Purple Gemstones
Purple gemstones are popular for their beauty and spiritual significance. Among them, Sugilite, Amethyst, Tanzanite, and Charoite are some of the most popular purple gemstones.
When comparing these gemstones, there are several factors to consider, including color, availability, and hardness. Sugilite is the rarest and most expensive of the four gemstones, while amethyst is the most widely available and affordable.
In terms of color, Sugilite and amethyst have a deep and rich purple color, while tanzanite has a blue-violet color and charoite has a swirling pattern of purple shades.
Sugilite
Credits: Crystalconcentrics
Sugilite is a rare and highly valued gemstone known for its deep purple color. It is often used in jewelry and has gained popularity in recent years due to its spiritual and healing properties. Sugilite is found in South Africa, Japan and Canada. It is a relatively soft stone with a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5, and settings are advised to protect the precious gem from scratches, especially for jewelries such as rings.
Gemologists are trained to grade Sugilite based on their deep purple colour. The deeper the purple it has, the more prized it is, as it shows that they have high content of manganese. Grape jelly Sugilite for gem quality are rare, and Sugilite Gel (translucent Sugilite), are extremely rare and expensive.
Amethyst
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Credits: The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Amethyst is a popular and widely available gemstone that is also known for its purple color. It is a relatively hard stone with a Mohs hardness of 7. Other than using the full moon to purify your crystals, a large cluster of Amethyst may also be used for the same purpose, as it has very strong purifying energy.
Tanzanite
Credits: Starlanka
Tanzanite is a rare and highly prized gemstone that is known for its blue-violet color. It was first discovered in Tanzania in 1967 and has since gained popularity in the gemstone market. Tanzanite is a relatively soft stone with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.
Charoite
Credits: Astrokapoor
Charoite is a unique and rare gemstone that is known for its swirling purple patterns. It was first discovered in Russia in 1940. Charoite is a relatively soft stone with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 6. They are sometimes sold as "Sugilite" because they look very similar and Sugilite can fetch a much higher price. Luckily, it's not difficult to tell the difference! Charoite have their trademark look of swirls, which Sugilite does not have.
