Is Amethyst Expensive?

Amethysts are one of the most popular gemstone varieties. Used in jewelry at every price point, and you can find them set in inexpensive children's items all the way up to royal collections. 

Shopping for amethysts can be overwhelming at first. You will see tiny gems listed with substantial price tags alongside much larger stones valued at just a few dollars. Seeing such a huge range is confusing, and can lead to concerns that low-priced stones are somehow inferior, but the expensive gems are over-priced. Let the IGS Value Guide help you understand how amethysts are valued. 

Color is Everything

With a wide range of per-carat prices, it is interesting that the value of the February birthstone depends mostly on a single factor - color. 

Amethysts are famous worldwide as the vibrant purple transparent gemstone that comes in all saturations and tones. It is possible to see some brown, gray, or violet mixed in, but it is gems that display a color of pure purple or reddish purple that have the highest value. Amethyst crystals that show the best hues, paired with strong saturation and medium to dark tones, are true treasures and are valued as such.

There are a number of factors that influence the value based on color. The first is rarity. Amethyst crystals are a variety of quartz, one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust. When that quartz contains iron color centers, it stains the crystal purple. However, iron is not distributed evenly throughout the crystal and is concentrated at the outer tips. This means that only the furthest points of raw amethyst gems have the highly valued deep coloration. The majority of the body of the crystal is paler. 

Color Uniformity is Key

After the rare deep color, the value of amethysts depends greatly on whether or not there is noticeable color zoning. Color zoning is the phrase used in the trade to describe any inconsistency of color expression. Due to the irregular distribution of iron, amethysts are known to often have areas that are either paler or darker than the majority of the gem. Such zoning is considered unattractive and distracting and thus lowers the value of the gem. 

Not Too Light, Not Too Dark

Gemologists use the term "tone" to describe the lightness and darkness of a gem. Amethysts can have such a light tone that they are the palest shade of purple, but they can also be so dark that they appear almost black. Neither of these extremes is good for value. The most expensive amethysts have a medium or dark tone that is not so extreme as to make the stone appear dull.

That being said, remember that personal taste does not always align with value trends. Some buyers prefer amethysts with a gentle color, so there is certainly a place for such stones in the marketplace (and you can snatch them up at a great price).

Color Trumps Origin

The historical source of amethyst was Russia. For many hundreds of years, Russian amethysts were a rare gemstone that was valued similarly to sapphires and rubies. This changed in the nineteenth century when a vast deposit of amethyst was found in Brazil. Since then, many more sources have been identified around the globe. 

Buyers don't often care where their amethyst stones come from; however, certain deposits are known for particular traits. It is generally accepted that a relatively high percentage of African amethyst exhibits the best color, but individual crystals tend to be small. Sometimes, these gems are overly dark. Alternatively, South American amethyst, including the material from Brazil, is a few shades lighter on average, but crystals can be absolutely giant. Amethysts from Argentina and Uruguay are known to often have dramatic color zoning. At one point, it was estimated that about 75% of the supply of commercial-level amethyst gems originated in South America.

As there is overlap between the color expression of amethysts from different sources, you can't determine the geographic origin based on appearance alone. A gem with a light or medium tone can originate in Africa, just as highly saturated gems are uncovered in South America. 

Clarity Is Important, But Only When It Applies

Amethyst crystals tend to be very clean with a relatively low percentage of stones containing inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye. Because clarity features are the exception, rather than the rule, there is not a huge premium attached to clean gems. Rather, it is the few amethysts that are included that are heavily discounted. You will often see such stones cut as cabochons or beads. 

Bigger Does Not Mean More Expensive

A sizable percentage of raw amethyst crystals are so large that they are impractical for use in jewelry. In such instances, cutters will divide the crystal into multiple individual gemstones. They are most mindful of the color expression, separating the valuable tip of the crystal so that the color is maximized without showing zoning patterns. The rest of the crystal will often be cut into calibrated sizes because no one is concerned about weight loss. This is why carat weight does not significantly factor into the per-carat value, especially with regard to calibrated stones.