Tips On How To Buy Amethyst Jewelry

The color of the amethyst stone is believed to be due to the proportion of impurities in it. Therefore, the more the impurities, the lighter the color. There are different grades for amethysts across countries, but it is safe to say that the grade range from A to C for dark to light stones, respectively. The stone also lightens if it is exposed to heat which makes it yellowish. Therefore, if the stone has a slightly yellowish tinge, you might want to re-consider buying it. Also, the color of the stone will also be influenced by how well it has been cut. A clean cut and a neat finish will make amethyst jewelry look more intensely violet than the one that is not properly finished. And this is something that even an untrained lay person can make out. It is always best to ensure that you do not settle for less than what you are paying for.

Like for all stones, the clarity is very important and refers to the inclusions or the impurities contained within. These could either be other foreign materials trapped within the stone, or cracks or damage that have occurred while the stone was being set into jewelry. If you are looking into purchasing amethyst pendants, make sure that you check for how clear the stone is. The clearer it is, the lesser the impurities and the better the handling, which is what you need to go in for.

It is also quite cheap to make synthetic amethysts which are almost indistinguishable from the real ones to the naked eye. And statistics show that nearly 70% of the stones floating around as amethyst earrings or pendants are synthetic. Infrared light is most commonly used to distinguish between the two which is not within everyone's reach. Therefore, the best thing to do would be to purchase your amethyst rings or other kinds of amethyst jewelry only from a trusted and established jeweler. You definitely do not want your money to be going down the drain.

Another useful tip to buying amethyst jewelry is that you should make sure that you have a large enough selection to choose from. Often, it is when you have only a few pieces to pick from that you end up making choices that you are not happy with. Therefore, visit a jeweler who can show you a whole range of items so that you can learn how to distinguish between the different grades and even look at some synthetic ones before you make your decision.