How Rarity Affects the Price of Oregon Sunstone

July 24, 2023

Sunstones Mined in Oregon

UPDATED 9/23/2024

Gem collectors and jewelry lovers from all over the world are fast becoming aware of this unique gemstone and appreciating the rarity of this “All American” gem called Sunstone. Fully transparent, top gem quality of colored and/or copper schiller Sunstone is not found anywhere else in the world. The value of this amazing gem ranges between $20 US dollars per carat up to $4,500 US dollars per carat, and below we will explain how rarity affects the price of Oregon Sunstone.

Want to more about where & how Oregon Sunstone is mined? Click on links to learn more.

The color descriptors of Oregon Sunstone are nearly endless and somewhat complex. There is much variation within the color range, which makes this gem exciting to collect and sought after by collectors in the industry.

Below we provide a guide to simplify the color options and to provide the sense of rarity for each color range. The scale goes from 1-10 (1 being most common and 10 being the rarest). If you are a collector or someone who appreciates gem quality stones, you are aware that rarity translates into price! Our provided range for price is listed from the lowest-highest, with the understanding that rarity of color is valued first and then the price is affected by the carat weight (size) of the Oregon Sunstone.

PRICE GUIDE

These prices are estimates for the most common colors found.

Prices shown are per carat (p/c).
Rarity by Color: 1 being most common and 10 being the rarest

1. Colorless, Champagne-$100 to $150 p/c
2. Schiller, Yellow, Light Peach-$100 to $175 p/c
3. Rootbeer, Medium Peach-$150 to $300 p/c
4. Bright Peach, Light Green-$300 to 450 p/c
5. Orangish Red-$400 to $500 p/c
6. Reddish Peach-$400 to $500 p/c
7. Red, Reddish Orange-$450 to $1000 p/c
8. Forest Green, Light Teal, Light Blue-$600 to $1000 p/c
9. Purple, Burgundy, Bluish Green, Blue-$450 to $1,500 p/c
10. Multi Color-$600 to $2,000 p/c

Pricing can also be affected by cutting. “Cutting” is a broad term for fashioning and polishing a raw Sunstone crystal. This includes carving, faceting and cabbing which can all add cost. Cutting a Sunstone into a unique one-of-a-kind shape can add considerable cost and value. Depending on the quality of the cutting techniques, the gem’s cost could increase by $50 to $500 per carat.

The truth is that there was never a better time to invest in natural, high quality gems. And The Sunstone Store is proud to say that during our 40 plus years in the jewelry and gem trade, we’ve been primarily working with natural and untreated Oregon Sunstone for the majority of that time.