What You Need to Know Before Selling Chrysoprase

They are the color of money and among earth’s most sophisticated gems. If you are selling chrysoprase, you need to do all you can to make sure you are getting what it's worth.

Here at Worthy, we help people sell their unwanted diamond jewelry for the best possible price. What we’ve learned about selling diamonds can help you when you are selling chrysoprase as well. Here are some things you need to know about selling chrysoprase to make sure you receive the maximum value.

Chrysoprase was used by the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians in crafting fine jewelry and ornamental objects. Chrysoprase has been valued since ancient times, and during the medieval era, it was used in architectural projects as well as in a variety of interesting projects ranging from mosaics to small ornamental tables. It was – and still is – used in jewelry, often in lovely combinations with other precious and semi-precious stones.

Chrysoprase, which is sometimes called Chrysoprasus or Chrysophrase, is a type of chalcedony. These gemstones are normally an apple-green color, but some examples are deeper green. Some stones have a stunning opalescent quality, and while all chrysoprase is rare, those exhibiting opalescence or translucence are rarest of all. Some pieces of chrysoprase look astonishingly similar to imperial jadeite.

Chrysoprase Gets Its Color From Nickel

While emeralds get their color from chromium within the crystal structures of the stones, chrysoprase gets its green color from nickel compounds. Striations within the stone vary slightly in color depending on mineral content within those nickel compounds.

What's its Level of Hardness?

Like other forms of chalcedony, chrysoprase fractures like flint and has a hardness of six to seven on the Mohs hardness scale.

Where Can Chrysoprase Be Found?

The most abundant, best-known sources of chrysoprase are Arizona, California, Brazil, Queensland, Western Australia, Russia, Germany, and Poland. Examples from Australia are sometimes sold as Australian Jade.

Just like other gemstones, the value of chrysoprase is dependent on a number of factors:
Color. This is perhaps the most important; as a rule, the more deeply saturated the color, the more value the chrysoprase has.
Diaphaneity. The second factor affecting the value of chrysoprase describes the level of translucency the gem possesses. A good balance between color and translucency is highly desirable.

Clarity. This factor greatly affects the value of chrysoprase; the market is flooded with low-grade examples, and because of high demand, fine gem-grade pieces are more elusive now than they have ever been. This isn’t to say that all inclusions are undesirable. Some jewelry designers actually prefer to work with pieces that have interesting inclusions because they give the finished pieces a unique, artistic look that’s highly prized among collectors.

If you’re hoping to buy or sell chrysoprase, be sure to work with an experienced appraiser. This is of vital importance, because fakes are numerous.

Chrysoprase is often crafted into beads or spheres, and some of the nicest examples are cabochons. It is used in necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, cufflinks, and other types of jewelry; some of the most intriguing pieces are set in stunning combinations that include different colored stones and various precious metals. Some of the best are vintage and antique chrysoprase pieces; many of these are irresistibly fascinating.

Excellent examples of chrysoprase, particularly large, fine quality stones, have recently sold for thousands of dollars. If you’d like to sell chrysoprase gems or chrysoprase jewelry, you’ll be amazed at the offers you will receive.