How Much Is Smoky Quartz Worth?
Also known as Cairngorm / Morion
Smoky quartz is the brown-to-black variety of quartz, colored by natural irradiation of trace aluminum, ranging from pale 'smoky' tan to near-opaque 'morion' black. It's affordable and abundant: tumbled stones and small points sell for $2–$20, clusters and hand-size specimens for $15–$70, and large clear points, faceted stones, or fine crystal groups for $40–$300+. Value comes from crystal form and terminations, transparency, even color (rich smoky brown that's still see-through is desirable), and size. Much commercial smoky quartz is irradiated clear quartz — the treatment mimics the natural process and both are genuine quartz, so it's not usually a 'fake' issue but does affect collector value. Fine natural Scottish 'cairngorm' and gem-clear faceted material are the high end.
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Smoky Quartz value by type
| Type | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tumbled / small points | $2 – $20 |
| Clusters / hand-size | $15 – $70 |
| Large points / spheres | $30 – $150 |
| Fine crystal groups / faceted | $50 – $300+ |
Educational ballparks for typical specimens — not a formal appraisal.
What drives smoky quartz value
- Crystal form. Sharp terminations, scepters, and clean crystal groups add value.
- Transparency. Rich smoky color that's still gem-clear beats muddy or opaque stone.
- Color evenness. Even, attractive brown-to-black is preferred over patchy color.
- Size & natural vs irradiated. Large stones and confirmed natural material command more.
Is your smoky quartz real?
Smoky quartz is real quartz, so the question is natural vs irradiated rather than real vs glass — both are Mohs 7 quartz. Very cheap, uniformly dark 'morion' points are often irradiated. Glass imitation is rare; a cool, hard stone that scratches glass and shows natural inclusions is genuine quartz either way.
FAQ
- Is smoky quartz irradiated?
- Much commercial material is lab-irradiated (mimicking the natural process), which is still genuine quartz; naturally colored specimens are preferred by collectors.
- Is smoky quartz valuable?
- Usually modest ($2–$70), but large clean points, fine crystal groups, and natural cairngorm reach $40–$300+.