13 Stunning Purple Gemstones: From Amethyst to Fluorite

Purple gemstones are among nature's rarest treasures, making them perfect for distinctive jewelry and impressive collections. Though uncommon in natural settings, these vibrant gems offer options across all price points and styles. This comprehensive guide explores 13 purple gemstone varieties that will enhance your gemstone knowledge and help you make informed purchasing decisions.

In this article, you'll discover:

• The unique properties and characteristics of each purple gemstone variety.
• Which purple gemstones offer the best durability for everyday wear.
• How rarity and color intensity affect the value of purple gemstones.
• Special optical effects found in certain purple gem varieties.
• Care recommendations for preserving your purple gemstone jewelry.

Find this Ring

Everyday Wear Purple Gems

These purple gemstones boast excellent durability with hardness ratings of 7 or higher on the Mohs scale, making them ideal for daily wear in rings, bracelets, and other jewelry pieces that experience frequent contact or potential impacts. Their resistance to scratching and excellent durability ensures they'll maintain their beauty for generations.

Amethyst: the Most Popular Purple Gemstone

We'll begin with amethyst, the February birthstone and perhaps the most famous of all purple gemstones. Amethyst colors range from pale lilac to deep reddish purple.

Amethyst is a type of quartz, one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Thanks to its beautiful color, plentiful supply, and low price point, amethyst stone is the best-selling of all transparent purple gemstones.

Find this Ring

Amethyst crystal is a very versatile gem:

• Jewelers use it in all types of designs, from expensive high-fashion pieces to simple birthstone items.
• Transparent stones are often faceted, while translucent pieces can be carved into cabochons or beads.
• Some people collect raw crystals still attached to their host rocks.
• Its hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale makes it resistant to scratching during everyday wear.

Amethyst is very closely related to citrine, the yellow variety of quartz. In fact, some quartz crystals are part amethyst and part citrine. Gemologists call this bicolored material ametrine. If you're looking for something unusual and fun, an ametrine may be for you!

Purple Sapphire: The Durable and Rare Violet Gem

The workhorse of the gem world, sapphire boasts high durability scores, many possible body colors, and an abundant worldwide supply. Not surprisingly, people have prized sapphires for thousands of years.

Impurities in sapphire's chemical formula create color in these gemstones. Purple results from a specific combination of iron, titanium, and chromium. Depending on the concentrations of these elements, purple sapphire may have secondary red or violet color components.

Many purple sapphires receive heat treatments that change their primary colors to pink:

• Since pink sapphires have higher price-per-carat values than purple, vendors can make more money selling pink gems.
• Fortunately, some purple sapphires survive this culling process.
• Although this practice reduces the supply of already uncommon purple sapphires, you can still find them at affordable prices.
• You may hear dealers refer to purple sapphires as "rose sapphires" or "plum sapphires."

Find this Sapphire

Some rare sapphires show a natural color change phenomenon. These gems appear reddish or violetish purple in incandescent light and blue or green in daylight. Lab-created color-change sapphire can also show a similar effect.

Purple Tourmaline: Affordable Variety Of Its Kind

Tourmaline is a remarkably durable gemstone, known for its ability to display an impressive range of colors — including vibrant shades of purple. As the October birthstone, purple tourmaline often features exceptional clarity or a captivating, lustrous cat's eye effect. Even better, this stunning variety tends to be more affordable than other color options like red or pink, offering both beauty and value.

Find this Tourmaline

Purple Topaz: Excellent Pick For Everyday Jewelry

Topaz, one of the November birthstone options, is celebrated for its wide range of dominant colors. While it's most commonly recognized in yellow, red, orange, and blue hues, topaz can also naturally appear in stunning shades of purple.

Gem cutters are able to polish topaz to an exceptional finish — so smooth that some describe it as feeling "slippery" to the touch. With a strong hardness score of 8, topaz holds up well over time, retaining its brilliant polish. Its durability makes it an excellent choice for everyday wear in jewelry.

Purple Spinel: The Underrated August Birthstone

Spinel, a modern August birthstone, is a durable gemstone known for its vibrant and varied colors. Purple spinels, in particular, span a beautiful tone range—from soft, light tones to deep, rich saturations.

From a chemical perspective, their purple hue is the result of trace elements like iron and chromium. While they may not be as widely recognized as red, pink, or blue spinels, this lower demand keeps the price-per-carat relatively affordable—making them a charming and accessible choice for gem lovers.

Find this Spinel

Occasional Wear Purple Gems

These gemstones have moderate hardness ratings between 5-7 on the Mohs scale. While not as durable as the everyday wear category, they still make beautiful jewelry pieces when set properly and cared for appropriately. These gems are ideal for earrings, necklaces, and special occasion rings that won't experience daily impacts.

Tanzanite: The Rare Trichroic Purple-Blue Treasure

Tanzanite, one of the modern December birthstones, is a truly captivating gem. It displays a unique blend of three distinct colors — purple, violet, and blue — depending on the angle from which it's viewed. This optical effect is known as pleochroism, and gems that exhibit three colors are referred to as trichroic. Tanzanite is renowned for having one of the most vivid trichroic displays in the gemstone world, making it an especially intriguing and dynamic choice for jewelry.

Find this Ring

When it comes to price per carat, tanzanites that display a dominant blue color tend to be more valuable than those with a dominant purple hue. For this reason, most tanzanites on the market are cut to emphasize their blue tones, with flashes of purple and violet visible when viewed face-up. However, some gem cutters choose to orient the stone to highlight its purple brilliance instead. These uniquely cut, purple-forward tanzanites are relatively rare — and well worth treasuring.

Find this Ring

Purple Garnet: The Rhodolite Alternative

This January birthstone comes in many different species, varieties, blends, and colors. Garnets whose chemical makeup includes the almandine species can show a dominant purple color. Dealers will often call purple garnets rhodolites. Although garnets aren't as hard as other popular gems like tourmalines and sapphires, they're still strong enough for regular wear.

Find this Ring

Lavender Jade: The Treasured Asian Purple Gem

Jadeite that exhibits a purple color is called "lavender jade," referencing its gentle, never overly dark or saturated color. (Although two distinct minerals, jadeite and nephrite, are both considered jade, only jadeite naturally occurs with purple color).

Lavender is the second most valuable variety of jadeite after green:

• Although collectors tend to look for deeper colors, some buyers prefer light purple gems with a gray color component.
• The very best jade pieces have a uniform color.
• However, more often than not, jade displays an uneven, mottled color.
• Collectors particularly value pieces with consistent lavender coloration.

Jade has been treasured for thousands of years, especially in Asian cultures, for its aesthetic and physical properties. Soft enough to carve into elaborate works of art, jade is also strong enough to maintain a sharp edge better than iron. Jade gems can range from semi-transparent to opaque, with clearer gems commanding higher prices.

You may also find a gem material for sale known as turkiyenite, more popularly called "Turkish purple jade". Although turkiyenite contains a variable amount of jadeite, this opaque gemstone differs from jadeite and nephrite. Nevertheless, jewelers can carve beautiful pieces from it.

Purple Spodumene (Kunzite): The Delicate Violet Gem

Although the kunzite variety of spodumene usually shows a pink color, some rare crystals occur with a violetish purple color. Kunzite is better known to collectors than casual buyers, which keeps price-per-carat costs for this gem quite low. Kunzite can form naturally as large crystals, some weighing more than 1,000 cts. Thus, jewelers can use these purple gemstones to create delicate accents or large centerpieces.

Jewelry enthusiasts should note that kunzite's color will fade if exposed to too much light or heat. Reserve these gems for occasional evening wear and always store them in cool, dark conditions.

Purple Scapolite: The Fluorescent Amethyst Alternative

Purple scapolite has colors and properties similar to amethyst. However, these colors may appear more violet or brownish than amethyst's purples. Scapolites will also often display strong pink, yellow, or orange fluorescent colors under ultraviolet light. In contrast, amethysts don't typically fluoresce. Scapolites are also somewhat softer than amethyst, with a hardness score of only 5.5-6. Thus, you should wear scapolite jewelry with care and use protective settings for rings. 

Sugilite: The Vibrant Purple Opaque Gemstone

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."

Collector's Specimens

These purple gemstones have hardness ratings below 5 on the Mohs scale or possess properties that make them too fragile for regular jewelry use. They're best enjoyed as display pieces, cabinet specimens, or in very protected jewelry settings that will receive minimal wear and careful handling.

Charoite: The Unique Among Purple Gemstones

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: The Collector's Favorite

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.

Finding Your Perfect Purple Gemstone

Purple gemstones offer a world of possibilities for jewelry lovers and collectors alike. Whether you're drawn to the royal depth of amethyst, the captivating color-change of purple sapphire, or the unique patterns of charoite, there's a purple gemstone to match every preference and budget.

When selecting your perfect purple gemstone, consider factors like durability for everyday wear, color intensity that matches your style, and proper care requirements to maintain its beauty. With this guide, you're now equipped to make an informed choice and add these magnificent purple treasures to your collection. Remember that each purple gemstone carries its own unique character and charm - making your jewelry not just an accessory, but a conversation piece with a fascinating geological story.

Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Gemstones

What is the most popular purple gemstone?

Amethyst is the most popular purple gemstone. As the February birthstone, it offers beautiful colors ranging from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. Its abundant supply, affordable price point, and excellent durability (7 on the Mohs scale) make it the best-selling transparent purple gemstone.

Which purple gemstones are durable enough for everyday wear?

The most durable purple gemstones suitable for everyday wear include amethyst (hardness 7), purple sapphire (hardness 9), purple tourmaline (hardness 7-7.5), and purple topaz (hardness 8). These gems can withstand daily wear in rings and bracelets without significant scratching or damage.

Are purple sapphires rare?

Yes, purple sapphires are relatively rare, especially compared to blue sapphires. Their rarity is increased because many purple sapphires receive heat treatments that change their color to pink, as pink sapphires command higher prices. Natural purple sapphires that haven't been treated this way are particularly uncommon.

What makes tanzanite special among purple gemstones?

Tanzanite is special because of its trichroic properties, meaning it shows three different colors (purple, violet, and blue) depending on the viewing angle. This strong pleochroism gives tanzanite a unique visual appeal. Additionally, tanzanite is only found in one location in the world (Tanzania), adding to its rarity and value.

Can purple gemstones change color under different lighting?

Yes, some purple gemstones can change color. Notably, certain rare purple sapphires display a color-change phenomenon, appearing reddish or violetish purple in incandescent light and changing to blue or green in daylight. Purple scapolite also shows interesting color effects, displaying strong fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Which purple gemstones are most affordable?

Amethyst is generally the most affordable purple gemstone due to its abundance. Other reasonably priced purple gemstones include purple fluorite, purple scapolite, and charoite. These offer beautiful purple colors at budget-friendly price points compared to rarer options like purple sapphire or tanzanite.

Are there any purple gemstones that require special care?

Several purple gemstones require special care:

• Kunzite's color will fade if exposed to too much light or heat and should be stored in cool, dark conditions
• Purple fluorite is quite fragile due to its softness and perfect cleavage
• Purple scapolite is relatively soft (5.5-6 hardness) and needs protective settings
• Charoite and sugilite are better suited for occasional wear jewelry like pendants or earrings rather than rings

What is the difference between lavender jade and "Turkish purple jade"?

Lavender jade is true jadeite with a natural purple color and is the second most valuable variety of jadeite after green. "Turkish purple jade" (turkiyenite) is actually a different material that contains variable amounts of jadeite but is not true jade. While both have purple coloration, they are different materials with different compositions and properties.

Do any purple gemstones have special optical effects?

Yes, several purple gemstones display special optical effects:

• Tanzanite shows pleochroism (three different colors from different angles)
• Some purple tourmalines can display a cat's eye effect
• Purple scapolite often fluoresces under ultraviolet light
• Certain purple sapphires exhibit color-change properties
• Charoite has distinctive swirling patterns with string-like inclusions

What is ametrine and how is it related to amethyst?

Ametrine is a bicolored gemstone that contains both amethyst (purple) and citrine (yellow) in the same crystal. Both amethyst and citrine are varieties of quartz, and sometimes these colors occur together in a single gem. Ametrine provides an unusual and eye-catching combination of purple and golden yellow colors in one stone.