The amethyst is a beautiful purple variety of quartz that has long been prized as a gemstone. As a birthstone for February, amethyst is a popular choice for jewelry and gifts. But just how rare and precious is the amethyst gemstone? Let’s take a closer look at the geology, history, and rarity of this remarkable purple stone.
What is Amethyst?
Amethyst belongs to the quartz family of minerals. It gets its distinctive purple color from trace amounts of iron and other natural irradiation within the earth. The word “amethyst” comes from the Ancient Greek “amethystos” meaning “not intoxicated.” Ancient Greeks believed wine goblets carved from amethyst would prevent drunkenness.
Amethyst ranges in hue from pale red-violet to a deep purple that can appear almost black. The most prized color is a rich, medium intense purple with red flashes. While amethyst is most famous for its purple hues, it can also occur as green, yellow, blue, brown, or colorless quartz.
Where Does Amethyst Come From?
Amethyst is found on every continent and is sourced from numerous global locations. Some of the most important sources include:
| Brazil | Uruguay | Zambia |
| Mexico | Russia | Canada |
| United States | South Korea | Bolivia |
The top producers today are Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Africa. Historically, Russia was renowned for its beautiful deep purple amethyst, but most Russian mines are depleted today.
In the United States, amethyst is found scattered across many states but concentrated in the Southwest. Maine and North Carolina were historically important U.S. sources. Today, amethyst mining continues on a smaller scale across the U.S. and Canada.
Amethyst through History
Evidence of prehistoric humans collecting and wearing amethyst jewelry dates back to 25,000 BC. In ancient times, amethyst was equally as valued as ruby, emerald and sapphire. Huge geodes of amethyst were discovered around 2000-1000 BC near the Red Sea coast. This area was within the ancient Egyptian and Nubian kingdoms. Amethyst quickly became popular for Egyptian jewelry and carved amulets. Ancient Greeks and Romans also prized the stone.
In the Middle Ages, European royalty declared amethyst precious along with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Saint Valentine was thought to wear an amethyst ring engraved with an image of Cupid. Amethyst rings and brooches were popular in Renaissance Europe. Medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets for protection in battle. Bishops also wore amethyst jewelry and often drank from amethyst goblets.
By the 18th century, huge new amethyst deposits were discovered in Brazil, causing the stone’s rarity and value to decline in Europe. More affordable transportation allowed amethyst to be shipped across seas to different markets. While still a beautiful gemstone, large quantities of amethyst made it more accessible.
Rarity and Value
Compared to diamonds, rubies and emeralds, amethyst is an affordable and abundant gemstone. But that doesn’t mean it lacks allure and beauty! While common, deep purple amethyst is still the most rare and desirable shade. Pale lavender amethyst is widely available. Vivid purple hues with red flashes are considered top grade.
Fine quality amethyst in larger carat sizes remains valuable, especially for collector-grade pieces. But small, commercial quality amethyst is inexpensive, ranging from $1 to $100 per carat. By comparison, diamonds less than 1 carat can cost hundreds to thousands per carat.
The table below compares amethyst value per carat against other popular colored gemstones:
| Gemstone | Price per Carat |
|---|---|
| Amethyst | $1 – $100 |
| Blue Sapphire | $100 – $10,000 |
| Ruby | $100 – $10,000 |
| Emerald | $100 – $20,000 |
| Natural Alexandrite | $3,000 – $30,000 |
From this comparison, it is clear amethyst is far more commonplace and affordable than rarer colored gems.
Amethyst Grading Factors
Gemologists grade amethyst based on the following factors:
– Color – Deep purple most valued, with red flashes ideal
– Clarity – Transparent, clean stones preferred
– Cut – Well-proportioned faceting to maximize color
– Carat – Larger stones are more rare
– Origin – Certain localities preferred based on color
The rarity of any individual amethyst depends on how it rates based on these factors. While abundant overall, a large, vivid, clean amethyst would be considered quite scarce and valuable.
Amethyst Treatment
Most commercial amethyst is heat treated to intensify its color. Darker stones are more rare in nature. Heat treating light or pale amethyst creates darker purple and red-violet hues. However, too much heat can turn amethyst yellow, green or colorless.
Irradiation treatment can also darken amethyst. But natural dark amethyst remains the most precious. Treated stones are still beautiful but do not command the highest values compared to untreated gems.
Amethyst Jewelry Popularity
As the February birthstone, amethyst jewelry sales peak in winter. Amethyst is also the official gem for 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries. While diamonds dominate engagement rings, modern brides sometimes opt for unconventional colored gems like amethyst.
For everyday wear, amethyst offers an affordable pop of color. Amethyst mixes well with neutral metals like white gold, yellow gold and sterling silver. It also complements many other colored gems. These factors keep amethyst a popular jewelry choice century after century.
Supply and Production
In 2021, global amethyst production was estimated at 18,306 tons. The largest producer was Brazil at over 50% of the total market supply. Other key producers include Uruguay, Bolivia, Zambia and Mexico. While plentiful, high quality amethyst remains elusive with commercial demand outpacing limited supplies of premium grade gem material.
New sources arise periodically, especially in Africa, but are quickly depleted. As existing mines dry up, major new amethyst deposits are unlikely to be found. This may impact long term supply. For now, commercial demand for amethyst is steady and production remains abundant overall. But deep purple amethyst will likely become more scarce over time.
How Rare is Amethyst Compared to Other Gems?
Here is a summary rarity comparison against other popular colored gemstones:
| Gemstone | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Diamond | Very Rare |
| Ruby | Very Rare |
| Sapphire | Rare |
| Emerald | Rare |
| Amethyst | Common |
| Citrine | Common |
| Garnet | Common |
From this overview, it is clear amethyst is one of the more common and affordable gemstones, especially compared to exceptionally rare gems like diamonds and rubies. But it still maintains an allure and uniqueness that continues to captivate jewelry lovers around the world.
Is Amethyst Rare Overall?
While common, amethyst is still considered a precious gemstone. Fine quality amethyst in larger sizes can be considered rare and will command higher values. Smaller commercial quality amethyst is more abundant and affordable for use in most jewelry. But the best quality deep purple amethyst remains relatively scarce compared to the large quantities of pale lilac amethyst on the market. So amethyst can be viewed as both common and rare, depending on the specific specimen.
Factors Making Amethyst More Rare
Here are key factors that make amethyst rare:
– Natural deep purple color – Most amethyst is light without heat treatment
– Larger carat sizes – Most deposits yield small amethyst crystals
– Clean clarity – Most amethyst forms with inclusions visible
– Finest cutting quality – Precision cutting is labor intensive
– Untreated stones – Most amethysts are heated or irradiated
An amethyst that combines several of these traits would be considered a very rare and valuable specimen.
Is Amethyst Becoming More Rare?
As existing reserves decline over time, exceptional amethyst may become more scarce. Demand is also variable based on fashion trends. So in the long run, fine quality amethyst could potentially become rarer. But because of its relative abundance, it is unlikely amethyst will ever reach the exceptional rarity of gems like emeralds or natural pink diamonds that form much more rarely in nature.
Conclusion
In the gemstone kingdom, amethyst is not the rarest or most precious stone. But deep colored amethyst remains relatively uncommon compared to the large quantities of commercial quality pale amethyst on the market. Factors like natural color, size, clarity and quality cutting distinguish the finest amethyst. While still affordable, exceptional amethyst displays qualities making it deserving of the title precious gemstone. For those born in February or lovers of purple, amethyst birthstone jewelry retains its allure and beauty as a prized semiprecious gem.
