How do you know if an amethyst is real?

When comparing gems, it is important to always remember that their beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one customer likes, another may not like. This is especially true when it comes to colored gemstones as they vary so much. However, the basic characteristics of gemstones (color, clarity, cut and carat weight) are universally applicable. When we look at alexandrite and amethyst, the two stones may appear similar in appearance. To the naked eye, both have gorgeous purplish-red hues. However, alexandrite is much rarer and more versatile than amethyst – alexandrite is the rarest quartz. We say this not only because we are partial to exotic stones. We mention this because alexandrite is capable of transitioning from a mesmerizing green to a beautiful red in different lighting conditions. Besides this obvious difference between the two gemstones, they also have some similarities. Let’s figure out what sets them apart from each other in the world of gemstones. This way you can make the most informed purchase possible.

HOW WAS ALEXANDRITE DISCOVERED?

If you are familiar with Mark Henry jewelry, you are probably well aware of this story. It never gets old, so let us refresh your memory. In the 1830s, the famous mineralogist Niels Gustav Nordenskiöld led an expedition to the Ural Mountains in Russia. During their search, Nordenskiöld’s team was lucky enough to stumble upon a piece of alexandrite, and the world of gemstones changed forever. At first everyone thought they had found an emerald of special quality. The Ural Mountains are known to contain these precious stones in abundance. However, when the stone was placed under an incandescent lamp, it quickly turned a stunning shade of red. What could it be? Upon careful examination and study, gemologists and mineralogists came to the conclusion that they had stumbled upon a completely new stone. They named it “Alexandrite” in honor of the ruler of Russia at that time.

HOW WAS AMETHYST DISCOVERED?

As for the discovery of amethysts, their history is not so clear. Amethysts were beloved by the ancient Greeks and have been used for a variety of purposes for tens of thousands of years. While their origins may not be entirely certain, they have certainly earned their place in history.

Historical meaning

The Alexandrites are inextricably linked to Tsar Alexander II (their namesake) and the Russian royal family. At the time of their discovery, the monarchy was the main trendsetter. The use of alexandrite in jewelry and royal regalia brought world fame to the royal family. In addition, the Ural mines quickly ran out of stone reserves, which forced the international community to look for new sources. As we have already said, the ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks were very fond of amethysts and often used them for protection. The stones got their name from the Greek word amethystos, which means “not drunk.” The myth of Bacchus and the amethyst says that the power of the gem could sober even the Roman god of wine. The story was also captured in Remy Bellot’s 1576 poem (“Amethyst or the Love of Bacchus and Amethyst”), which perpetuated the myth of the amethyst.

Where is alexandrite found?

The most prized item is alexandrite mined in Russia, but it is only sold as antiques from that region. Brazilian alexandrite is the closest to Russian alexandrite. This stone was discovered in the 1980s and quickly became the primary source of raw material for most high-end jewelers. Since then, alexandrite has been discovered and mined in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and parts of Africa.

Where is amethyst mined?

Amethysts are most valued when they are mined in Siberia. Siberian amethysts have the deepest purple color. In fact, Siberian amethysts are so popular that they have become their own category of amethyst. It refers to any intense purple, high-quality amethyst. To date, amethysts have been found in Brazil, Canada, Bolivia, Uruguay, South Korea, Brazil and other countries. Sometimes it is found even in the United States: mines are known in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, Maine and Minnesota.

HOW ARE ALEXANDRITE AND AMETHYST DIFFERENT?

To explain the difference between alexandrites and amethysts, it is necessary to study their physical properties.

Composition

Alexandrite is a type of chrysoberyl. It contains beryllium and chromium. The reason for its incredible rarity is that these two elements are not often found in the same breed. Alexandrites can be found in several different rocks: gneisses, mica schists, pegmatites and dolomite marbles. They have a glassy luster and a specific gravity of 3,68 to 3,80. They have fluorescent, ultraviolet long-wave and ultraviolet short-wave luminescence. Alexandrites are sensitive to heat. Amethysts are a variety of quartz, which places them in a completely different family of crystalline minerals. The crystals that make up amethyst are mined from volcanic lava, and the gemstone itself is silicon dioxide. It can be found in placer deposits, but most often in pegmatites, like alexandrite. Amethysts also have a glassy luster and a specific gravity of 2,651. They have fluorescent and ultraviolet short luminescence like alexandrite, but do not have ultraviolet long luminescence. Instead of being heat sensitive, they are heat treated to improve their appearance.

Strength

Alexandrites are more durable than amethysts, but not by much. On the Mohs hardness scale, alexandrites range from 8 to 8,5, while amethysts range from 7. The latter stone is only slightly softer than the former, but this may affect wearability when placed in items that scratch easily (rings, bracelets, and etc.).

Color

Here’s where gemstones clearly differ from each other – color. As we have already said, alexandrites are pleochroic. They are famous for their ability to instantly change from green in daylight to red at sunset. Since these are transition stones, they can come in a variety of shades. An example is the blue-green stones of daylight and the red-violet stones of evening. Amethysts are much more structured in their purple coloration. They can come in bright or duller variations ranging from purple to lilac, but the only other shade they may resemble is pink/red. These are strictly warm tones.

Size

Other physical differences between the two stones include their sizes. Most amethysts do not exceed 100 carats, and the most sought-after transparent ones are even less. Alexandrites are incredibly small in comparison, usually weighing less than one carat. The Smithsonian Museum houses the largest known alexandrite – only 65,7 carats.

Price difference

Since alexandrites are rarer than amethysts, they are naturally more expensive. These stones can fetch up to $15 per carat, which is not as expensive as it may seem when you consider that they are rarely that large. $000 is a more typical price for alexandrites over one carat. In comparison, amethysts are very affordable. Even clear, bright stones cost around $40 per carat. While this may seem attractive to those on a budget, remember that you get what you pay for. It may be worth purchasing an amethyst as you begin your gemstone collection. You can upgrade to a more expensive alexandrite later when you decide which style you want to invest in.

HOW COMMON ARE FAKE AMETHYSTES AND ALEXANDRITES?

There are many fake amethysts and alexandrites. They are most often made from two specific materials – synthetic corundum and synthetic spinel. Synthetic corundum and synthetic spinel are alexandrite lookalikes that can fool unsuspecting buyers. If you look closely, synthetic corundum tends to deviate from the green to red color transition found in real stone. It may appear to be transitioning from blue-gray to reddish-purple. When identifying synthetic gemstones, it is best to consult a jeweler. Natural alexandrite has a refractive index of 1,755, while synthetic corundum has a refractive index of 1,762 to 1,770. Amethysts are not imitated as often because they are not as rare as alexandrites, so there is not as much demand for fakes. However, if necessary, smoky quartz is irradiated with gamma rays to produce these fake amethysts. Since amethysts are affordable, it’s best to stay away from fake amethysts – they’re not worth it.

FOLKLORE AND SYMBOLICS OF AMETHYST AND ALEXANDRITE

The only downside of alexandrite is that it does not have as rich a folklore as amethyst. This is due to the fact that it is much younger than the stone discovered only two centuries ago. During this time, he did not have time to make his way through many cultures. Amethyst is an ancient gemstone and its symbolism reflects this. Those who believe in crystal healing adore amethyst for its purported effects, which are said to promote health. It is often found in protective amulets. Anna Strod – director of the jewelry online store Myjewels.ru Author and editor of the jewelry blog Myjewels.ru This stone, named after the nymph Amethys, can be precious or semi-precious, its cost is not very high. The problem is that it is often falsified. If you want to know how to check the authenticity of an amethyst, read this article. It tells the following:

• Natural and artificial amethyst, their differences.
• How to distinguish natural amethyst from synthetic one.
• What is the difference between stone and fake glass?

What does natural amethyst look like?

This crystal is the most beautiful of all quartz varieties – lilac quartz.

The stone is transparent or translucent (the latter is more valuable).

It is sometimes called stone violet because of its purple color. It has shades from delicate pinkish to deep black.

Amethyst is quartz. The green crystal (prasiolite) is extremely rare and cannot be bought in stores. If you see one like this in a shop window, you are looking at burnt quartz.

What is offered instead of a natural gem?

Under the guise of a real high-quality gem, you may be offered:

• Plastic.
• Glass.
• Natural cheap stone similar to amethyst in color (topaz, charoite, spinel, kunzite).
• An artificial mineral – it is grown in laboratories. It is based on natural quartz. It is considered a fake, conditionally, since its characteristics are the same as those of natural stone.

Methods for detecting counterfeit

Although the mineral is quite common in nature, due to the popularity of amethyst, its fakes are often found. If you buy silver or gold jewelry with a stone or have inherited it, you can determine for yourself what the inserts are made of. In this case, the properties of a natural gem are taken into account, so professional tools are not needed.

Visually visible parameters

Pay attention to:

• Brightness. Artificial stone has a uniform color, without inclusions. The real one is dim, uneven, slightly cloudy. Microcracks and bubbles are visible through a magnifying glass.
• Color. Fakes usually have very “loud” shades. The real one has noble purple ones.
• Transparency. Natural mineral transmits light unevenly. When the lighting changes, the color of natural jewelry does not change.
• Jewelry processing. How to distinguish a fake based on it? The fake has a perfect polish. In natural stone, the girdle (the band located between the lower and upper parts) is always slightly rough.

Remember that jewelry with a solid frame, rather than an openwork frame, should be viewed under directional light.

physical properties

You will learn how to distinguish an amethyst from a fake in this section.

Simple methods for recognizing the naturalness of a stone:

• Water. It will allow you to distinguish natural stone from all fakes, including grown ones. You need to place it in a transparent container filled with water at room temperature. In 2 minutes natural amethyst will become pale at the edges.
• UV range. The distinctive quality of a natural gem is that under the rays of the sun or under an ultraviolet lamp, the entire color fades evenly. The fake one will become spotted and fade in places.
• Thermal conductivity. For stones mined from natural deposits, it is small. Hold the sample in your hands or place it on a warm cheek. The fake one will heat up quickly, but the real one will remain cold for a long time, then it will become a little warmer. It’s good if you already have a stone whose origin is known. Then you just need to take both at once and notice which one warms up faster.
• Strength. Natural and artificially created amethysts are very hard and cannot be damaged by a knife or needle. They themselves are capable of scratching porcelain, earthenware, etc. This test is good because it will reveal a glass or plastic imitation of a crystal.

Quartz structure

It is more convenient to examine the structure of stones using a 10x magnifying glass or a microscope, better than a jewelry one.

• A real gem, unlike an artificial one, has microcracks and irregularly shaped bubbles. They are usually visible to the naked eye. A sample grown artificially will show curved grooves (these are crystal growth lines).
• The mineral from the deposit contains small crystals of different colors. This zoning can be distinguished under a microscope.

If the specimen is light, you need to turn on the inversion mode for viewing under the microscope.

Professional assessment

If, after such checks, you still doubt the authenticity of the gem, you can contact expert gemologists. If X-ray and spectral analysis show the presence of goethite in the sample, then the amethyst is genuine.

Formal method

First of all, study the accompanying documentation – it is supplied with crystals mined in nature. Please note that green amethyst is mined only in Brazil and the USA.

Then check the authenticity of the certificate. To do this, go to the official website of the company.

What to prefer: synthetics or natural?

Artificial amethysts are very common on the jewelry market. The technique for creating them was invented in the Soviet Union. These crystals are considered fake, conditionally, and their price is usually no less than that of minerals from the depths of the Earth.

Properties of artificial stone:

• Uncomplicated care.
• Insensitive to UV radiation.
• Does not fade from constant wear.
• Suitable for any zodiac sign, but it does not have any magical or healing powers.

You can read about the magic and healing effect of natural amethyst here.