![]() ![]() ![]() Some amethyst collectors seek out the deepest and richest hues of stone they can find, while others look for the lighter stones for their exceptional beauty and sparkle. And in the end, all of this comes down to the collectors’ market. Today, the question of “how much is amethyst worth” is mainly a matter of supply and demand, as well as preference coupled with availability. Zambian amethyst remains exceptionally rare, with gemstones larger than 10 carats even today reserved for royalty.īut since royal quality amethyst has also been discovered in Uruguay and Brazil, the golden rule of thumb remains that of selecting amethyst for its pure and rich colouring instead of its location of origin. In fact, so deep is the colouring of some of the gemstones unearthed in Zambia, that it is at times rejected as being of too dark a hue. ![]() The deposits mined in Zambia remain the finest amethyst in the world due to its deep, creamy, and rich colour. Then, in the early 19th century, more rare discoveries were made in Uruguay, followed by additional deposits of exceptional quality amethyst deposits in Zambia. While the biggest deposits of amethyst mined today feature a colouring that is less saturated, the deep royal purple variety remains rare, and therefore slightly higher priced.Įxceptionally fine amethyst historically came from deposits mined in Russia’s Ural Mountains and from Idar-Oberstein in Germany. What Affects Amethyst’s Value?Įven though the price tag associated with amethyst has come down considerably since those early days of extreme rarity, it remains a gemstone exceptionally popular because of its deep-purple, almost royal, hue. Particularly pure pieces of the gemstone are priced at around $40 or $50 per carat. Prices range between $20 and $30 per carat. Today, even at the higher grades, amethyst is quite affordable. Suddenly, amethyst had become more readily available than ever before, and as such, was no longer classed as a rare type of gem. Throughout the ages, the authoritative list of cardinal gems has remained the same – with the lone exception of amethyst.Īmethyst was removed from the list when massive deposits of this beautiful gemstone were discovered in South America at the turn of the eighteenth century. Rare gems such as amethyst were reserved for members of royal families, those in possession of magical powers, and religious leaders of the highest classes. The reason these gems were classed cardinal was because of their exceptional rarity. These cardinal gems included Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, and you guessed it amethyst crystal. In the pre-Middle Ages, cardinal gems were the most revered. ![]()
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