Purple gemstones are uncommon but extremely beautiful. They give jewelry pieces a unique touch that very few gems can match.
They are incredibly diverse, and it can be hard to settle for one. Thankfully, you don’t have to. In this guide, we’ll share 13 types of purple gemstones and discuss their features. We’ll also answer a few questions you may have to help you choose your perfect purple gems.
What do purple gemstones mean?
Purple gemstones signify wisdom and craftiness. They indicate that the wearer is intelligent and insightful. Purple gemstones are believed to bring a person insight and good luck and help them define their purpose.
6 Dark Purple Gemstones to Know
Purple gemstones come in different shades. Some are soft light purple, while others have a mesmerizing dark hue. If you prefer a dark purple gemstone, you’re good to go with any of these gemstones:
Amethyst
Amethyst is a purple quartz variation. This popular gemstone owes its vibrant color to iron impurities and irradiation. Amethyst naturally appears in different shades of purple, including dark purple shades.
Dark purple amethyst is valuable, especially when it gives off red and blue flashes. Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.
It is a beautiful, durable gemstone that you can wear regularly. Amethyst is known as the February gemstone.
Purple Diamonds
Diamonds aren’t left out when it comes to vibrant purple gems. Diamonds can become purple due to stress and defects they undergo during their formation. We can find purple diamonds naturally, but they are very rare.
Lab-created purple diamonds are more available, and they are also considered valuable. However, they are cheaper than natural purple diamonds. You can tell the difference between a natural and lab gemstone by checking through a loupe.
Diamonds can have dark purple hues, but you’ll also find light-purple diamonds. Dark purple diamonds can be pricey, but their rarity and durability make them worth it. Purple diamonds are just as shiny and durable as colorless diamonds.
Purple Sapphire
Sapphire is a variety of corundum, an aluminum oxide mineral. When corundum occurs as red, it is known as ruby, a valuable type of red gemstone. When it appears in other colors, it is called sapphire.
Purple sapphires are beautiful and highly durable. With a high hardness of 9, they are suitable for everyday wear.
Sugilite
Sugilite is a rare gemstone that occurs in a wide range of colors. Pinkish to purplish sugilite is the most common type and can be a fancy addition to your collection.
Because it is rarely found in nature, sugilite is not very popular. So, if you choose this gemstone, you’ll be wearing a unique stone sure to make you stand out anywhere.
💡 Take Note: Sugilite has a low hardness of 5, so it’s best to reserve it for special occasions and treat it as fragile.
Purple Fluorite
Fluorite is a type of mineral made up of calcium fluoride. It can occur as a purple gemstone or in other colors like green.
Purple fluorite is usually dark purple, although there can be lighter shades. Fluorite is a soft gemstone with a hardness of 4, so it’s best to wear it occasionally.
Purple Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a type of silicate mineral that occurs in different gemstone colors like green, black, blue, gray, and purple. Color variations in chalcedony are a result of impurities present in the stone.
Purple chalcedony occurs in different shades of purple, including dark purple. The pretty gemstone has a hardness of about 7, making it a durable stone.
Whether it’s on a ring, bracelet, or pendant, chalcedony will add a special purple touch to your piece of jewelry.
7 Best Light Purple Gemstones Available
If you prefer your gems in a light purple shade, then these gemstones are for you:
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is a type of zoisite, a mineral that is composed of silica, calcium, and aluminum.
Tanzanite is formed when zoisite contains vanadium instead of aluminum, giving it a bluish-purple hue. It is majorly blue, but it can also have light purple hues.
It is a moderately hard stone with a hardness of about 6, so it’s just fine for occasional wear.
💡 Fun Fact: Tanzanite is extremely rare yet inexpensive compared to diamonds. You can buy a tanzanite gemstone for about $500 per carat.
Iolite
The name (iolite) comes from the Greek word “ios,” which means violet. Iolite is a type of cordierite, a (typically) blue silicate mineral found in rocks.
Iolite has a distinct purple shade and is a durable gemstone, with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Due to its hardness, iolite is suitable for everyday use and will last longer than other softer gems.
Purple Jade
While jade is usually a green gemstone, it can also occur in purple shades.
Purple jade is a rare type of jadeite found only in western Turkey. It is often confused with sugilite or charoite because they look similar, but purple jade is its own distinct gem.
Purple jade’s unique, intriguing look and properties have earned it the “stone of heaven” title. It has a hardness of about 6 to 7, so it’s fairly durable and will last a long time with proper care.
Purple jade is also known as turkiyenite or lavender jade.
Purple Spinel
Spinel is a type of mineral that contains magnesium and aluminum. It occurs in different colors, including purple.
Purple spinel typically has an irresistible, light purple tinge. The gemstone is durable, with a hardness of about 7.5 to 8. Its name ‘spinel’ originates from the Latin word Spinella, describing its beautifully spined crystals.
Ametrine
Ametrine is a gem formed from amethyst (a purple gemstone) and citrine (a golden-yellow gemstone). It appears to have purple and golden bands, giving it an attractive, light purple hue.
The name “ametrine” is derived from the combination of AMEthyst and ciTRINE. Ametrine is a rare gemstone, but it is pretty affordable. It costs about only $8 per carat.
Kunzite
Kunzite is the gem form of a mineral commonly known as spodumene. It typically has a light purple to pink hue.
It was discovered in 1902 by Mineralogist George Federick Kunz. Large crystals of kunzite have often been found in Brazil.
Kunzite is a fairly hard gemstone, with a hardness rating of 6.5 to 7. You can wear it regularly, but you should protect it from hard physical force.
Kunzite is believed to be a joyful stone that helps you to feel and give out love and joy.
Charoite
Charoite is a unique silicate gemstone that contains a lot of rare minerals. It owes its purple hue to its Manganese content.
Charoite is only found in one place in the world (eastern Siberia), making it a rare gemstone.
Charoite has an intriguing light purple color. It contains twinned crystals that produce a petal-like pattern around the gemstone.
A charoite gemstone is a pure beauty to behold, making its wearer stand out. Charoite is named after its place of discovery, River Chara in Siberia.
Frequently Asked Questions
As promised, we’ve got you answers to some common questions about purple gemstones.
What is the name of a light purple gemstone?
Kunzite is a light purple gemstone. Gemstones like amethyst and tanzanite can also occur in light purple shades.
What is the hardest purple stone?
Diamond is one of the hardest substances on earth, so it is the hardest purple stone when it occurs as a purple diamond. Purple sapphire is also very hard, next only to diamond.
What is the rarest purple gemstone?
Tanzanite is one of the rarest purple gemstones. It is mined in only one place in the world, a small part of Tanzania. Tanzanite is very rare, but it is sold for a relatively low price.
Which stone is lavender?
Lavender is a pale purple color. Lavender stones include kunzite, purple jade, and iolite. Amethyst can also have a lavender hue.
What gemstones are naturally purple?
Amethyst, purple jade, and iolite are excellent options if you want a naturally purple gemstone. These gemstones occur naturally as purple.
💡 Take Note: While some purple gemstones occur naturally, others achieve their color through dyeing.
Pick Your Perfect Purple
Purple gemstones are always beautiful, whether they are dark or light-hued. If you prefer a dark purple shade, sugilite, purple sapphire, or purple chalcedony are excellent options.
On the other hand, if a lavender hue appeals more to you, you can opt for beautiful light purple stones like purple jade, ametrine, or charoite.
Whichever you go for, you can be sure to have a perfect touch on your jewelry. As long as it’s purple, it’s perfect.
💎 You should know: We use affiliate links throughout our site. This means we may earn a cent or two when you make a purchase on our site. Thanks for adding to our shine.
