Jasper Costs Little, So What Decides Its Price?

Jasper is among the cheapest natural stones on the market, and people often take that to mean one jasper is as good as another. Not so. Jasper is opaque, fine-grained quartz coloured by other minerals, and the type, the pattern and the quality of the finish on a particular stone all change what it is worth.

The type of jasper matters most

Jasper is a family of looks, not one stone:

• Red jasper: a solid colour from brick to tomato red, thanks to iron. The traditional ring stone.
• Picture and landscape jasper: browns and creams that form scenes resembling hills or desert.
• Ocean or orbicular jasper: little round "eyes" of colour scattered across the stone.
• Yellow, green and mixed jaspers: each with its own patterns and its own fans.

Unusual, collectable patterns generally sell for more than plain colours.

Pattern and colour inside one type

With solid-colour jasper, buyers want a rich, even tone with no dead or dull patches. With patterned jasper, the question is how good the design looks on the finished stone and where it sits. When a cutter centres a striking pattern on the dome of the cabochon, that skill adds value.

Finish and shape

Carefully worked jasper takes a bright, glossy polish. Check for a smooth surface free of pits, scratches and haze, an even, symmetrical outline, and a flat, clean back that will sit properly in a setting.

Cracks and filling

Small cracks and pits are sometimes filled with resin. A little filling is normal in low-cost stones, but heavily filled pieces are weaker and should cost less.

Dyed and reconstituted jasper

Since ordinary jasper is cheap, the copies aim at the eye-catching varieties. Dyed jasper shows colours that are brighter than nature makes. Reconstituted jasper is crushed stone set in resin, and it can show the same pattern again and again. No two natural jaspers ever carry exactly the same pattern, so if a seller's photos show identical stones, ask about it. "Swiss lapis", by the way, is dyed jasper passed off as lapis lazuli.

Wearing jasper every day

Jasper is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, so it takes daily ring wear, though a hard knock can chip an edge. Mild soap and water is all it needs.

Jasper and Mangal

In South Asian tradition jasper is tied to Mars (Mangal) and worn for endurance and a grounded mind. These are traditional beliefs, not promised results; see our rashi guide.

Working out a fair rate

Every stone we sell has its own price, so the per-carat rate is just the price divided by the carat weight. Our jasper collection lets you compare individual stones, each photographed as it really is. You may also like moss agate or tanzanite. Urdu names are on our names page. We deliver with Cash on Delivery from Karachi to Lahore and every other city.