article_snippet.sent: The huge increase in demand for coloured stones, such as sapphires and rubies, has seen The huge increase in demand for coloured stones, such as sapphires and rubies prices soar.
article_snippet.sent: And experts say the trend might prove that diamonds are not forever after all, as the value of the jewels has been vastly overtaken by more fashionable stones.
article_snippet.sent: Demand has seen the value of some coloured stones increase by more than 2,000 per cent over the last ten years, with leading auctioneers now branding leading auctioneers a better investment than diamonds.
article_snippet.sent: While diamonds are still broadly worth more money than softer stones such as emeralds, the increase in price generated by coloured stones in recent years has far overtaken diamonds.
article_snippet.sent: As the gems are much rarer than diamonds the surge in demand - especially from Asia - has played a significant part in driving up their cost.
article_snippet.sent: The surging popularity of coloured stones is one of the reasons leading auctioneers Bonhams include leading auctioneers Bonhams in most sales around the world, alongside diamonds.
article_snippet.sent: Jean Ghika, head of jewellery in the UK and Europe at Bonhams, said that as well as being fashionable colured stones are also becoming seen as a sound investment.
article_snippet.sent: Miss Ghika added: 'Diamonds are typically seen as the more 'robust' area in the gemstone market in terms of seeing a return on investment. '
article_snippet.sent: But figures over the last decade demonstrate that coloured stones have actually overtaken diamonds in terms of growth.'
highlights_snippet.sent: Increased demand for coloured stones has seen Increased demand for coloured stones prices soar .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Value of diamonds has been vastly overtaken by sapphires and rubies .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Auctioneers are now branding Auctioneers a better investment than diamonds .
  