Which is better amethyst or sapphire?
In fact, in the Middle Ages purple sapphire was called “Oriental amethyst,” and purple quartz was known as “Occidental amethyst.” Sapphire is much harder than amethyst, with a Mohs hardness of 9, and also more durable. But purple sapphire is more expensive than amethyst too because its much more rare.
Is sapphire worth more than amethyst?
Semi-precious amethyst gems are significantly more affordable than purple sapphires, even if they are larger in size.
What is difference between blue sapphire and amethyst?
Sapphire has a higher refractive index of 1.762 to 1.778. Amethyst’s refractive index of 1.544 to 1.553 means that the stone has less sparkle than a similarly colored sapphire. Gemologists measure refractive index as one distinguishing characteristic of a gem.
Are amethyst and sapphire same?
Many people confuse the purple sapphire with amethysts, which is a violet variety of quartz. But one of the primary differences between these two is that the sapphire is a more sturdy stone and is the second best to the diamond when it comes to hardness.
What is the best sapphire color?
blue
The best color for a natural blue sapphire is an intense, velvety, deep royal blue. This color of sapphire would be considered AAA quality, the rarest and most valuable. The second best color is a medium rich blue, or AA quality. Any blue sapphires that have a slight gray undertone fit into the A category.
Can a amethyst be blue?
Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. High quality amethyst can be found in Siberia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Uruguay, and the Far East. The ideal grade is called “Deep Siberian” and has a primary purple hue of around 75–80\%, with 15–20\% blue and (depending on the light source) red secondary hues.
Is there a blue amethyst?
A blue amethyst crystal is a stone, derived from regular amethyst, that is simply exhibiting itself in what are known as ‘secondary hues’. Blue amethyst looks exactly like regular amethyst, only blue!
What color is Amethyst?
purple
The finest amethyst color is a strong reddish purple or purple with no visible color zoning. Dealers prefer strongly saturated reddish purple to dark purple, as long as the stone is not so dark that it reduces brightness.