As a gemologist with extensive experience in the field of gemstones, I can provide you with an informed perspective on the rarity of emeralds compared to diamonds.

Emeralds are indeed rarer than diamonds when considering the quality and availability of the stones in the market. While diamonds are abundant, the majority of them are of lower quality and not suitable for use in jewelry. High-quality diamonds, which are clear and colorless, are much rarer. On the other hand, emeralds are inherently included, meaning they almost always have visible inclusions and fractures, which are considered flaws in other gemstones but are accepted in emeralds. The search for quality emeralds is much more challenging due to their formation process and the geological conditions required for their growth.

However, when it comes to absolute rarity, diamonds are actually more rare than emeralds. The formation process of diamonds requires extreme conditions, such as high pressure and temperature, which occur deep within the Earth's mantle. These conditions are less common than those for emerald formation. Additionally, the volume of production for diamonds is lower than that for emeralds, which means that for every carat of rough material mined, fewer carats of gem-quality diamonds are produced compared to emeralds.

In summary, while emeralds are rarer in terms of high-quality stones available for purchase, diamonds are more rare in terms of their formation and the number of gem-quality stones produced from the rough material.

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Gem quality emeralds are rarer than colorless diamonds. However, large diamonds of high color and clarity or natural fancy colored diamonds are exceedingly rare. ... On average a diamond is rare and more valuable than an emerald but on rare occasions, an emerald maybe more precious.read more >>