The facts
What amethyst actually is
The species behind amethyst is quartz, SiO₂; it forms in the trigonal system.
Iron plus natural irradiation, as a colour centre is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity of about 2.65, with none cleavage.
Where amethyst comes from
Commercial material comes from Artigas, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Kalomo, Zambia, Thunder Bay, Canada and Maissau, Austria.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How amethyst is treated
Heating turns it to citrine or prasiolite. Amethyst sold as amethyst is normally untreated.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What amethyst is confused with
Watch for Purple sapphire, Purple fluorite and Synthetic amethyst — difficult — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.65 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What amethyst is used for
The trades that buy amethyst are jewellery, architecture and interiors, furniture, mineral collecting, wellness and body care and lighting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the square metre or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What amethyst costs
Expect roughly $5–60/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is amethyst treated, and how?
Heating turns it to citrine or prasiolite. Amethyst sold as amethyst is normally untreated.
Where does amethyst come from?
Artigas, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Kalomo, Zambia, Thunder Bay, Canada and Maissau, Austria. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is amethyst hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does amethyst cost?
Indicatively $5–60/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is amethyst confused with?
Most often Purple sapphire, Purple fluorite and Synthetic amethyst — difficult. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
What is amethyst used for besides jewellery?
architecture and interiors, furniture, mineral collecting, wellness and body care and lighting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for amethyst?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about amethyst