First discovered in 1813, cordierite was named after the French mineralogist Louis Cordier. Known as cordierite in mineralogy, this clear stone is quite hard, with hardness pegged at 7 to 7.5 in the Mohs scale. While most popular in blue, iolite also occurs as clear crystals. Source: Rob Lavinsky, – CC-BY-SA-3.0 Colorless Iolite It was a 71.25 white spinel now estimated to have a value of $1,000,000. The biggest and most valuable of this clear stone came from Sri Lanka. With a high refractive index almost equal to sapphire, this clear gem may indeed appear white. While usually found in colored varieties, spinel also occurs as clear stones, better known as white spinel. This clear stone is the third hardest, with hardness pegged at 8.5 in the Mohs scale, just behind sapphire and diamond. While commonly a greenish yellow, chrysoberyl also occurs as clear crystals.

51 Types of Green Gemstones for JewelryĬhrysoberyl is the same mineral that produces cat’s eye and alexandrite.

In astrology, this precious stone is the birthstone of the zodiac sign Taurus. Sapphire is the modern birthstone for the month of September. With prices of over $1,000 a carat, white sapphire is also among the most expensive of clear gemstones. Though not technically white, this clear stone is called white sapphire, thanks in no small part to a high refractive index, which makes the clear crystal appear indeed white. While most popularly blue, sapphire occurs as clear crystals in pure form. The second hardest gemstone next to diamond, sapphire is the gemstone of the mineral corundum, except for the red variety, which is known as ruby. Source: Wiener Edelstein Zentrum via Wikimedia Commons White Sapphire Benitoite was named after the San Benito River in Calfornia, USA, where the gemstone was first discovered, and hailed as official state gem.

With value as high $1,800 a carat, benitoite is among the most expensive of clear gemstones.

Glassy in luster, these clear crystals have a hardness of 6 to 6.5 in the Mohs scale. While most popularly blue, benitoite also occurs as clear stones. Discovered in 1945, taaffeite was named after Richard Taaffe, who was able to distinguish the gemstone from spinel, with which the new gemstone was commonly confused at the time. With prices of up to $4,600 a carat, taaffeite is the most valuable of clear gemstones next to diamond. Source: Rob Lavinsky, – CC-BY-SA-3.0 Colorless Taaffeiteīeside purple, taaffeite also occurs as colorless crystals. THE WHITE DIAMOND : From Unsightly Stone to a Symbol of LightĪ clear crystal of taaffeeite with lavender edges.

Clear glass gems