The facts
What prasiolite actually is
Prasiolite is classified as quartz, with the composition SiO₂. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron after heat treatment, 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 2.65. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where prasiolite comes from
Prasiolite is produced at Montezuma, Brazil and Poland.
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 prasiolite is treated
Almost all of it is heated amethyst. The name "green amethyst" is a misnomer the trade discourages.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What prasiolite is confused with
In the trade prasiolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Peridot or Green beryl.
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 prasiolite is used for
Demand for prasiolite comes from jewellery, 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.
Durability and care
Prasiolite is 7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 prasiolite costs
As a guide, prasiolite trades around $5–40/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 prasiolite treated, and how?
Almost all of it is heated amethyst. The name "green amethyst" is a misnomer the trade discourages.
Where does prasiolite come from?
Montezuma, Brazil and Poland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is prasiolite 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 prasiolite cost?
Indicatively $5–40/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 prasiolite confused with?
Most often Peridot and Green beryl. A refractive index of 1.544–1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for prasiolite?
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 prasiolite