How Much Are Crystals & Gemstones Worth?
Crystal and gemstone values span four orders of magnitude — from a dollar-a-gram tumbled quartz to fine ruby at tens of thousands per carat. Here's what each is really worth, with our sources. Fine gems are priced per carat by quality; common crystals by typical sold price.
Most valuable gemstones (price per carat)
Fine faceted gems are priced per carat, and quality — colour, clarity, cut, origin, treatment — swings the price enormously. These are typical ranges, not appraisals.
| Gemstone | Good quality | Fine quality |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby | $1,500–$12,000/ct | $5,000–$45,000/ct |
| Jadeite | $50–$2,000/ct | $1,000–$30,000/ct |
| Emerald | $1,000–$6,000/ct | $5,000–$20,000/ct |
| Alexandrite | $2,000–$10,000/ct | $5,000–$20,000/ct |
| Red Beryl | $3,000–$11,000/ct | $8,000–$20,000/ct |
| Diamond | $3,500–$6,000/ct | $6,000–$15,000/ct |
| Spinel | $500–$3,000/ct | $1,500–$12,000/ct |
| Sapphire | $300–$3,500/ct | $1,500–$10,000/ct |
| Demantoid | $600–$3,000/ct | $3,000–$10,000/ct |
| Tourmaline | $150–$1,500/ct | $600–$10,000/ct |
| Tsavorite | $800–$3,000/ct | $2,000–$8,000/ct |
| Opal | $50–$2,000/ct | $500–$8,000/ct |
| Chrysoberyl | $50–$800/ct | $200–$2,400/ct |
| Tanzanite | $150–$600/ct | $300–$1,500/ct |
| Topaz | $25–$200/ct | $100–$1,500/ct |
| Iolite | $30–$200/ct | $100–$800/ct |
| Aquamarine | $80–$250/ct | $200–$600/ct |
| Fire Opal | $50–$200/ct | $115–$600/ct |
| Kunzite | $50–$150/ct | $150–$500/ct |
| Peridot | $50–$250/ct | $80–$500/ct |
| Zircon | $75–$200/ct | $200–$500/ct |
| Morganite | $80–$225/ct | $200–$450/ct |
| Heliodor | $40–$150/ct | $90–$400/ct |
| Jade | $10–$100/ct | $30–$300/ct |
| Goshenite | $10–$30/ct | $20–$95/ct |
Common crystals & what they sell for
Everyday crystals, rocks and tumbled stones, priced by what they actually sell for as raw or polished pieces (recent eBay sold listings).
| Crystal | Typical piece | Per gram (raw) |
|---|---|---|
| Amber | $20–$365 | — |
| Aragonite | $17–$123 | $0.34/g |
| Serpentine | $12–$69 | — |
| Petrified Wood | $22–$68 | $0.01/g |
| Smoky Quartz | $13–$46 | $0.01/g |
| Tektite | $21–$46 | — |
| Hematite | $21–$41 | $0.03/g |
| Nephrite | $13–$37 | — |
| Carnelian | $6–$36 | — |
| Rose Quartz | $6–$35 | $0.02/g |
| Tiger's Eye | $10–$32 | — |
| Snowflake Obsidian | $7–$32 | $0.01/g |
| Clear Quartz | $11–$31 | $0.02/g |
| Lapis Lazuli | $13–$31 | $0.03/g |
| Sodalite | $6–$30 | $0.04/g |
| Labradorite | $7–$27 | $0.02/g |
| Azurite | $11–$26 | $0.04/g |
| Apatite | $7–$25 | — |
| Jasper | $13–$23 | — |
| Calcite | $7–$23 | $0.03/g |
| Chalcedony | $7–$22 | — |
| Garnet | $10–$22 | $0.08/g |
| Amethyst | $6–$21 | $0.03/g |
| Kyanite | $4–$20 | $0.02/g |
| Larimar | $10–$20 | — |
| Pyrite | $6–$20 | $0.02/g |
| Rhodochrosite | $10–$19 | $0.06/g |
| Selenite | $7–$18 | $0.04/g |
| Fluorite | $6–$16 | $0.02/g |
| Shungite | $6–$16 | $0.15/g |
| Spodumene | $6–$16 | $0.04/g |
| Malachite | $6–$12 | $0.04/g |
| Sunstone | $6–$11 | $0.09/g |
| Obsidian | $5–$9 | $0.03/g |
| Agate | $6–$8 | $0.04/g |
| Olivine | $6–$8 | $0.03/g |
| Aventurine | $4–$5 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most valuable crystal?
Among gem species, fine ruby, emerald and blue sapphire reach the highest per-carat prices (tens of thousands of dollars), with red beryl and alexandrite also extremely valuable due to rarity. Diamond is valuable but more available at any given quality.
How is crystal value calculated here?
Fine gemstone ranges are cross-validated from gemstone price guides (GIA, GemGuide, PriceScope and dealers). Common-crystal prices come from recent eBay sold listings (not asking prices), bucketed by form and normalised per gram. Both are estimates — see our methodology.
Are these prices an appraisal?
No. They are market-based estimates to set expectations. A specific stone's value depends on its exact quality, size and authenticity — for anything valuable, get a certified gemmological appraisal.