In recent years, jewelry such as the well-known rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and colored diamonds have become must-have gems for collectors and investors. Moreover, certain types of jewelry—whose popularity has been steadily rising along with growing domestic awareness—are emerging as “dark horses,” shining brightly in the gemstone world and continuously setting new record highs in value. Yet their prices haven’t yet reached the stratospheric levels of the so-called “Big Five” gemstones.

Now that the Spring Festival is over and we’ve officially started work, let’s take a look at some affordable jewelry pieces from 2018 that are worth keeping an eye on and investing in.

Tanzanite Label: Rich color, scarce resources

In the West, tanzanite has long been established as a high-end jewelry gemstone. The finest tanzanite blues are profoundly rich and intense, boasting a velvety smoothness that rivals the luster of royal sapphires. Tanzanite is found exclusively in a tiny 20-square-kilometer region at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro—its unique origin and intensely vibrant color have driven its price to skyrocket in recent years. The stunning, vivid blue hue of tanzanite is precisely the color traditionally reserved for the highest-quality sapphires; moreover, tanzanite often exhibits greater clarity than sapphires. As a result, tanzanite—a stone initially marketed as a sapphire substitute—has gradually forged its own distinct style and carved out its own niche in the market.

Tourmaline Label: High demand, high awareness

Friends who are more attentive to and familiar with the colored gemstone market might point out: Haven’t tourmaline prices already been rising for quite some time? Indeed, in recent years, as its value has doubled, tourmaline’s reputation has soared—especially high-quality varieties such as Paraíba tourmaline and watermelon tourmaline. Once priced by the gram, top-quality tourmaline is now valued by the carat, just like diamonds. Today, tourmaline prices continue to rise steadily at an annual rate of 15%, with premium-quality tourmaline seeing price increases as high as 30%. Moreover, thanks to its rich and vibrant colors, relatively affordable pricing, and excellent versatility, tourmaline is becoming increasingly popular among the general public.

As a result, tourmaline has great potential for appreciation and can serve as an excellent investment and collectible item.

Tsavorite Tag: Ultimate Color, the Gemstone Rising Star

Tsavorite boasts the “three highs” that make many colored gemstones envious: high brilliance, high purity, and highly saturated color. Although tsavorite was discovered only a few decades ago, its trading price has already approached that of high-end gemstones. This market price clearly demonstrates that this precious treasure is destined not to remain hidden—its brilliance will not only shine through but has also swept through the auction markets in recent years. In 2008, Sotheby’s sold a 10.30-carat tsavorite ring for HK$800,000; in May 2009, a pear-shaped tsavorite pendant fetched CHF 170,500.

I can say without hesitation that sapphire is definitely a “rising star” among colored gemstones.

Opal Stone Label: High Quality, Limited Quantity, Diverse Colors

Opal is hailed as Australia’s “national treasure.” Ninety percent of the opals available on the market come from Australia, and due to its extremely limited production, it doesn’t lend itself to large-scale market speculation—it can only appreciate in value gradually, bit by bit. As the number of opals entering the market has increased year by year, public awareness of them has also risen. Ten years ago, a high-quality 50-carat raw opal could fetch 300,000 yuan; today, its price has climbed to roughly 1.5 million yuan. On an annual basis, opals typically see an appreciation rate of around 20%.

The basis for determining whether it’s still worth investing is: rich and beautiful colors, healthy price growth, and market stability.

South Red Label: Limited Origin, Antique Aesthetic

The full name of "Nanhong" is "Nanhong Agate." In recent years, the price of Nanhong Agate has been rising rapidly, with market trends continuing to climb. Even a casual string of Nanhong agate bracelets picked up at a jewelry market—though perhaps not of the highest quality—can easily fetch several thousand yuan. Ordinary, mass-produced Nanhong pieces have also seen their prices soar, ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan per piece. As for masterpieces created by renowned artisans, they can command prices from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan each—and demand far exceeds supply. Currently, the primary sources of Nanhong agate on the market are gemstone materials from Baoshan in Yunnan and Liangshan in Sichuan. Among these, top-grade, older agates with particularly fine coloration are especially sought after. Because Nanhong agate exudes an antique-like nostalgic charm, coupled with its limited geographic origins and scarce production, it is poised to remain highly popular in the future.

Shugu Lai Label: Gentle and Moving, Market Gap

Shuguli is a newly discovered mineral species identified in the 1960s by a Japanese geologist. It’s considered a rare gemstone and is also known as South Africa’s national treasure. Currently, its only known sources are China, South Africa, Japan, Canada, and the United States—among which the U.S. is the largest exporter. In the past two years, South Africa has imposed restrictions on exports, causing prices to rise steadily.

Shouju Lai boasts a variety of opaque shades, ranging from light to deep purples and purplish-reds, sometimes even darkening to nearly black. Its color tends to deepen and become more radiant with prolonged wear. With its delicate and supple texture, it exudes a gentle luster and a regal elegance that makes it particularly popular among women.

Spinel Label: Ultimate Color, Market Gap

“Natural beauty is hard to discard; eventually, one will rise to fame.” Spinel has a hardness higher than tourmaline and closely resembles ruby. Since ancient times, it has been set in the crowns of many imperial nobles, kings, and high-ranking officials. This beautiful yet understated gemstone was once considered a substitute for ruby. Thanks to its clean, crack-free nature, spinel can be crafted into a wide variety of jewelry pieces. Whether paired with other gemstones or used as the centerpiece on its own, spinel always exudes an enchanting allure. As a result, it’s increasingly favored by both jewelry brands and consumers alike.

Lapis Lazuli Label: Resource Shortage, Market Demand

Lapis lazuli is a rare mineral; currently, no lapis lazuli deposits have been discovered in China. As a result, its price is higher than that of other similar minerals. Whether it’s lapis lazuli jewelry or raw stones, prices have risen significantly compared to two years ago. In just two short years, the price of lapis lazuli has multiplied several times over. Lapis lazuli is often paired with amber, creating a uniquely exotic aesthetic imbued with Buddhist reverence—a popular choice for crafting prayer beads.