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Good blue aquamarines of a fair size are scarce, and they can realize $ 112 (£40) a carat. Garnets, which at present are popular, are only about 28c. (2/-) to $5.60 (£2) a carat for ordinary stones, zircons and tourmalines 70^ (5/-) to $28 (£10) a carat, pink beryls, spinels, demantoid garnets, kunzite and topaz about $2.80 (£1) to $42 (£15) a carat, opals from 70c. (5/-) to $84 (£30) a carat, moonstones from 28c. (2/-) to $5.60 (£2) a carat, and turquoise about 70c. (5/-) to $14 (£5) a carat. Fire opals realize from 11.40 (10/-) to $14 (£5) a carat, peridots from $1.40 (10/-) to $22.40 (£8) a carat, alexandrites from $5.60 (£2) to $140 (£50) a carat (large fine stones are exceedingly scarce), and chrysoberyl cat’s-eyes about $1.40 (10/-) to $84 (£30) a carat.

Lapis lazuli can be bought from 12c. (1/-) to $2.80 (20/-) a carat, but like malachite and many other stones, it is usually sold by the finished article and not by weight. Chinese jade varies enormously in price, yet in Europe it is not sold by weight. Single pieces suitable for rings vary from 24c. (2/-) to $28 (£10) each, while necklaces range from $3.60 (30/-) to $14,000 (£5000) each or more. Carved ornaments and pieces of antiquity have a price which only the expert can assess. Plain jade is usually of better quality than the carved and therefore is relatively more expensive. The fine grading of colors and qualities in this stone demands the eye and experience of an expert, as do diamonds, opals, and pearls. New Zealand jade (greenstone) is of very little value and rarely exceeds a few pounds for a finished article in this material. All the prices indicated are approximate wholesale prices, and these have continued to rise over the last few years.