Natural gemstones are stones that develop in the earth’s crust. They take millions or billions of years to form, which is surprising as the approximate age of the Earth is 4.54 billion years old. Synthetic gemstones, on the other hand, are gemstones produced on a large scale in labs/factories within a few days or even hours. Astrologically, synthetic stones do not contain the natural powers of natural gemstones and as such should not be bought for the aforementioned purposes.

Why are natural gemstones expensive?

It should not be shocking then, that these gemstones are considerably more expensive than synthetic ones. But this mainly comes down to the extraction process. These stones can only be found at select locations around the world. Furthermore, only a few (about 5%) of these stones are worth enough to be sold. So the real question is, do you want to pay for quality or not?

Are karats related to gemstones?

Karats do not define the purity of a gemstone like gold does. However, a Carat defines the weight of a gemstone or diamond.

Are treated, enhanced, or synthetic gemstones recommended for astrology?

No. Said gemstones do not have the basic essence of a natural gemstone. Minor treatments such as cutting & polishing of gemstones, colorless oil in Emeralds, or a colorless polymer in the gemstone are accepted. But major treatments that transform or change the internal or external physical & chemical properties of a natural gemstone are not suitable for astrological segments.

How much will a natural gemstone cost?

Now that you’ve decided that you’re going to purchase a natural gemstone, what price point would you be looking at?

Much like gold, diamonds, or any other material coming from the earth’s crust, they never come at a singular price point. The same is with gemstones, their certification, character, origins, rarity and many other factors determine their price. These prices can even go up to the millions in some cases.

What is a Carat?

A carat is the standard unit used to measure the weight of gemstones. 1 Carat is equal to 0.200 grams.