold the 25.59-carat "Sunrise Ruby" of Burmese origin for US$30 million, making it the most expensive ruby. 

In 2017, an 18.04-carat emerald once owned by the Rockefeller family, was purchased by Harry Winston for US$5.5 million or US$305,500 per carat at Christie’s New York – the highest price per carat ever obtained for an emerald.

Sapphires are also highly favoured at auctions. In 2014, the "Blue Belle of Asia" – a cushion-shaped 392.52-carat Ceylon sapphire – fetched US$17.3 million at Christie’s Geneva, setting a world-record price for a sapphire.