Zultanite — gem-quality color-change diaspore — has a suggested-retail price table from the trademark holder Zultanite Gems LLC ranging from USD 750 per carat for stones under one carat to USD 14,000+ per carat for stones above 20 carats. Per-carat prices rise sharply with weight band. Compared to alexandrite (the classical color-change benchmark at USD 5,000–70,000+ per carat), Zultanite is an order of magnitude less expensive while offering a documentable three-illuminant color shift.

How much does a 1-carat Zultanite cost?

The suggested-retail value published by Zultanite Gems LLC for a 1.00–1.24 carat Zultanite is USD 1,000 per carat. A 1-carat stone with strong color change, eye-clean clarity, and a recognized lab report would price at approximately USD 1,000 retail. Stones below 1 carat (down to 0.01 carats) carry a USD 750 per-carat suggested retail.

What is the price of a 3-carat Zultanite?

The published suggested retail for a 3.00–4.99 carat Zultanite is USD 3,000 per carat. A 3-carat faceted Zultanite at the suggested-retail figure would price at approximately USD 9,000. Above 3 carats is exceptional in the trade and per-carat prices climb sharply with each carat band.

Is Zultanite a good investment?

Zultpedia does not recommend any gemstone as an investment vehicle. Colored-stone resale markets are illiquid, retail-to-resale spreads commonly exceed 50%, and Zultanite’s commercial track record (since the early 2000s) is too short for investment-grade analysis. The structural floor under Zultanite’s price (single-source supply, ~97% lapidary loss) is durable, but durable supply does not translate to predictable resale value. Buy Zultanite because you want the gem; do not buy it expecting financial appreciation.

Why is Zultanite expensive?

Three structural conditions set Zultanite’s price floor: (1) single-source supply — all gem-grade material comes from one mountain range in southwestern Türkiye; (2) ~97% rough loss during cutting due to diaspore’s perfect cleavage on the {010} plane; (3) color-change strength is the dominant value driver, and only a fraction of mined material exhibits the strong sage-to-raspberry shift that commands premium pricing. None of these conditions are likely to ease in the foreseeable future.

Is Zultanite cheaper than alexandrite?

Yes, by an order of magnitude. Alexandrite typically retails at USD 5,000–70,000 per carat for fine examples, while Zultanite’s suggested-retail table ranges from USD 750 per carat (under 1 ct) to USD 14,000+ per carat (above 20 ct). Alexandrite is harder (8.5 vs 6.5–7 Mohs), has a longer documented history (since 1830), and is mineralogically a different species (chrysoberyl, not diaspore). Zultanite’s value proposition is a strong color change at a fraction of alexandrite’s price.

What affects Zultanite’s price the most?

In ranked order: (1) color-change strength — the most expensive stones show a complete sage-to-raspberry shift with no muddy intermediate; (2) carat weight — per-carat prices rise sharply with each carat band per the Zultanite Gems LLC table; (3) clarity — eye-clean stones command premium over visibly included stones; (4) cut quality — master-cutter lapidary that maximizes color-change visibility commands premium; (5) certification — stones with GIA, IGS, or recognized national lab reports trade at premium over uncertified stones.

Can I buy Zultanite under USD 100?

The trademark holder’s suggested retail starts at USD 750 per carat for stones under 1 carat, so a stone priced under USD 100 is either small (a fraction of a carat), has weak color change, lacks laboratory certification, or is misidentified non-Zultanite material being sold under the trade name. Diaspore from non-Türkiye localities (which exists but is generally not gem-grade color-change material) sometimes appears in low-priced settings. If a Zultanite price seems implausibly low, demand the lab report.

What is a 5-carat Zultanite worth?

The published suggested retail for a 5.00–7.99 carat Zultanite is USD 4,000 per carat. A 5-carat faceted Zultanite at the suggested-retail figure would price at approximately USD 20,000. Five-carat-plus stones are exceptionally rare and command per-stone pricing — that is, the actual transaction price is set by the individual stone’s color change, clarity, and cut quality, not strictly by the per-carat band.