The facts
What imperial Jasper actually is
Imperial Jasper is classified as jasper (orbicular, silicified volcanic), with the composition SiO₂ with iron and manganese oxides. It crystallises in the cryptocrystalline aggregate system.
Colour comes from iron gives greens and pinks; the concentric orbs are rhythmic crystallisation rings, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.53–1.54 (spot). Specific gravity around 2.55–2.70. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where imperial Jasper comes from
Imperial Jasper is produced at Guadalajara area, Jalisco, Mexico and Vallecillos, Jalisco, Mexico.
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 imperial Jasper is treated
Untreated in good material. Because the name carries a premium, dyed and stabilised jaspers of other origins are sold as imperial; look for dye lines in the porous orb centres.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What imperial Jasper is confused with
In the trade imperial Jasper is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Ocean jasper, Poppy jasper, Bruneau jasper or Dyed jasper.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.53–1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.55–2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What imperial Jasper is used for
Demand for imperial Jasper comes from jewellery, carving and sculpture and decorative objects, 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 block or by the piece.
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 imperial Jasper costs
As a guide, imperial Jasper trades around Rough 40–250 USD/kg; cabochons 25–200 USD.
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 imperial Jasper treated, and how?
Untreated in good material. Because the name carries a premium, dyed and stabilised jaspers of other origins are sold as imperial; look for dye lines in the porous orb centres.
Where does imperial Jasper come from?
Guadalajara area, Jalisco, Mexico and Vallecillos, Jalisco, Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is imperial Jasper 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 imperial Jasper cost?
Indicatively Rough 40–250 USD/kg; cabochons 25–200 USD. 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 imperial Jasper confused with?
Most often Ocean jasper, Poppy jasper, Bruneau jasper and Dyed jasper. A refractive index of 1.53–1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.55–2.70 separate it quickly.
What is imperial Jasper used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for imperial jasper?
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 imperial jasper