Purple is a powerful color. Some of its
clout stems from the fact that it's rarely found in nature. Indeed, only a few
gems exhibit a dominant purple color. Fortunately, those that do are truly
beautiful. Their colors range from pale and gentle to saturated and bold. You
may have heard of some of these stones, but some may be new to you. Luckily,
there are beautiful purple gemstones available at prices to accommodate any
budget.
Amethyst: The Beloved Purple Gemstone.
Amethyst, the February
birthstone, is arguably the most iconic purple gemstone. Its colors range from
soft lilac to deep reddish-purple, offering stunning variety.
This gemstone is a
quartz variety, one of the Earth's most abundant minerals. Its striking color,
widespread availability, and affordability make amethyst the top choice among
transparent purple gemstones.
Amethyst’s versatility
makes it a favorite among jewelers. It appears in all types of designs, from
high-end luxury pieces to simple birthstone jewelry. Transparent amethysts are
often faceted, while translucent ones are shaped into cabochons or beads. For
collectors, raw crystals attached to host rocks are especially appealing.
Interestingly,
amethyst shares a close relationship with citrine, quartz’s yellow variety.
Some quartz crystals even combine the two, creating a bicolored gem called
ametrine. If you’re seeking something rare and playful, ametrine might be the
perfect choice.
Purple Sapphire: A Rare and Resilient
Gemstone.
Sapphire, often celebrated for its
versatility and durability, stands out as one of the most reliable gemstones.
Its wide range of colors and abundant supply make it a timeless favorite,
cherished for centuries.
The striking purple
hue in sapphire results from a unique mix of iron, titanium, and chromium
impurities in its chemical structure. Depending on the concentration of these
elements, purple sapphires may display subtle undertones of red or violet.
Many purple sapphires
undergo heat treatments to enhance or alter their colors, often shifting them
to pink. Since pink sapphires typically command higher prices per carat, this
process boosts profitability for vendors. However, some purple sapphires remain
untouched, preserving their natural beauty and offering a more affordable
option for buyers. Dealers may refer to these gems as "rose
sapphires" or "plum sapphires."
A fascinating
phenomenon seen in rare purple sapphires is color change. These stones can
appear reddish or violetish purple under incandescent light and shift to blue
or green hues in daylight. Lab-created sapphires can also mimic this
captivating effect.
Tanzanite: A Gem of Colorful Depth.
Tanzanite, one of
December's modern birthstones, is a fascinating gemstone known for its shifting
colors. It displays three distinct hues—purple, violet, and blue—depending on
the angle of view. This remarkable feature, known as pleochroism, makes tanzanite
one of the most striking trichroic gems.
Tanzanites showcasing
a dominant blue hue tend to command higher prices per carat than those
emphasizing purple. As a result, most tanzanites available on the market are
cut to maximize their blue appearance, with purple and violet flashes adding
vibrancy. However, some cutters choose to highlight tanzanite's purple tones,
making these gems rare and highly collectible.
Purple Tourmaline: Vibrant and
Versatile.
Tourmaline is a durable gemstone that can
appear in nearly every color, including purple. As one of October's
birthstones, it offers remarkable clarity and can even display a dazzling cat's
eye effect in certain specimens. Thankfully, purple tourmalines are often more
affordable than other shades, such as red or pink, making them an attractive
option for gemstone lovers.
Purple Garnet: January’s Unique Beauty.
Garnet, January's birthstone, comes in a
variety of species and colors, including stunning purple hues. Garnets with
almandine in their chemical makeup can exhibit a dominant purple color. These
stones are often called rhodolites in the gem trade. While garnets may not
match the hardness of tourmalines or sapphires, they remain durable enough for
everyday wear.
Purple Spinel: A Rare August Gemstone.
Spinel, a modern
birthstone for August, is a resilient gem known for its striking colors. Purple
spinels showcase tones ranging from soft and light to rich and dark, with
varying levels of saturation.
The purple hue in
spinel comes from trace elements of iron and chromium. While not as popular as
red, pink, or blue spinels, their relative obscurity keeps the price per carat
lower, offering excellent value for these vibrant stones.
Lavender Jade: A Delicate and Treasured
Gem.
Lavender jade, a
variety of jadeite, is known for its soft purple hues, never overly dark or
saturated. While jade refers to both jadeite and nephrite, only jadeite
naturally occurs in purple tones, earning it the name "lavender
jade."
Among jadeite
varieties, lavender is second only to green in value. Collectors often seek
deeper colors, but some buyers favor light purple shades with gray undertones.
The finest jadeite pieces have even, uniform coloring, though it’s more common
to see mottled, uneven patterns in this gemstone.
Jade has held a
special place in history, particularly in Asian cultures, for its beauty and
practicality. Its softness allows intricate carving, while its strength makes
it durable enough to hold sharp edges longer than iron. Jade ranges from
semi-transparent to opaque, with greater clarity significantly increasing its
value.
Another material,
turkiyenite—often called "Turkish purple jade"—is sometimes sold as
an alternative. While it contains some jadeite, this opaque gemstone is
distinct from both jadeite and nephrite. Despite the difference, its rich
purple hues make it ideal for carving exquisite jewelry and art.
Purple Topaz: A Rare and Durable Beauty.
Topaz, one of
November's birthstones, is known for its wide range of colors, including rare
and stunning purple hues. While most recognized for yellow, red, orange, and
blue tones, purple topaz occurs naturally and is highly sought after.
Topaz can be polished
to an exceptionally smooth surface, sometimes described as "slippery"
to the touch. With an impressive hardness of 8, it retains this polish and
makes a durable choice for everyday wear.
Purple Spodumene
(Kunzite): A Collector's Gem.
Kunzite, a variety of
spodumene, is typically known for its pink hues, but rare crystals occasionally
display a beautiful violetish-purple color. This gem is more popular among
collectors than casual buyers, keeping its price-per-carat relatively low.
Kunzite can form in
massive crystals, some exceeding 1,000 carats. Jewelers craft it into delicate
accents or bold centerpieces. However, kunzite’s color is light-sensitive and
prone to fading under heat or prolonged exposure to light. To preserve its beauty,
reserve kunzite for evening wear and store it in cool, dark places.
Purple Scapolite: A
Lesser-Known Alternative.
Purple scapolite
shares similarities with amethyst but exhibits unique characteristics. Its
shades of purple often lean toward violet or brownish tones, and it can
fluoresce with vibrant pink, yellow, or orange colors under ultraviolet
light—something amethyst does not typically do.
However, scapolite is
softer than amethyst, with a hardness rating of 5.5-6. This makes it less
suited for everyday wear. Protective settings are essential for scapolite
jewelry, especially rings, to prevent damage.
Sugilite.
Translucent to opaque
sugilite has a strong purple hue that may have violet, red, or even blueish
undertones. These striking purple gemstones may contain other minerals that
will appear as dark or light streaks within the gem. Gem faceters usually cut
sugilites into cabochons and beads but only rarely into faceted pieces. You may
find sugilite sold under trade names such as "Royal Lavulite,"
"Royal Azel," and "Cybelene."
Charoite.
For gemologists, a
rock is a material composed of several different minerals in a single mass.
Some rocks have the beauty and durability needed for gem use. Charoite is one
such "gem rock" or "lapidary rock."
Made up of many
minerals, including feldspar and quartz, charoite usually contains distinctive
string-like, crimped, whiteish inclusions. Some in the gem trade call this
"granny hair." Between these white streaks, you may also see white,
gray, black, and possibly brownish orange spots.
Purple Fluorite.
Due to its softness
and perfect cleavage in four directions, fluorite is quite fragile and usually
considered a collector's stone. However, fluorites occur in many beautiful
colors, including purple. Fluorite gems can range from transparent to fully
opaque. Raw fluorite crystals can be very large, but their surfaces are
generally quite pitted due to their softness. Any fluorites in jewelry should
have protective settings.