How to tell how much a crystal is worth?
Crystal value in a nutshell:
The combination of rarity, size, form, attractiveness, history, chemical composition, and other criteria determines the value of a crystal. Many of those criteria are subjective and are often based on personal taste and preference. care of itself. It always does.
Determining the value of a crystal involves several factors:
Rarity of a crystal:
Crystals that are rare or hard to find are priced higher due to limited supply and high demand. (The criteria "Type of Crystal" is only a synonym term for rarity)
Location or provenance of a crystal:
This criterion is related to "Rarity". A crystal from a new location or a location where the crystals rarely appear is more valuable for collectors than a crystal from a location that produces lots of those crystals.
Crystal Size:
A criterion referring to the size of the individual crystals on a cluster. Generally speaking, the larger the crystals on a cluster, the more valuable the specimen.
Crystal Quality:
The quality of the crystal plays a significant role. There are several sub-criteria, like:
Crystal definition: If the single crystals are well-developed, they are more valuable.
Coloration: Vibrant, evenly distributed colors are valued more, with rare hues such as vivid green or deep violet carrying the highest premiums.
Luster: Crystals of the same type do vary in luster due to minor changes in chemical composition. Specimens with a better luster are valued more.
Clarity: In transparent crystals, clarity is an important criterion. Clearer crystals with minimal inclusions fetch higher prices. For instance, flawless quartz commands a premium over cloudy specimens.
Aesthetic Value:
Unusual crystal and cluster shapes are more valuable.
Two-dimensional crystal clusters: The most common and least valuable shape of a cluster. A flat face on a rock that has length and height (but no three-dimensional shape)
Three-dimensional cluster shape: Crystals are formed on several sides of the rock or all around it. It may contain small geodes. Any three-dimensional or odd shape of a crystal cluster may increase the overall aesthetics of the piece and therefore its value.
Aesthetic placement of crystals on the cluster: When appraising the beauty of a crystal cluster, we do instinctively apply rules of aesthetics, like in art, photography, architecture, and design. If, for example, a bigger outstanding crystal is placed in a position in the center of a cluster, it is most likely less beautiful than when it’s placed a little bit to the side or up or down, aligning with a one-third to two-thirds position (golden cut). Such aesthetic shapes and placements increase the value of a specimen
Floater crystals: A floater is a crystal that formed unattached to a matrix or host rock. Because they grow without an attachment point, usually all sides of the floater crystals are undamaged.
Unusual shapes due to crystal replacement: Sometimes a mineral replaces another mineral and grows in the crystal shape of the former mineral. You can recognize such rare specimens when you find the Word "after" in the crystal description. For example, “Quartz after Barite” would signal that quartz replaced the previously grown Barite crystals, leading to a Quartz crystal in the shape of Barite.
Floater clusters: This is not an existing term, but a criterion for value, which is why we introduce this term and criterion into our list: a cluster of crystals that does not show an attachment point or a very small attachment point to the surrounding rock matrix.
Stalactite clusters: A cluster of crystals that has a stalactite-like shape
Clusters with crystal combinations:
Often, several types of minerals aggregate into clusters, overgrowing each other. Such crystal combinations are often more valuable because of the rarity of such combinations and the aesthetic improvement of a piece due to a variation of shapes and colors.
Damage:
We need to distinguish man-made damage from natural damage.
Man-made damage due to crystal mining and unprofessional transport (broken crystals on a cluster, damaged crystal corners, …) always reduces the value of crystals.
Natural damage does not necessarily reduce the value of a crystal. For example, Peru is a country rattled frequently by earthquakes. Such events can lead to the cracking or breaking off of crystals in the mountains (before extraction). If such natural damage is frequent, then, of course, undamaged crystals should be more valuable. But a naturally damaged crystal or cluster still can retain a high value when taking into account the geology of the place. In some crystals (like pyrite, for example), new crystals form on break-off surfaces, or the break-off surface becomes very shiny due to a microscopic re-crystallization process starting. Or such surfaces are overgrown by crystals from other minerals. In such cases, crystals should not be considered damaged. In Tentadora Mine crystals, for example, broken quartz points serve as the structural basis for the growth of Chrysocolla crystals. The fact that the underlying quartz point is broken, therefore, does not impact the value of the secondary growth of chrysocolla crystals.
The story behind it:
As with all collectables, mineral specimens that have an interesting backstory tend to be more valuable. Who wouldn’t be fascinated to know their mineral specimen was found a hundred years ago, in an adventurous way, in a faraway land, by a famous mineral collector?
Authenticity:
Ensure the crystal is genuine. Some crystals can be artificially enhanced or imitated, which affects value.
Market Demand and Trends:
The current market demand for specific crystals can affect their value. The Demand is often determined by marketing trends. For example, popularity due to trends in spirituality or wellness can significantly impact prices. Crystals from renowned regions, such as Brazilian amethyst or Madagascar rose quartz, tend to be more valuable. A crystal collector should be careful to avoid using this criterion. Collectors buy crystals for speculation on long-term value increase and value stability. Trends are temporary and unreliable, and a trendy crystal can lose most of its value in an instant if the trend changes or a new, better location appears.