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Moreover, the gems that contain inclusions are of lesser quality and are often made into beads or cabochons (as seen below). When heated to more than about 300-400C, amethyst loses its violet color and often turns yellow, orange or brown, and then resembles the quartz variety citrine.
NATURAL AND ORIGINAL AMETHYST COLOR FREE
High-quality versions of this stone are “eye-clean” meaning it is free of any visible inclusions. Stones should not be too dark since it can make them appear dull and dark under certain light. Color zoning is when there are bronze colored tints within the stone, the presence of which significantly reduces the value of the gem. The gem should be a reddish to deep purple color and should not contain any color zoning. The most important factor in determining the value of amethyst is its color. All of these factors impact both price and quality. When purchasing these beautiful gems, it’s important to keep in mind the four Cs: color, clarity, cut, and carat. The gems inside these geodes follow a six-sided pyramidal crystal structure.Īmethysts are valued using much of the same criteria as other gems. Amethyst geode formation is a trait that differentiates the stone from other gems such as white diamonds, which do not form geodes. Moreover, these purple stones are unique in that they often grow in huge geodes, which are rocks that appear plain on the outside, but actually are filled with crystal gemstones. When the cavities are filled with a silica-rich liquid, crystals begin to form within volcanic rocks. Quartz is formed in lava, specifically when gas bubbles become trapped, allowing crystals to form inside the cavities created by the bubbles. Brazil remains a major supplier, with a large portion of the stones coming from the southern state of Rio Grande du Sol.Īmethyst is a variety of quartz and its chemical makeup is composed of silicon dioxide. Today, amethyst can be found all over the world, from Africa to Asia, to South America. However supply dramatically increased when natural sources of its crystals were discovered in Brazil. Until the 19th century, amethyst was primarily mined in Russia. We only use the most exquisite Natural AAAA Amethysts in all our jewelry.Classic Four Prong Solitaire Amethyst Ring Typically, eye clean material of the same color is considered more valuable.īuyer’s note: Since amethyst is available in abundance, there is little reason to buy stones with visible inclusions. Most of the amethyst are eye clean ie., they lack visible inclusions. Clarity & LusterĪmethyst is a Type2 gemstone, which means they are usually found with few inclusions.
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The most priced amethyst are “Siberian” deep purple amethyst with red and blue flashes. Amethyst that either a weak or a light color or have zones of either light or dark purple colors are considerably less valuable. The deep colors are the most valuable, especially a rich purple with rose flashes. It looks the best in daylight as compared to artificial lighting. The finest amethyst is a deep purple color with minimal color zoning. Given the lack of a global standardized amethyst grading system, it is important to know what to look for when purchasing amethyst jewelry Color is the most importantĪmethyst colors range from pale lilac to deep reddish purple and ranging from transparent to translucent quartz. Instead, its value depends primarily on the color. In gemology, Amethyst is recognized as a naturally occurring, purple colored semi-precious gemstone of Quartz mineral family. Unlike many other gems, the price doesn’t rise exponentially with carat weight.
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Once available only to the royalty, amethysts have become one of the most popular gemstones used in jewelry pieces because of their wide availability and affordability. Amethysts are believed to hold a legendary power to stimulate and soothe the mind and emotions. It is one of the most popular choices among the semi precious stones, having been esteemed throughout the ages for its stunning beauty. Meaning and LoreĪmethyst the symbol of spirituality and contentment. It is also the gem for 6th and 17th anniversaries. He became possessive, and angry, leaving Amethyst to call out to the goddess Artemis (Diana) for help. Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February. Tom Smith Last updated: JHow to tell if amethyst is real According to Greek Mythology, Dionysus (Roman equivalent, Bacchus), the God of wine and ecstasy was obsessed with Amethyst, a young virgin girl.
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