Amethyst is cheap for a very simple reason: there is a lot of it.
That wasn't always the case. Until the early 1800s, amethyst was rare enough to sit alongside diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald as one of the five precious stones. Then enormous deposits were discovered in southern Brazil, followed by more in Uruguay. The supply suddenly became enormous, and the price never really recovered.
Nothing happened to the stone itself. Amethyst didn't become less beautiful or less durable. There was simply much more of it.
That's the short version. The longer story is much more interesting. It involves bishops, Catherine the Great, a French poet who invented one of the most famous stories about the stone, and a small German town whose gem cutters happened to have emigrated to exactly the right part of Brazil.
It also explains why a beautiful amethyst cluster can cost a few pounds today rather than a small fortune.
Was amethyst ever a precious stone?
Yes. For most of its history, amethyst wasn't thought of as an inexpensive crystal.
Before the great Brazilian discoveries of the 19th century, amethyst was one of the five cardinal gems: diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald and amethyst. These were the stones traditionally regarded as truly precious. Everything else was generally put into the much broader category of semi-precious stones.
Amethyst had plenty of status to justify its place.
Purple has always been an expensive-looking colour, and amethyst became closely associated with royalty and the Church. Bishops traditionally wore amethyst rings, while Catherine the Great of Russia was a keen collector of fine examples.
You can even find amethyst in the British Crown Jewels. The Sovereign's Orb contains an amethyst set beneath the cross.
So when you see amethyst described as “only semi-precious”, it's worth remembering that this is a relatively modern distinction. The stone didn't lose its beauty. It lost its scarcity.
If you'd like a little piece of that history without a royal budget, a pack of twelve Amethyst Tumble Stones is £8.28.
Where does amethyst come from?
There's no single place where amethyst was first discovered. Humans have known about and used it for thousands of years, and natural deposits occur in many parts of the world.
The name itself is ancient. Amethyst comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning “not intoxicated”, reflecting the old belief that the stone could protect its wearer from drunkenness.
Then there's the story of Amethyste, the young woman supposedly turned into crystal to save her from the wine god Bacchus. Bacchus then pours wine over the stone, turning it purple.
It's a great story. It just isn't an ancient Greek story.
The version most people know comes from a French Renaissance poet, Rémy Belleau, who published it in 1576. In other words, it's a 16th-century invention dressed up as Greek mythology.
For a long time, genuinely fine amethyst was relatively difficult to obtain. Some of the most highly regarded material came from the Ural Mountains of Russia, along with deposits in Sri Lanka and India. The deep purple historically associated with “Siberian” amethyst became a benchmark for colour.
That scarcity helped keep amethyst in the precious-gem category.
Then Brazil changed everything.
The Brazilian discovery that changed amethyst forever
The interesting part of this story begins not in Brazil, but in Idar-Oberstein, a small town in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.
Idar-Oberstein had been associated with stone cutting and jewellery for centuries, particularly local agate. By the early 19th century, those local deposits were becoming harder to work and the town was struggling.
Some of its stone-cutting families emigrated to Brazil and settled in Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of the country.
In 1827, these emigrants began finding enormous deposits of agate and amethyst.
They knew exactly what they had found.
Rough stone was shipped back to Idar-Oberstein, where the town's experienced cutters could turn it into jewellery and decorative objects. Brazilian material was arriving there by 1834, giving the German cutting industry a new source of raw material just as its local supplies were declining.
It was an extraordinary stroke of good fortune.
The Brazilian amethyst had formed inside volcanic rock, often in geodes: hollow cavities lined with crystals. Some geodes are surprisingly large, with amethyst crystals growing all the way around the inside.
And there was a huge amount of it.
Once Brazilian amethyst began reaching the European market in quantity, the economics changed completely. The stone that had once been difficult to obtain suddenly became widely available.
Later, significant deposits were also found in Uruguay, particularly around Artigas. Uruguayan amethyst is famous for producing rich, dark purple material.
Brazil and Uruguay remain major sources today, with Zambia also producing important quantities of amethyst.
The whole episode is a useful lesson in gemstones generally: rarity has a huge influence on price.
Amethyst didn't become less beautiful when the Brazilian deposits were discovered. There was just enough of it for ordinary people to own it.
So what is amethyst actually worth?
Amethyst remains one of the most affordable natural gemstones, but that doesn't mean every piece is worth the same.
Colour is one of the biggest factors. Rich, saturated purple generally commands a higher price than pale lilac material, particularly when the colour is attractive and reasonably even.
Then there's the crystal itself. Large, well-formed points and clusters with good crystal faces can be much more valuable than small or heavily damaged pieces.
Origin can matter too. Certain deposits are prized for particular colours and formations, with Uruguayan material being especially popular for deep purple.
And finally there's the work involved. A rough crystal dug out of the ground costs less than one that's been polished, cut, mounted on a stand or carved by hand.
As a rough idea of what you can buy:
- Under £10: a pack of twelve Amethyst Tumble Stones (£8.28) gives you a handful of polished pieces to keep or hand out. The Amethyst Gemstone Tree (£7) sets 35 chips on a natural agate base, and the Amethyst Magic Pendulum (£7.49) is the cheapest way to own a single shaped stone.
- £10–£25: a 500g bag of Amethyst Rough Points (£18) is the unpolished end of the same stone. The Amethyst Aura Sphere with Stand (£19) is 40mm, polished and finished with an iridescent aura coating.
- £25+: the Medium High Grade Amethyst Standing Cluster (£42) weighs around 350–450g and stands approximately 7.5–10cm tall. This is more of a proper display specimen than a pocket stone.
It's slightly surreal when you think about the history. A good amethyst cluster was once a serious luxury. Now you can put one on your shelf for the price of a takeaway.
Why is amethyst purple?
This is where amethyst gets particularly interesting.
Amethyst is quartz.
Chemically, it's silicon dioxide, the same basic mineral as clear quartz. On the Mohs scale it scores 7, which makes it hard enough to have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.
The purple colour comes from tiny amounts of iron within the quartz and changes to the crystal structure caused by natural radiation over geological time. These changes create what gemmologists call colour centres, which absorb particular wavelengths of light and produce the purple colour we see.
And those colour centres aren't indestructible.
Heat can alter them. Heat-treated amethyst can turn yellow, orange or reddish-brown, producing material that's sold as citrine.
In fact, much of the citrine sold today began life as amethyst or smoky quartz and was treated near the mine to produce the desired colour. Natural citrine exists, but it's considerably less common.
So that bright orange citrine on a crystal shop shelf may have started its life purple.
You can read more about that process on our citrine meaning page.
Can amethyst fade in sunlight?
It can.
The same colour centres responsible for amethyst's purple colour can gradually be affected by ultraviolet light. A deep purple specimen left in strong direct sunlight for long periods may become noticeably paler.
That's worth remembering if you've got a beautiful amethyst cluster on a sunny windowsill.
If you're someone who likes to charge crystals in sunlight, amethyst is one of the stones we'd keep out of strong sun. Moonlight is a gentler option if that's part of your practice.
For everyday care, amethyst is fairly straightforward:
- Keep it away from prolonged, strong direct sunlight.
- Clean it with lukewarm water and a soft cloth or brush.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and very hot water.
- Store amethyst jewellery separately so other stones don't scratch it, and so it doesn't scratch softer materials.
If you're unsure what your crystals can tolerate, our guide to what water, salt and sunlight actually do to your stones covers the basics.
How do you choose a good piece of amethyst?
You don't need to be a gemmologist to choose an attractive piece.
Start with the colour. Natural amethyst often shows colour zoning, with deeper purple towards the tips of the crystals and paler areas closer to the base. On polished material, those zones may be less obvious because the stone has been cut to show its strongest colour.
Then decide whether you want a cluster or a point.
Clusters are exactly what they sound like: lots of crystals growing together in their original formation. They're great for shelves, cabinets and altars because there's plenty to look at from different angles.
Points are more streamlined. A polished point is easier to hold, making it a good choice if you're using the stone for meditation or simply like having something tactile in your hand.
One thing worth checking with very cheap, intensely coloured material is whether the colour looks unnaturally perfect. Dyed quartz does exist. If you're suspicious, look closely at cracks and fissures, where dye can sometimes collect.
But mostly, buy the piece you like.
Natural amethyst isn't supposed to look identical from one specimen to the next. The shape, colour zoning, inclusions and crystal formation are what make individual pieces interesting.
That's also why our amethyst clusters and points are sold by size range. The one you receive will have its own particular shape and markings.
What is amethyst used for?
Amethyst has been surrounded by symbolism for a very long time, starting with that original Greek association with sobriety and clear-headedness.
Today, people use and display it for all sorts of reasons.
It's commonly associated with calm and clarity, so some people keep a piece nearby when they want a quieter atmosphere.
It's also a popular bedside stone. A small cluster or the Carved Amethyst Buddha can sit easily on a bedside table without taking over the room.
Amethyst is a favourite for meditation, tarot and other spiritual practices, partly because of its long association with intuition and the unseen. A Raw Amethyst Pendulum combines the stone with a traditional dowsing tool.
Its old connection with sobriety also explains why amethyst continues to be associated with self-control and breaking unwanted habits.
And, in modern crystal practice, it's often used as a protective stone, particularly on altars or near entrances.
Amethyst is also traditionally associated with the crown chakra and, in some systems, the third eye.
For a fuller look at the traditional associations, see our amethyst meaning page.
Which amethyst should you buy?
There isn't one “best” amethyst. It depends what you want to do with it.
If it's your first piece
Keep it simple.
A pack of twelve Amethyst Tumble Stones (£8.28) gives you polished pieces to handle, while the Amethyst Gemstone Tree (£7) is a good choice if you'd rather have something that stands on a shelf.
If you're building a crystal collection from scratch, our guide to the five crystals worth owning first is a useful place to start.
If it's going on a shelf or altar
This is where you can choose something with a little more personality.
The Amethyst Aura Sphere (£19) comes with its own stand and an iridescent finish. The Amethyst Planet on a Goldstone Stand (£15) is a 40mm amethyst Jupiter on a sparkling goldstone base.
For something softer, there's the Carved Amethyst Buddha (£24). If your taste runs darker, the Amethyst Skull (£18) is a fun alternative.
If you want to wear it
Amethyst is the February birthstone, which makes it an easy choice for a birthday present as well as something to wear yourself.
A Tree of Life Amethyst Pendant is £5 and is easy to wear every day. The 108 Bead Amethyst Mala (£27.99) uses polished beads, while the Laced Amethyst Flat Point Pendant (£7.50) is a simple pointed drop.
For meditation or mantra work, the 108 Bead Amethyst Mala (£27.99) is imported from Ahmedabad in India.
You can browse our bracelets and bangles, or see our crystal gifts under £20 for more affordable present ideas.
If you're interested in dowsing or energy work
The Raw Amethyst Pendulum (£8.50) is rough-cut and wrapped in a silver-tone spiral.
For something more decorative, the Celestial Prism Wand (£32) contains an amethyst sphere in its setting. The Axis of Grace Wand (£32) combines amethyst with rose quartz, while the Spiral Carving Healing Wand (£36.99) combines teak, copper wire and an amethyst sphere.
There are more options in our crystal healing wands collection.
If you want a statement piece
The Shiva Lingam Magic Wand in Amethyst (£38.49) is 19.5cm long and finishes in a faceted point.
For something that feels more like a natural specimen, the Medium High Grade Amethyst Standing Cluster (£42) is the one to choose. At 350–450g and around 7.5–10cm tall, it has enough presence to become the focal point of a shelf.
And that's perhaps the oddest thing about amethyst's history. A piece like that once represented real wealth. Today, it's something most people can afford to own simply because they like it.
For more on the stone's traditional associations, read our amethyst meaning guide. You can also explore the crystal meanings library, take the crystal quiz, or browse our raw crystals and geodes and tumble stones.
Amethyst FAQs
Why is amethyst so cheap?
Mainly because there is so much of it.
Large deposits discovered in southern Brazil from 1827 onwards dramatically increased the world's supply of amethyst. Further major deposits were later found in Uruguay. The stone remained just as beautiful, but it was no longer rare enough to command the same prices.
Was amethyst ever more valuable than it is now?
Very much so. Before the 19th century, amethyst was one of the five cardinal gems alongside diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald.
Its scarcity, rich purple colour and associations with royalty and the Church all contributed to its value.
Is amethyst a precious or semi-precious stone?
Today, amethyst is generally classed as a semi-precious gemstone.
Historically, however, it was one of the five cardinal or precious stones. Its modern classification reflects its abundance rather than any change in the stone itself.
Where does amethyst come from?
Historically important sources include Russia's Ural Mountains, Sri Lanka and India.
Today, Brazil and Uruguay are major producers, with Zambia also known for significant deposits. Brazil in particular changed the gemstone market because of the enormous quantities of amethyst found there from the 19th century onwards.
Why is Brazilian amethyst so common?
Brazil contains enormous geological formations where amethyst formed inside volcanic rock, particularly in geodes.
The deposits were extensive enough to put huge quantities of amethyst onto the international market. The increase in supply made the stone much more affordable.
Why is amethyst purple?
Amethyst is quartz containing small amounts of iron. Natural radiation alters the iron and the crystal structure over geological time, producing colour centres that give the quartz its purple colour.
Can you turn amethyst into citrine?
Yes. Heating amethyst can change its colour to yellow, orange or reddish-brown. Much of the citrine sold commercially is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.
Natural citrine also exists, but it is much rarer.
Does amethyst fade in sunlight?
It can. Prolonged exposure to strong ultraviolet light can gradually alter the colour centres responsible for amethyst's purple colour.
Keep valuable or particularly deep-coloured pieces away from strong direct sunlight for long periods.
