The facts
What red Beryl actually is
The species behind red Beryl is beryl, Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈; it forms in the hexagonal system.
Mn³⁺ 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 1.564–1.574 and a specific gravity of about 2.66–2.70, with imperfect basal cleavage.
Where red Beryl comes from
Commercial material comes from Ruby-Violet claims, Wah Wah Mountains, Utah, USA and Thomas Range, Utah, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How red Beryl is treated
Untreated; some stones are fracture-filled given how included the material is. One of the rarest faceted gems — essentially a single commercial source, now barely worked. Hydrothermal synthetic red beryl from Russia is common and must be ruled out before paying natural prices. The trade name 'red emerald' is discouraged.
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 red Beryl is confused with
Watch for Synthetic red beryl, Rubellite, Ruby, Pezzottaite and Red spinel — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.564–1.574 and specific gravity 2.66–2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What red Beryl is used for
The trades that buy red Beryl are mineral collecting and jewellery. 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 specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Red Beryl is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, with imperfect basal cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What red Beryl costs
Expect roughly $2,000–20,000/ct; clean stones over 1 ct exceptional, 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 red Beryl treated, and how?
Untreated; some stones are fracture-filled given how included the material is. One of the rarest faceted gems — essentially a single commercial source, now barely worked. Hydrothermal synthetic red beryl from Russia is common and must be ruled out before paying natural prices. The trade name 'red emerald' is discouraged.
Where does red Beryl come from?
Ruby-Violet claims, Wah Wah Mountains, Utah, USA and Thomas Range, Utah, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is red Beryl hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but imperfect basal cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does red Beryl cost?
Indicatively $2,000–20,000/ct; clean stones over 1 ct exceptional. 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 red Beryl confused with?
Most often Synthetic red beryl, Rubellite, Ruby, Pezzottaite and Red spinel. A refractive index of 1.564–1.574 and a specific gravity near 2.66–2.70 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for red beryl?
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 red beryl