The facts
What aventurine actually is
Aventurine is classified as quartzite, with the composition SiO₂ with mica inclusions. It crystallises in the trigonal (aggregate) system.
Colour comes from fuchsite mica for green, hematite for red, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.544–1.553. Specific gravity around 2.64–2.69. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where aventurine comes from
Aventurine is produced at India, Brazil, Russia and Tanzania.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How aventurine is treated
Dyed material is common at the cheap end.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What aventurine is confused with
In the trade aventurine is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Jade, Dyed quartzite or Green glass (goldstone).
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.544–1.553 and specific gravity 2.64–2.69 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What aventurine is used for
Demand for aventurine comes from jewellery, decorative objects, wellness and body care and watch dials, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the piece or by the kilo.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; 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 aventurine costs
As a guide, aventurine trades around $1–15/ct.
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 aventurine treated, and how?
Dyed material is common at the cheap end.
Where does aventurine come from?
India, Brazil, Russia and Tanzania. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is aventurine hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 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 aventurine cost?
Indicatively $1–15/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 aventurine confused with?
Most often Jade, Dyed quartzite and Green glass (goldstone). A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.64–2.69 separate it quickly.
What is aventurine used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects, wellness and body care and watch dials. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for aventurine?
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 aventurine