Jewelry IdentifierPurple Gemstones
Amethyst is by far the most common purple gemstone; rarer options include purple sapphire, tanzanite, and sugilite.
Purple gems get their color from iron, manganese, or trace elements. Most purple stones are amethyst, but several rarer gems share the hue. Here's how to tell them apart.
| Purple gemstone | Hardness (Mohs) | What it is / how to spot it | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | 7 | The classic purple quartz — abundant, affordable, and durable; February's birthstone. | Low |
| Purple sapphire | 9 | Rare corundum in violet to purple; very hard and valuable. | High |
| Tanzanite | 6.5–7 | Can appear violet-purple depending on the angle; softer than sapphire. | Mid–High |
| Sugilite | 5.5–6.5 | Opaque grape-purple, prized by collectors and cabochon carvers. | Mid |
| Charoite | 5–6 | Swirled lilac-purple rock found only in Russia. | Low–Mid |
| Purple spinel | 8 | Hard, bright violet — a natural, singly-refractive gem. | Mid |
| Kunzite | 6–7 | Delicate pink-purple spodumene; color can fade in strong light. | Low–Mid |
| Rhodolite garnet | 7–7.5 | Raspberry purple-red garnet; durable and clean. | Mid |
| Iolite | 7–7.5 | Shows violet-purple from one angle, blue from another. | Low |
| Lepidolite | 2.5–3 | Soft lilac mica, used for beads and carvings, not rings. | Low |
How to identify your purple stone
Color alone won't confirm a gemstone — several purple stones look alike but differ in hardness, weight, and value. The fastest way to know what you have is to photograph it and run it through the free Gemstone Identifier, then confirm whether it's natural or a simulant with the Is It Real? tool. For what the piece is worth, get a free jewelry appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
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