Brightness varies. Some amethyst gems may be so light there is only a light purple glimmer. Some may be so dark that, under light, they appear blackish. [2] X Trustworthy Source Gemological Institute of America Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards Go to source Color will not be entirely consistent in authentic amethyst. Your gem should have different hues of purple throughout and color may change slightly in response to different lighting. Color zoning is the uneven distribution of color in a gemstone. [3] X Research source This may occur in amethyst gems. Authentic amethyst may have some color zoning, which can lessen its value, that’s typically visible when the gem is laid flat on a white surface. [4] X Trustworthy Source Gemological Institute of America Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards Go to source

If the amethyst in question is cut into a round shape, look for uneven distribution of color. If there seems to be a lot of color variation, this actually means the stone is more likely to be authentic. Jewelers frequently cut discolored amethyst into a round shape as this makes variations slightly less noticeable. [7] X Research source

Examine your amethyst closely for inconsistencies. Authentic amethyst is more valuable if cut and manipulated in a way to minimize the appearance of things like color zoning and scratches. Therefore, it may take quite a bit of examination before you notice any imperfections. Examine the gem under a magnifying glass if necessary.

To start, write down the weight of the beaker. Then, write down the weight of the amethyst. Then, partially fill the beaker with water and write down the amount of water, as measured by the beaker. Put the amethyst into the beaker. The water should rise. Subtract the level the water is at now from its original level. Write this number down. This is the amount of displaced water. [9] X Research source Remove the amethyst and drain the water. Put in the amount of water that the mineral displaced. [10] X Research source Weigh the beaker again, with the displaced water in it. Subtract the beaker’s original weight from this number. This is the weight of the displaced water. To find specific gravity, divide the weight of the amethyst by the weight of the displaced water. This numbers should be somewhere in the 2. 65 range if you have real amethyst. [11] X Research source

Everyday objects fall fairly low on the hardness scale. A fingernail is has a hardness of 2. A knife blade is a 5. A steel blade is a 6. 5. [13] X Research source Try to gently scratch your amethyst with your finger nail or a knife blade. You can scratch it against an object with a steel blade, like an expensive knife or axe, if you can find one. Your amethyst should be scratch resistant to these objects. If it is not, it may not be authentic. [14] X Research source

Professional testing can ascertain whether an amethyst came from a geode. Many amethysts originally came from geodes.

Ask friends who are into jewelry. This is the easiest place to start when seeking out a gem dealer. If you have friends that have a lot of expensive jewelry, ask them where they got their best pieces. They may be able to point you to a solid dealer. The American Gem Trade Association, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee are organizations that all work to ensure honestly and quality when it comes to gem dealing. If a jeweler is affiliated with one of these organizations, he or she is more likely to be legitimate. If a gem comes with a lab report, which should verify things like specific gravity and hardness, it’s far more likely to be authentic. Buy from dealers who provide lab reports with their gems.

Amethyst is typically found in Brazil, South Africa, and Namibia. In the US, it’s often found in Arizona, Colorado, and the Carolinas. It’s also found in parts of Canada. [15] X Research source If a gem does not come from one of the above places, that does not necessarily mean it’s inauthentic. Amethyst is present across the world. However, request a lab report if the amethyst is from an unusual region.

The dealer should be affiliated with some of the organizations listed above. He or she should also have a company name, phone number, and physical address. [17] X Research source Check to make sure the business is active. New content should be added regularly. There should be information about how much of a given product is in stock. [18] X Research source Read any reviews you can find. If a lot of customers had a problem with a given store, it may have a bad reputation for a reason. You should also not buy amethyst online if there’s no return policy. [19] X Research source