Did your tour guide from the Green Tour in Cappadocia lead you to a gem store to introduce Zultanite? They say that you can't buy Zultanite anywhere else in the world. And it's more precious than diamonds. But surprisingly it's quite affordable here. It sure is a tempting catch, isn't it?
Now the biggest question is, should you buy one or not?!
That's the exact question I had in mind when I was in Turkey. As a girl who likes bling, I very much wanted to buy Zultanite but I found very little information online. That's why I decided to do actual research and write this article so you'd know whether you should buy one or not.
You can find more resources from our trip:
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What is Zultanite?
Zultanite is a rare natural gemstone found in the rural Anatolian Mountain ranges in Turkey. It was discovered as recently as 1997 and commercial production began in 2006. Despite its name being similar to "Sultan," Zultanite is a relatively modern discovery and did not exist during the time of the Ottomans.
What sets Zultanite apart from other gems, is its ability to change colour under different lighting. Under daylight, it shows hues of yellow and green while under artificial light or candlelight, it looks champagne pink. In Firelight, it has a raspberry tone.
Is Zultanite worth anything?
Yes, it has it's worth. As a semi-precious stone, Zultanite does have great value. In today's market, per carat starts from $500 and goes up to $10,000. Zultanite is classified by GIA as a Type II transparent gemstone, typically appearing eye-clean, meaning no visible inclusions when observed from approximately 6 inches away.
What are inclusions? Well, they are natural characteristics that form within a crystal during the gem's development period. This feature helps gemologists differentiate real stones from synthetic gems.
Is Zultanite only from Turkey?
Yes, Zultanite can only be found in Turkey, but you still can shop online for Zultanite, the synthetic ones commonly found in Turkey.
Natural Zultanite is exclusively mined by Ottoman Gem (Suisse), GmbH and its name too is trademarked. But most of the Zultanites you find in Turkey aren't authentic ones (or we can say natural ones). If you want to buy natural Zultanite, you must look for a reputed dealer in Turkey. Do not rely on tour guides as they work for commissions.
Is Zultanite expensive?
Yes, Zultanite is pretty expensive. Besides being a semi-precious stone, Zultanite's mineral compound is only found in the Anatolian mountains in Turkey making it super rare, and the mining process is even more complex. It takes miners to move 2 tons of Bauxite to yield 1 carat of Zultanite.
Now you probably feel convinced enough to buy that Zultanite jewellery your tour guide recommended. But hold that thought...
Can Zultanite be Faked?
Yes! Zultanite has become one of the biggest discreet scams in Turkey today. Most of the Zultanite you see in the Bazaars in Istanbul and 'Jewellery Stores' in Cappadocia are not authentic Zultanite. However, some of them aren't entirely fake either.
As it's a relatively new industry, it's practically impossible for them to make Zultanite widely available or sell real Zultanite at extremely affordable rates. That's why lab-made Zultanite is becoming a trend. These look almost the same as real ones but they do not have micro formations which happens during the natural development process.
So if you were to know, there are natural Zultanites (the real deal), synthetic ones (most commonly found, lab-created) and fake ones (made of resin).
How can I know if my Zultanite is real?
If you have this doubt about your Zultanite or the one you're about to buy, there's a high chance it's a synthetic Zultanite. If you doubt it's too good to be true, it probably is.
However, there are a couple of ways to determine whether your Zultanite is natural, synthetic or fake.
Did you receive a plastic guarantee card with a hologram (as in the below picture), at the time of purchase? If yes, great news! You have a natural Zultanite.
2. Does your Zultanite have contrasting colour changes or dark hues? If yes, you may have a synthetic one. But without deep inspection, it's difficult to determine its authenticity based only on its colour-changing ability.
3. Did you receive a handwritten certificate that reads 'Laboration Zultanite' somewhere in it? If yes, what you own is a synthetic one created in a lab, and it's not natural Zultanite.
4. Does your Zultanite not change colour? If yes, what you own may be a fake one made of resin.
How much is Zultanite?
Natural Zultanite ranges anywhere between $500 and $10,000. It is sold per carat and usually comes cushioned in silver or gold jewellery, so prices may even increase.
Synthetic Zultanite starts from 35 Euros upwards. As it's lab-created, this type of Zultanite is commonly found in Turkey, especially in local gem stores. While it may not be the same as natural Zultanite, the synthetic one does justice for its price if you know your ways to bargain.
Fake Zultanite made of resin falls into mere cheap fashion stones that can be found for 1$ or so. Most of the cheap Zultanite you find in Bazaars are fake ones hence we advise not to purchase Zultanite or any valuable jewelleries from Bazaars.
Can I sell my Zultanite Jewellery?
If you own Natural Zultanite with a genuine guarantee certificate, yes you can sell it. If yours is an exquisite piece of art like Rhonda Faber Green’s Juliet flower ring that features 19 carats of Zultanite among other gems, you can even put it up for a bid.
However, if you own a synthetic one, you may not be able to sell it officially. As Zultanite itself is a trademarked gemstone, all other synthetic Zultanite automatically fall under the 'replica' category.
You still can sell your synthetic Zultanite as a fashion statement jewellery, clearly indicating that it's a replica.
Should I buy Zultanite from a Tour?
Here's the mind-boggling question. As there's no direct answer to this. I've weighed down your decision.
If you want to purchase Zultanite, firstly:
Skip bazaars and fashion jewellery vendors. The chances of getting scammed here are high.
Determine whether it's natural or synthetic. Sellers won't tell you it's lab-created. So ask them directly. If they claim it's natural, ask for the plastic guarantee card with the hologram.
If you want to buy synthetic Zultanite, keep in mind that it can't go above $100 unless it comes with an elaborate design made of gold or silver. The simplest synthetic Zultanite ring made of sterling silver would cost about $35.
If you're buying Zultanite as a souvenir, don't spend heavily on its decorative elements or other gems. Stick to a simple ring or earrings.
Why Should I Buy Zultanite in Turkey?
If you're a serious jewellery collector, you can buy a natural Zultanite, which is expensive and almost as rare as diamonds. It would be a good addition to your gem collection/display.
I bought a synthetic Zultanite ring from Cappadocia and I'm glad I did it. Why? I know I'll never be able to find a gem store in my home country that sells or even creates Zultanite at a lab. So what I hold at hand is already a rare treasure.
Plus I only spent about $40 on this beautiful souvenir that will be a reminder of my visit to Turkey.
So there you go! Hope this article cleared your doubts about Zultanite!