What does it mean when a watch says on the face Quartz? Its not a brand name. Is it a material that is used
The four C's are color, clarity, cut, and carat, the first is the color quartz should be transparent and amethyst purple(more purple the better), clarity is how flaw free is such as not cracks etc. cut is the way the gemstone was cut(brilliant cut, etc.) and carat is the weight of the stone.
Just a heads-up on amethyst and quartz crystals--there's a lot of imitation stuff out there. Generally, any amethyst that looks perfect without any color zoning, inclusions or twinning fingerprints (and is cheap) should be suspect. Even good quality will show some subtle color zoning and twinning.
To judge quality of amethyst (just a form of quartz), remember that the value per carat in amethyst, unlike many gems, doesn't rise exponentially with weight, since it's readily available in large sizes - it's not an uncommon gemstone. Therefore, value it depends almost entirely on color. The Siberian deep purple with red and blue flash generally commands the highest prices. Since amethyst is plentiful, there is little reason to pay top dollar for gemstones with visible inclusions, inferior cutting or any other flaws. A current wholesale price for a medium size, medium to deep purple colored gem should be between $8 - $25 per carat, commercial cuts. African stones generally coast about 25% more per carat than Brazilian stones, but there isn't any difference in quality. It's basically just good marketing. Keep in mind that it's a *wholesale* price. When it actually makes it to the counter, it'll be more expensive. Shop around for the ideal stone, and look for quality as I've explained, because nice ones should be pretty easy to find. Don't let a crafty pot-head screw you out of good money on an inferior stone at the New Age shop.
