Amethyst price: what amethyst is worth per carat
Amethyst is affordable and abundant, so value comes down to the richness of its purple. Deep, saturated stones with red flashes are worth many times the pale material.
What drives amethyst price
Amethyst is purple quartz — plentiful and inexpensive, which means colour quality is almost the entire story. The most valuable stones show a deep, saturated purple, ideally with flashes of red or "raspberry."
Colour grades
Top material is sometimes called "Deep Russian" or "Siberian" grade — a rich, dark purple with red secondary flashes. Pale lilac and washed-out stones are very cheap; overly dark stones that appear inky face-up are also less desirable.
Clarity, cut & size
Fine amethyst is a Type I stone and should be eye-clean; because it is abundant, included stones have little value. Amethyst forms large crystals, so size adds only modest per-carat premium — colour dominates. Skilled cutting to maximise even colour matters.
Treatment
Some amethyst is heated to lighten overly dark colour or is the source of heat-treated citrine; fine natural colour is common and does not require enhancement.
Amethyst price — frequently asked questions
What colour amethyst is most valuable?
A deep, saturated purple with flashes of red or raspberry — sometimes graded "Deep Russian" or "Siberian." Pale and washed-out stones are far less valuable.
Does size affect amethyst price much?
Not greatly. Amethyst forms large clean crystals, so colour saturation drives per-carat value far more than size does.
Is amethyst a valuable gemstone?
It is affordable and abundant, so even fine amethyst is modestly priced compared with rare gems. Deep, richly coloured stones are worth considerably more than pale ones.
Is amethyst treated?
Fine natural colour is common. Some stones are heated to adjust tone, and heating amethyst is also how much citrine is produced.
Indicative trade information from the Gem Index universal pricing engine — not a formal appraisal or laboratory certificate. Wholesale, USD. Species, treatment and origin should be confirmed by an accredited gem laboratory before sale. See our full disclaimer and methodology.