Buyer's Guide
Amethyst’s major attribute is its rich velvety purple or reddish purple hue. Gems that display this colour evenly—with no visible colour zoning when viewed from above—are highly prized.
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What to look for
The finest amethyst colour is a strong reddish purple or purple, with no brownish or bronze-coloured tints, or any noticeable colour zoning when you look at the stone from the top. If the stone becomes too dark in tone, it might look black under dim lighting.
Much of the faceted amethyst in the market is “eye clean”, meaning it lacks eye-visible inclusions. Gem professionals overlook minor inclusions when the gem is richly coloured and otherwise high quality. Often this material is used for cabochons or carvings. Visible inclusions in pale pastel-coloured gems reduce their value greatly.
Amethyst is available in a wide variety of fancy shapes, including custom cuts. Most cutting styles are calibrated in standard millimetre sizes for use in mass-market jewellery.
Amethyst in large sizes is not priced significantly more per carat than smaller sizes, making it a good choice for bold jewellery designs. Unlike some coloured gems, small sizes can be strongly coloured, making it easier to match sets of differently sized gems.
Amethyst Quality Factors: The Comprehensive Guide
Tips & Advice
1. Understand the difference that colour makes.
Look at different colours of amethyst side by side to understand the range of qualities available. Pale colours are more affordable than strong reddish purple tones.
2. Don’t compromise on cut.
The quality of the cut can make a big difference in beauty and brilliance. Your amethyst should sparkle in a lively way, reflecting light back evenly across the entire gem. Poorly cut gems are much less marketable and sell at a discount.
3. Work with a jeweller you trust.
If it’s important to you that you are purchasing a natural amethyst, make sure you choose a jeweller who has gemmological knowledge and is experienced with this gem.
4. When in doubt, get a lab report.
For a significant purchase an independent laboratory report can confirm that the amethyst you are buying is natural.
Questions & Answers
Does it matter where an amethyst is mined?
Although jewellers might expect that an amethyst from Siberia or Zambia might have a better colour than amethyst from Brazil, origin alone does not add value to amethyst. Value is based on quality, and colour is the most important value factor, regardless of the country of origin.
Does GIA offer reports for amethyst?
GIA does offer coloured gemstone identification reports for amethyst, but the cost of the report compared to the value of most amethysts means they are uncommon.
What’s AAA-quality amethyst?
Although individual companies might create their own quality descriptions, like AAA, AA or A to denote the range of quality of their goods, no standard quality grading scales exist for amethyst.
Is it OK to have an amethyst engagement ring?
Amethyst is appropriate for everyday wear, but its Mohs hardness of 7 means that it will show wear over the years and may require repolishing. Today, consumers make unconventional engagement ring choices, choosing birthstones or other coloured gemstones rather than diamonds. It’s a personal choice.
Find out more
Amethyst: Questions & AnswersCaring for Your Amethyst
Keep your amethyst beautiful by following simple care and cleaning guidelines.
Durability
Amethyst is durable enough for rings and mountings subject to daily wear, but might require repolishing over the years.
Care and Cleaning
Warm soapy water is always safe.
Treatment
Amethyst is rarely treated, but might have fractures. Only clean fracture-filled gemstones with warm, soapy water.
