Amethyst (Quartz)
Date - Pricing as of April 2008

There are many types of Amethyst and of course many types of pricing to go along with all the various types.

Color: Purple, violet to red-violet, blue/purple.

Note: Most of the commercially faceted Amethyst available are not genuine Amethyst, the material is man-made. That is why every Indian and Asian is selling huge cut stones that all look the same for a few dollars a carat.

High quality cutters need to cut real material and point out to customers that probably 90% or more of the commercially cut Amethyst is not natural material. It is man-made...

Note2: Generally I do not agree with lowering the price of a faceted stone as it gets larger. But in the case of light colored Amethyst, I some times do lower the per/carat cost as a gemstone becomes larger to help off set the difference in cost and the labor. In other words the cost of light faceting material is inexpensive and as a stone gets larger the cost of the gemstone can be lowered to make the purchase price more reasonable and fair.

Pale (almost colorless to 15% tone) - Rose de France to light Amethyst.
Comments - This material actually can be valuable, especially when cut into a large spectacular design.
Pricing - In general pricing this material is more about cutting labor than any thing else. I generally price this material $8/ct to $24/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light (15% tone to 30%) - Light Amethyst, some times with a pink or blue secondary color.
Comments - This material actually is valuable and I sell it faceted quite well, especially when cut into a large spectacular design.
Pricing - Pricing this material is still about labor. I generally price this material $18/ct to $36/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Light/Medium (30% tone to 45%) - Amethyst, some times with a pink or blue secondary color, usually starting to become more intense in the color ranges.
Comments - This material is valuable and not always easy to acquire. I cut this material in all sizes and typically use unique designs
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $24/ct to $42/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium (45% tone to 65%) - Amethyst, with a pink/magenta or blue secondary color, more intense in the color ranges with good life.
Comments - This material is valuable and not always easy to acquire. I cut this material in the small to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $36/ct to $52/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Medium/Dark (65% tone to 85%) - This is what I would consider to be the top color range in Amethyst. Very intense purple/red/blue color but still light enough to distinguish the facet and light patterns in the design of the finished stone.
Comments - This material is valuable and difficult to find. I cut this material in the smaller to medium size ranges and typically use unique designs
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. I generally price this material $46/ct to $72/ct and a minimum of $150 for a small stone to cover the labor.

Dark (85% tone to 100%) - This material is around and keep in mind that heat will often lighten it, or make it Citrine. But I seldom cut any thing this dark.
Comments - The best use for this material is small (melee) stones so that the color will show. I almost never cut this material.
Pricing - Pricing this material is cost of goods and labor. Basically this is very cheap commercially cut in melee sizes. Some times in the trade they do facet this color in larger sizes, but the stones are dead and have no life.

Special - As we all know as cutters some times a stone just comes out "special" for what ever reason. On these kinds of stones I basically price how ever I feel like. Because this stone comes under the "special" category I often do not care if I sell the stone or not. So I usually price it high enough that if I do sell it, I get a very good price. Enough to make me say "Oh well..." and sell it. So be aware that some times I just price a stone high because I do not care if I sell it. Ironically these stones usually sell the fastest...

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E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com