Are you eyeing amethyst for a unique jewelry piece? Cool! But which one?
Do you think there is only one sort of amethyst stone? No, in addition to the typical kind we see in the market in the purple gemstones list, there are other types of amethysts too. Let’s explore one turn and another.
Owner of various healing properties, rich history, and mesmerizing colors and shades, amethyst is a must-have for opulent and exclusivity lovers.
Nevertheless, these are not the only selling points you should consider. Trying to find quality and diversity is what makes you a savvy consumer.
Don’t know how to do that? Don’t worry; we have got you covered. Hop on the journey of exploration regarding different types of amethyst and understand what you need to do as an informed consumer.
Types of Amethyst: A Consumer’s Guide
This is a fact that no matter what gemstone you want, the choice among a natural stone, lab-grown and treated, is always present. As a consumer, you should be aware of these variations. Let’s open the pandora box for you.
Natural Amethyst
Amethyst is a well-known quartz type with violet or purple tones that naturally develops inside amethyst geodes. These are tiny crystal-filled cavities found on the earth’s surface. You may also find amethyst on vugs, holes made when rock erodes or dissolves and leaves behind enormous voids. It has large deposits around the corner, which makes it widely available and affordable.
Lab-Grown Amethyst
A high-quality amethyst is imitated using a hydrothermal growth technique. In this process, the crystal is produced inside a high-pressure autoclave. The best part is these stones are visually, physically, and chemically similar to the natural ones, which are more affordable than the mined ones.
Treated Amethyst
The majority of amethysts do receive treatments to enhance or alter their color. Heat therapy and irradiation are the two basic procedures utilized for this. These processes can significantly change the amethyst’s clarity and color if done correctly.
As we say, taking an expert’s advice before selecting a gemstone or buying from a verified dealer are the best ways to get hold of some of the ultimate deals and escape any dupes or frauds.
Also See: All Types of Gemstones
Types of Amethyst: Something you Should Not Miss
There are numerous varieties of amethyst. Even though the majority are purple, the wide types or kinds might appear somewhat different. You only need to be aware of their differences from one another. Let’s get going.
Amethyst Cacoxenite
These crystals have a lavender-purple tint and a variety of inclusions, making them a fantastic option for those seeking the amethyst benefits in astrology.
Ametrine
This clear quartz variety displays citrine and amethyst hues in a single stone, implying that it carries both crystals’ energy.
Auralite-23
Two beautiful stones, chevron, and amethyst, are combined with various other minerals to create the quartz crystal known as auralite-23. It is a rare amethyst with up to 23 mineral inclusions.
It is believed that it creates a complex frequency that crystal healers cherish as it mixes the lovely knowledge of amethyst with many other energies.
Black Amethyst
It is a naturally darker amethyst due to nickel and hematite inclusions and a higher iron concentration within its crystalline matrix. During periods of intense healing, it works with the body’s upper and lower chakras to maintain equilibrium and mental stability.
Purple Amethyst
It is one of the most common amethysts that everyone is familiar with and used for high-end jewelry pieces. It is known to have rich purple color; however, the complete color spectrum includes light lilac, lavender, mauve, and deep violet. Purple Amethyst is a variety of quartz that can be discovered on every continent. The purple color of the stone is a result of iron and manganese traces.
Cape Amethyst
White milky quartz and amethyst are combined to form cape amethyst. The milky quartz can be found in distinct layers or excellent detail. It is frequently referred to as chevron amethyst and banded amethyst or when the milky quartz is found in layers. If you are searching for something unique in gemstones, then cape amethyst can fulfill your desire.
Pink Amethyst
Pink Amethyst, which can range in tone from gentle lilac to deep pink and even peachy, initially originated in Argentina. Hematite mineral inclusion is why amethyst gets its pinkish hue rather than purple. In most stones, hematite often leaves red streaks.
Mossy Amethyst
Amethyst crystals, known as mossy or moss amethyst, have vein-like features and are typically more reddish. It is often referred to as “tourmalinated” amethyst because the threads or branches are sometimes black tourmaline inclusions.
Prasiolite
Green amethyst, also known as prasiolite, is a pale green kind of quartz. Purple Amethyst deposits occur close naturally. It is thought that high-temperature lava flows or intrusions would have brought about the chemical reactions that transformed the purple quartz into green quartz.
Natural green amethyst is rare; therefore, green amethyst can be achieved by using various treatments.
Also See: Top 10 Rarest Gem in The World
Types of Amethyst: The Role of Cut, Clarity, Carat, and Color (Quality Parameters)
Carat, color, clarity, and cut are those crucial factors that help determine a gemstone’s value. For the buyer, having a thorough understanding of all four of them is imperative. So, let’s know them now.
Types of Amethyst in Terms of Color Variance
If purple is your color, amethyst can be your stone. Traders prefer intensely saturated reddish purple instead of dark purple as it goes with the demand in the market. As a matter of fact, the stone should not be too dark as it impairs brightness.
The best amethysts have intense reddish-purple or purple hues without any discernible color zoning. Any apparent color zoning or golden tints in an amethyst’s purple hue significantly reduce its value.
Amethyst buyers can examine any color zoning by putting the gemstones on a white surface.
Consumers should not choose amethysts that have a weak, pale tint or have distinct zones of purple color, such as lighter and darker. These elements reduce the overall worth of these stones.
How Does Clarity Impact Amethyst?
The value of a stone increases with its clarity. It is extremely typical to find amethyst with low clarity (many impurities). Amethyst frequently has bands of other minerals or hazy inclusions.
Amethysts with stunning color and seen inclusions are typically carved into cabochons or made into beads. Delicate color and excellent clarity cabochons and beads command a significant premium. It should be feasible to obtain good, apparent stones even on an average budget because amethyst is not particularly rare, and enormous clear pieces of it are expected.
Amethyst is rarely treated to fill surface-reaching cracks to increase clarity. Good for us, isn’t it?
Different Types of Amethyst as Per Cut
What cut of amethyst do you desire for the new amethyst ring or earrings? You will be thrilled to notice amethyst gemstones being cut into numerous shapes and sizes, including
- Cushions
- Pears
- Marquises
- Ovals
- Rounds
- Emerald cuts, etc.
Amethyst is also well-liked for making a variety of freeform shapes. These cuts can be achieved either manually or automatically. You may choose these “designer” or “dream” cuts from mass production or one-of-a-kind order items for your exquisite jewelry design.
These cuts occasionally exhibit concave faceting. There are also various varieties of cuts and carvings, including carvings of animals and other things.
Amethyst Varieties Based on Carat Weight
A gemstone’s value is significantly impacted by its carat weight. Amethyst is in all size ranges and can be put into many types of jewelry. Since the price per carat does not significantly increase with the larger size, it is favored as a huge center stone.
Amethyst Variety as per Grading system
Every buyer wants to own a top-notch gemstone. However, as a buyer, you should be sure of the quality that you are truly purchasing. The same goes for amethyst. Let’s know amethyst as per the grading system.
Natural AAAA: This category represents the top 10 percent of all naturally occurring amethysts. They are technically eye-clean, brilliantly cut, and exhibit a distinctive medium-dark purple hue.
Natural AAA: These are the top 20%–30% of naturally occurring amethysts, and they are barely included and possess a medium dark purple hue.
Natural AA: These are the best 50%–75% of the available natural amethysts. They are highly to moderately included and have a medium to light purple color.
Also See: Gemstone Colors and Names
Picked Any Favorite Among the Different Types of Amethyst?
Amethyst conjures images of a magnificent purple gemstone symbolizing bravery, passion, majesty, and dreaminess. Knowing the various types of amethyst will only increase your familiarity with this gemstone’s enormous realm.
Want to learn more about this beautiful gem? Please read how to take care of amethyst bracelets and how to clean amethyst bracelets.
FAQs
You may select any cut you desire; however, the most suited one can be an oval shape. An extended version of the brilliant round cut, the oval shape will accentuate the amethyst’s appearance beautifully. A stone with an oval shape will look more significant than a stone with a round shape of the same carat weight.
The richest hues are darker, particularly a deep purple with beautiful rose flashes. Significantly less valuable amethysts are weakly colored and feature light or dark purple zones, or all three.
No amethyst is not at all expensive compared to high-end gems you have heard about. High-quality cut amethyst stones can cost around $20 to $30 per carat, while really exquisite specimens may cost approximately $40 per carat.
