Purple Gemstones

The most notable precious and semi-precious purple gemstones include purple sapphire, alexandrite, purple garnet, purple spinel, amethyst, ametrine, fluorite, kunzite, and tanzanite zoisite.

All purple gemstones can be used in jewellery; however, their popularity increases with the hardness and durability of the gemstone. Ranking from the hardest to the softest in order using the Mohs hardness scale is purple sapphire (9), alexandrite (8.5), purple spinel (8), purple garnet (7.5), amethyst (7), kunzite (7), tanzanite (7) and fluorite (4). Sapphire is our most popular purple gemstone. Only second to a diamond in hardness, sapphire is incredibly resistant to scratching and is well-suited for daily wear, making it a favourite for an engagement ring because it will withstand the test of time.

Absolutely! A purple gemstone can make a stunning and unique choice for an engagement ring, blending beauty, symbolism, and individualy. Alexandrite, purple sapphire, purple spinel and purple garnet are particulary popular for engagement ring gemstones, because they are considered a harder and more durable purple gemstone option.

The most valuable purple gemstone is purple sapphire. Its rarity, durability, and pastel purple through to vivid purple hue, make it highly sought after for fine jewellery. Purple sapphires command higher prices than other purple gemstones due to their combination of beauty, prestige, and suitability for daily wear, particularly in engagement rings or heirloom-quality pieces.

Alexandrite also contends for the title of the most valuable purple gemstone, particularly rare specimens that exhibit a strong colour change between green in daylight and purplish-red under incandescent light. Depending on the specimen, alexandrites' scarcity and unique optical properties place it among the most valuable purple gemstones.

Purple spinel, especially in shades of lavender, lilac and violet, is hot on the heels of sapphire as one of the most valuable purple gemstones. Spinel is widely accepted as the unofficial 5th precious gemstone, alongside diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, and prices for fine quality purple spinel rival prices for comparative purple sapphires.

Tanzanite bucks the trend of hardness correlating to value. Tanzanite is a rare purple gemstone only mined in one location, a 14-kilometre square block of land in Tanzania. Its intense bluish-purple colour, magnificent clarity and larger carat sizes make it one of the most valuable purple gemstones available.

Seven birthstones are available in a purple colour option. January's birthstone is (purple) garnet, February's birthstone is amethyst, and September's birthstone is (purple) sapphire. These form part of the traditional birthstone list, which has been used for centuries and is rooted in ancient customs and beliefs.

June's birthstone is alexandrite, August's birthstone is (purple) spinel, September's birthstone is (purple) sapphire, and December's birthstone is tanzanite. These purple gemstones were added to the modern birthstone list in the 20th century to reflect a wider variety of available gemstones and complement traditional options.

The rarest purple gemstone is alexandrite. Alexandrite is a pleochroic gem, which means it can show different colours when viewed from different directions; one of these colours is purple-red. Additionally, it is prized for its colour-changing properties when viewed under daylight and then incandescent light. Under daylight is will appear green and under incandescent light it will appear violet or purplish-red.

Purple gemstones are imbued with rich symbolism, making them meaningful not just to be worn as jewellery but also to be used in spiritual practices and healing traditions. Purple represents the crown chakra, which connects to divine knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. Some believe that wearing a purple gemstone promotes mental clarity and intuition, guiding them to deeper understanding and insight. Additionally, purple is a colour linked to imagination and artistic expression. Purple gemstones are thought to inspire creativity, making them an excellent choice for those seeking to unlock their creative potential or enhance their imaginative abilities.

Alexandrite, purple sapphire, and purple spinel can be lab-created (synthetic). These are the most valuable and rarest purple gemstones in their natural, earth-mined form. For this reason, when buying a purple gemstone, precautions should be taken to protect against being sold a lab-created purple gemstone under the guise of a natural gemstone. Always buy your gemstone from a reputable gem dealer and request a laboratory report. Most laboratory reports are completed upon purchase of the gemstone, and a reputable gem dealer will offer several well-known and trusted gem labs as options for the gem certification process.