Some types of amethyst are really hard to find and can cost a lot of money. These gems stand out because of their amazing characteristics and where they come from.
People who collect gems are often on the lookout for these rare stones. They’re interested in the different shades of purple and the stories behind where these stones are found.
Valuable Amethysts and What Makes Them So Rare
Some amethyst types are super hard to find and really pricey. You can learn more about what makes them different, why they’re not found everywhere, and where you might be able to see or get them.
Deep Russian Amethyst
Deep Russian amethyst has a stunning deep purple color that reminds you of velvet or dark plums. This gem also shows off shades of red and blue, making its appearance even more eye-catching.
This type of amethyst is hard to find and costs a lot because the mines in Siberia, where it was originally found, don’t have much left. Over the years, these mines have been dug up a lot and now there’s not much of this beautiful stone left to find.
Deep Russian amethyst used to come from Siberia, but now those mines are pretty much empty. But, you might still run into this rare gem at places like estate sales where old jewelry is sold, or through dealers who specialize in rare gems.
Rose De France Amethyst
Rose de France amethyst is known for its light and dreamy color. It has a soft purple base that can look like lilac or light lavender, and sometimes you can see hints of pink in it, which makes it really different from other amethysts.
This type of amethyst is pretty rare because it has to have just the right mix of light purple and pink. Plus, when these stones are being cut, they have to be handled carefully so they don’t lose their special colors.
Rose de France amethyst doesn’t come from just one place. Instead, it’s sorted and cut in places known for working with amethyst. These include places in Brazil, Uruguay, and India.
Ametrine
Ametrine is a cool stone because it has two colors in one crystal. It mixes purple and yellow or orange tones, making each piece different and interesting.
This gem is kind of rare but not the rarest out there. Its value can be pretty high, especially if the colors are bright and clear, and if the stone is big and cut really well.
Ametrine gets its colors from iron and titanium inside the crystal. These elements mix in just the right way to make the purple and yellow or orange parts.
Much of the ametrine we see comes from the Anahi Mine in Bolivia. This mine is famous for producing ametrine that looks really good and has clear, bright colors.
Pink Amethyst
Pink amethyst is known for its soft and gentle pink color. This color can be a light rose, a more vivid pink, or a delicate lavender pink.
This kind of amethyst is rare because it needs a very specific pink color without too much purple. Finding stones that perfectly match this color is hard, and purple amethysts are far more common and abundant.
The main place you can find pink amethyst is in Patagonia, Argentina. This area became famous in 2019 when pink amethyst was first discovered there, and it’s still the best place to find it today.
Siberian Amethyst
Siberian amethyst is famous for its deep and vibrant purple color that ranges from an intense plum to a vivid violet. It’s also known for having flashes of red when viewed under natural light.
This type of amethyst is pretty rare and valuable because it has to be a certain kind of purple that’s deeper and more vibrant than most amethysts.
Even though it’s called Siberian amethyst, this stone actually comes from the Ural Mountains in Russia, not Siberia.
Siberian amethyst can also be found in the Four Peaks Amethyst Mine, which is found in the Mazatzal Mountains in Arizona.
Brandberg Amethyst
Brandberg amethyst is truly amazing with its colors that go from very light to very deep purple. Sometimes, you can even see clear and smoky quartz mixed in.
This amethyst is only found in one place in the world, which is the Brandberg area in Namibia, Africa. The Brandberg Mountain, where these crystals come from, is super old and has created these gems through a lot of complex natural processes.
Some Brandberg amethysts have “phantom” crystals inside them. This means that they exhibit visible outlines of previous crystal growth stages.
Another awesome feature is enhydro crystals, which are crystals with ancient water trapped inside. When you move the crystal, you can see the water bubble move, which is really neat.
Auralite
Auralite has a cool mix of colors, with purple usually standing out the most. It can also have clear quartz and smoky quartz inside, plus little shiny bits from other minerals.
This crystal is pretty rare because it only forms under certain special conditions that don’t happen very often. Additionally, auralite was only found in 2007, so it’s pretty new to everyone.
Auralite comes from a place called the Auralite Mine, which is in Thunder Bay, Canada. That’s the only place where you can find this kind of crystal.