Education
Diamond Education
- Lab Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Shapes
- Lab Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Ring Guide
- Lab Diamond Carat Guide
- Lab Diamonds Color Guide
- Lab Diamond Shape Guide
- Lab Diamond Size Guide
- Lab Diamond Cut Guide
- Lab Diamond Jewelry Guide
- Lab Diamonds vs Moissanite
- Lab Diamonds vs. Real Diamonds
- Lab Grown Diamond vs. Cubic Zirconia
- Lab Diamonds vs. White Sapphires
- Lab Diamonds
- Diamond 4 C's
- Diamond Buying Guide
- Answers to 1 Carat Diamond Questions
- Your Guide to Buying a Diamond Online
- How to Pick the Right Diamond
- Diamond Buying Mistakes
- Real vs. Fake Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Buying Guide
- 10 Most FAQ - Diamonds
- Off Size Diamonds Guide
- Popular Diamond Cuts
- Price of a 2 Carat Diamond
- Top FAQ - Lab Diamonds
- What Is the Average Diamond Size in Engagement Rings?
- Diamond Carat
- Diamond Clarity
- IF Diamonds
- FL Diamonds
- Diamond Inclusions Guide
- Flawless vs Internally Flawless
- Which Diamond Clarity Is Best?
- VS2 vs VS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VVS2 vs VVS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI2 vs SI1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI1 vs VS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VS1 vs VVS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- Accent Diamond Clarity
- Lab Diamond Clarity
- SI Diamonds
- VS Diamonds
- VVS Diamonds
- Diamond Color
- Diamond Cut
- Diamond Cut Types
- Ideal Cut Diamonds
- Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
- What is Diamond Depth
- Diamond Table
- Lab Diamond Cut
- Antique Cut Diamonds
- Brilliant Cut Diamonds
- Rose Cut Diamonds
- What Is The Most Expensive Diamond Cut?
- What Are Step Cut Diamonds?
- Diamond Bow Ties
- How Are Diamonds Cut
- Diamond Brilliance
- Spread Diamonds
- Diamond Fire
- Crushed Ice Diamonds
- Diamond Shape
- Lab Diamond Shape
- Asscher
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
- Princess
- Radiant
- Round
- Which Diamond Cut Is Best?
- Round vs Princess Diamond Cut
- Round vs Cushion Diamond Cut
- Cushion vs Princess Diamonds
- Cushion vs Oval Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Asscher Cut Diamond
- Princess vs Marquis Diamonds
- Princess vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Cushion vs Asscher Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Pear Cut Diamonds
- Pear vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Elongated Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Diamond Certification
- Diamond Fluorescence
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Engraved Rings
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Loose Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- Diamond Sourcing
- NY Diamond District
- Diamond Certification
- A Guide to Accent Diamonds
Engagement Ring Education
- How To Buy Engagement Rings
- Affordable Engagement Rings
- Cost of a One Carat Diamond
- How To Buy A Lab Diamond Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring In a Time Crunch
- How to Choose An Engagement Ring
- How to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
- Engagement Rings For Second Marriage
- Best Time to Buy An Engagement Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring As a Couple
- Everything You Need to Know About Dainty Engagement Rings
- Future Mother In Law's Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
- Engagement Ring Financing
- Why You Need an Engagement Ring Appraisal
- Best Round Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Square Cut Engagement Ring
- Top Teardrop Engagement Rings
- Best Asscher Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Oval Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Radiant Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Marquise Cut Engagement Rings
- Twisting Rings
- Best Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Dainty Engagement Rings
- Best Unique Engagement Rings
- Best Traditional Diamond Engagement Rings
- Best Split Shank Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Square Halo Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Unusual Engagement Rings
- Black Diamond Engagement Rings
- Edwardian Engagement Rings
- Antique Style Engagement Rings
- Nature Inspired Engagement Ring
- Filigree Rings
- Art Deco Rings
- Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Infinity Engagement Rings
- Best Two Tone Diamond Engagement Rings
- Victorian Style Engagement Rings
- Minimalistic Engagement Rings
- Big Style Engagement Rings
- Cute Style Engagement Rings
- Modern Style Engagement Rings
- Past Present and Future Rings
- Thin Engagement Rings
- Pretty Style Engagement Rings
- Double Band Engagement Rings
- 1 Carat Diamond Ring
- Top Princess Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Women's Rose Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Round Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top East West Engagement Rings
- Top Pave Engagement Rings
- Top Split Shank Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Unique Halo Engagement Rings
- Rose Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Marquise Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Bypass Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Floating Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Princess Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Simple Engagement Rings
- Vintage Style Engagement Rings
- Types of Accent Diamonds
- Everything You Need to Know Before Setting Diamonds
- Engagement Ring Prong Guide
- All About Ring Resizing
- Identifying Your Ring After A Repair
- Everything You Need to Know About Milgrain
- Everything You Need to Know About Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Eternity Rings vs Infinity Rings
- When To Propose
- What Are Baguette Diamond Engagement Rings
- What to Say When You Propose
- What Are the Groom's Parents Responsible For?
Gemstone Education
Jewelry Education
- Jewelry Buying Guide
- How To Buy Jewelry Online
- Diamond: 10th Anniversary Gifts
- Ruby: 40th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Sapphire: 5th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Sapphire Earrings
- Emerald: 20th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Push Presents
- How To Shop For Christmas Jewelry Gifts
- How To Buy An Anniversary Band
Metal Education
Amethyst Grading
A popular purple quartz, amethyst, is purple or violet in color and synonymous with spirituality and healing. The stone is also regarded as a good luck charm, and purportedly channels harmony and equilibrium. Purple quartz is used to create all sorts of striking jewelry, from eye-catching amethyst earrings to amethyst engagement rings.
How Are Amethysts Graded?
Amethyst differs from other gems in the sense that the price isn’t linked to the carat weight of the stone. Instead, gemologists carry out amethyst stone grading by assessing its color--with amethyst clarity and the level and severity of inclusions taken into account too.
How to Grade Amethyst Purple Color
An amethyst’s color grade determines its quality and value. Whilst all amethysts are purple they vary greatly in terms of their actual shade and hue. The gems typically range in color from a faint lilac to a rich purple with red and blue tones. Purple quartz with this coloring are referred to as Siberian Amethysts.

As a general rule, the deeper the shade, the better-quality the amethyst. Siberian Amethysts are considered the priciest gems. In comparison, an amethyst that is very pale or exhibits light or dark patches is considered less desirable and therefore will be less expensive.
How to Grade Amethyst Clarity
Amethysts are also graded in relation to their clarity. As Type 2 gemstone amethysts do tend to have inclusions (slight imperfections and characteristics within the gem). However, much purple quartz are eye-clean, which means although inclusions do exist, they aren’t necessarily noticeable or visible to the naked eye.
Amethysts are prone to a few inclusions, some more common than others. Here’s a rundown as to what you might find:
Common Inclusions:
- Fissures or feathers: internal crack.
- Negative crystals: small specks of foreign material trapped within the gem.
- Needles: long, thin crystals that look like needles.



Other Inclusions:
- Pinpoint: barely visible: minuscule mineral crystal within the stone.
- Indented Natural: dimple on the outer area.
- Chip: a nick found usually at the edge of the gem.
- Cavity: small and sometimes deep hollow.
- Etch Channel: a hollow tunnel that runs from the surface to the interior of the stone.




The Amethyst Grading Chart
Gemologists assign classification based upon the amethyst grading scale. Here’s a brief guide to help you get to grips with the main different levels:
AAAA Grade
AAAA graded amethysts are considered high quality and are usually dark purple. Moreover, AAAA grade purple quartz has a brilliant-cut and contains no inclusions visible to the naked eye.
AAA Grade
AAA grade amethysts are typically medium to dark purple in color. If you look closely you might see slight inclusions within the stones.
AA Grade
Usually pale to medium purple, AA graded amethysts will have more in the way of inclusions, but the gems still look very pretty!
A-B Grade
A or B graded purple quartz are pale purple in color and will have more noticeable inclusions.

More About Amethyst Grades
Amethysts vary in price, and while you can look at the grading to ascertain the authenticity and value of the gem, you should also take a look at the stone itself. You don’t necessarily need to buy an AAAA graded purple quartz to get a beautiful jewel.
Like most things in life, personal taste has a part to play when choosing jewelry. Look carefully at the color and clarity and examine the gem for noticeable imperfections. A heating technique can be used to eradicate unwanted brownish inclusions or to lighten the color if preferred.
Moreover, these treatments are totally safe and are done on the majority of semi-precious gemstones that are used to create jewelry. Heat treatment is a permanent way to improve the look of the gemstone.
Why Not Treat Yourself to an Amethyst?
Affordable, and a striking alternative to traditional diamonds, the purple quartz is a gem worthy of your attention. Try a pretty amethyst white gold ring or an attractive amethyst pendant on a delicate gold chain.
Amethyst wedding rings are considered a stylish and avant-garde choice. Regardless of the occasion, expert gemologists can help craft the perfect piece of jewelry.