Why to go for Cheap Loose Gemstones?
Searching for low-cost, high-return investment ideas in the gemstone industry? Fortunately, Folkmarketgems offers variety of best loose gemstones under $100 deals within a budget-friendly option for new entrepreneurs. Not only do they reduce the financial burden, but they also give new business owners a chance to gain experience and develop their expertise.
This article provides an inclusive guide on why selecting affordable loose gemstones is the best way to begin your journey.
- Lower risk: You can begin with a minor investment under $100 if you are new to the business. You can try out affordable loose cut gemstones with minimal risk of financial loss.
- Learning tool: Try out various cuts, colors and varieties of gemstones to refine your personal taste.
- Good value: Semi-precious stones are an inexpensive option for stunning beauty as compared to precious stones.
- Flexibility: Cheap stones are more flexible for use in daily jewelry or designs where perfection is not the primary objective.
List of 10 Natural Loose Stones for Jewelry Under Budget
Here are some beginner-friendly stones that offer beauty at an affordable price. Actual price varies with color, carat, cut, clarity, origin, etc., so these are “general affordable ranges.”
| # | Colored Stone Names | What Makes It Great / Common Range | What to Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purple Amethyst | Deep purple quartz. 1–5 carat stones are less than $50–$80. | Beware of pale or brownish colors. |
| 2 | Yellow Citrine | Yellow/orange quartz. Less costly than amethyst. | Usually heat-treated to enhance color; can be mistaken for smoky quartz or topaz. |
| 3 | Green Peridot | An excellent "green" option under $100 in smaller sizes. | Inclusions are usual; avoid brownish tones. |
| 4 | Garnet (common varieties like Almandine, Pyrope, Rhodolite) | Deep red or orange/green color. Most garnets cost less than $100. | Unusual garnets (e.g. tsavorite, demantoid) are costly. |
| 5 | Blue Aquamarine | Pale to sky-blue gem. Lower grade aquamarines are cheaper. | Sky blue material is costly. Beware of heat treatments. |
| 6 | Topaz (Yellow, Blue, Imperial, Pink, Red) | Usually treated to achieve distinct blue color; affordable for moderate size. | Color can fade with low quality. |
| 7 | Moonstone | Cream color with "adularescence". Small sizes are affordable. | Fragile and soft gems with obvious inclusions. |
| 8 | Opal (common / lesser grades) | Lovely play-of-color; small common opals (not black opal) are budget-friendly. | Sensitive to heat & humidity. |
| 9 | Kunzite Spodumune | A cheap stone and very affordable | irradiated to enhance pink color. natural pink colors are usually less saturated. |
| 10 | Tourmaline | Tourmaline comes in variety of colors. It has many affordable colors such as green, pink, bluish green, black tourmaline. Comes from opaque to highly transparent | Some are irradiated to gain colors such as watermelon and rubilite tourmaline |
Note: Some of these gemstones listed above may cost more than $100 in case of high quality, larger size or rare colored stones such as Pink Topaz, Color Change garnets, Paraiba Tourmaline or Lagoon Tourmaline, Deep blue Aquamarine Stones. To stay within budget, opt for smaller size or common quality stones.
Beginner’s Guide to Budget-Friendly Loose Gemstones- Price, Color, Buying Tips
1. Amethyst
- Color: Rich purple hues (lilac to deep purple).
- Price Range: $10–$50 for 1–5 carat stones. Larger sized eye-clean gems cost less than $100.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 7, sufficiently strong for jewelry use.
- Amethyst is a February Birthstones
- Tips: Avoid pale and brownish hues. Heat treatment can change color of amethyst transforming it into a different kind of quartz.
2. Garnet
- Color: Deep reds (almandine, pyrope), purple-pink (rhodolite), or orange-brown (spessartite in lower grades).
- Price Range: $15–$70 for 1–3 carat red garnets.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 6.5–7.5, very durable stones.
- Garnet is a January Birthstones
- Tips: Tsavorite and demantoid are costly stones. Some garnets show inclusions.
3. Citrine
- Color: Golden yellow to deep orange.
- Price Range: $10–$40 for 1–5 carat stones.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 7; versatile for jewelry use.
- Citrine loose gems jewelry is perfect gift for your loved ones who are born in the month of November. Learn about November Birthstone
- Tips: Opt for bright yellow colors; avoid those with brownish hues.
4. Peridot
- Color: Pure grass green to vivid lime green to olive.
- Price Range: $30–$80 for 1–2 carat stones. Lab and small-sized stones are inexpensive.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 6.5 – 7; prone to chipping if handled roughly.
- Peridot is best for those who are born in August. Peridot is an August Birthstone.
- Tips: Avoid light colored stones with dark inclusions.
5. Aquamarine
- Color: Sky blue to ocean blue.
- Price Range: $40–$90 for 1–2 carat lighter stones.
- Durability: Mohs 7.5–8, so ideal for daily-wear jewelry.
- Blue Aquamarine is the Birthstone of March.
- Tips: Pale colors cost under $100. Blue topaz can be confused with aquamarine.
6. Topaz
- Color: Sky blue, Swiss blue, and London blue.
- Price Range: $10–$60 for 1–5 carat stones.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 8; used in formal as well as informal wear.
- Topaz is a Birthstone Gem of November and December Birthstone.
- Tips: Look for even color without any discernible inclusions.
7. Moonstone
- Color: White, cream, or gray with blue "adularescence" glow
- Price Range: $15–$50 for 1–3 carat stones.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 6–6.5; susceptible to scratches.
- Moonstones are gems of June Birthstone.
- Tips: Choose stones with strong blue sheen and minimal cracks. Beware of imitations such as opalite or treated labradorite
8. Opal
- Color: White or pale background with rainbow play-of-color.
- Price Range: $20–$90 for low-grade stones.
- Opal gemstones are Birthstone of October Month.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 5.5–6.5, fragile, porous and sensitive to impact.
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Tips: Ensure there’s no “crazing” (fine cracks). Protect stones from heat and dryness.
9. Kunzite / Spodumune Crystals
- Color: Wide range including red and brown.
- Price Range: $5–$30 for small polished cut stones.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 6.5–7, relatively resistant to scratching.
- Being a purplish pink tone, Kunzite stones are stones of February Birthstones.
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Tips: Useful in wire-wrapping or handmade projects. Avoid heavily dyed pieces.
10. Tourmaline Loose Stones
- Color: Tourmaline comes in pink, green, blue, yellow, orange, red, purple, black, white, colorless, watermelon (pink and green), and parti-colored varieties.
- Price Range: Tourmaline prices vary widely based on quality, color, and size. Generally, prices range from $10-50 per carat for commercial grade stones, $50-500 per carat for good quality gems, $500-2,000 per carat for fine specimens, and $2,000-10,000+ per carat for exceptional Paraiba tourmalines and top-grade watermelon varieties.
- Tourmaline gemstones are stones of October Month. October Birthstones have two main stones i.e. tourmaline and opals.
- Durability: Mohs hardness 5–6, soft and porous, more susceptible to damage by chemicals.
- Tips: Being porous, they can absorb oils; careful handling is required.
Where to Buy Cheap Loose Stones Safely
Here are some tips and places to buy cheap and authentic loose gemstones:
- Reputable dealers / gem shops: Look for sellers with good customer reviews and transparency about origin of stones.
- Lab reports / certificates: Even for small stones, verification of certification from a reputable lab like GIA or AGS is a crucial step to confirm authenticity.
- Online marketplaces with good policies: Opt for reliable marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, Folkmarketgems for affordable gemstones online. Always check payment methods and return policies.
- Local gem/ mineral shows: Visiting local gem shows offers a chance to inspect gemstones in person and negotiate prices.
- Compare several sources: Get quotes from multiple gemstone dealers to see what prices are “normal” for a stone of the quality you want.
- Inspect closely: Examine color, clarity and cut under magnification. Also look for any inclusions, blemishes or laser inscriptions.
- Ask about treatments / enhancements: You should be aware of stone treatments to avoid any misunderstandings.
Loose Gem Stones for Sale with Folkmarketgems
Folkmarket Gems provides a wide range of affordable loose gems stones designed for jewelry makers, collectors, and those seeking inexpensive birthstones. Our brand focuses on offering 100% natural and authentic stones that fit within various budgets, making it easier for beginners and artisans to experiment with jewelry creation or expand their gem collections.
Customers can find stones in many colors, shapes, and cuts suitable for rings, pendants, earrings, or metaphysical use. By maintaining fair pricing and quality assurance, Folkmarket Gems ensures accessibility to authentic gemstones without compromising beauty or value, helping both hobbyists and small business owners source cost-effective materials. Apart from above 10 affordable loose gemstones, there are huge variety of budget freindly stones also such as apatite, morganite, prasiolite, scapolite, cats eye, epidote, amber, malachite, agate and many others. One will find Folkmarketgems is the best place to buy loose gemstones online.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Loose Stones
Are Cheap Gemstones Real or Synthetic?
Yes, many affordable gemstones are real, but with visible inclusions, lighter color and smaller size. Cheap stones may also be synthetic or lab-created. Some may be imitations made from glass or low quality materials.
How to tell if it’s real?
- Examine clarity & inclusion patterns. Fake stones usually have gas bubbles trapped inside glass.
- Observe stone’s reaction to light and its peculiar glow.
- Conduct hardness tests.
- Refractive index of stones helps in identification.
- Certificate and lab tests from an accredited lab can prove useful.
Does “cheap” mean low quality?
NOT always. “Cheap” loose stones can be smaller in size, with less vivid color and a more abundant variety. But many stones under $100 are still perfectly beautiful.
Are Enhancements of Colored Stones a bad?
NOT necessarily. As long as the treatment is disclosed, and you are aware of what you are purchasing, it’s perfectly fine.
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