Geodes are perfect examples of why you can’t always judge a book (or, in this case, a rock) by its cover. At first glance, geodes look just like any other rock. But when you crack them open, you’re met with a glittering showcase of crystals and gemstones, some of which are quite expensive!
The most expensive geode of all time is One of the World’s Largest Amethysts, a massive multi-ton pillar of Uruguayan amethyst that stands about 16.2ft (5m) tall and more than 8ft (2.5) wide. This geode is valued at between $300,000 and $400,000.
If you’ve been thinking of adding a high-quality geode to your collection, you might want to choose one of the pricey gemstone-encrusted options included in this ranking.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Geodes of All Time:
- One of the World’s Largest Amethysts – Up to $400,000
- Empress of Uruguay – $190,000
- Amethyst Crystal Centerpiece – $125,000
- The Cathedral – Up to $100,000
- Deep Purple Amethyst Tower – $55,000
- Amethyst Geode Coffee Table – $39,981
- Super Gem Amethyst Cave – $35,000
- Agatized Geode Slice From Uruguay – $35,000
- Down the Rabbit Hole by Lawrence Stoller – $30,000
- “Open Geode” From Uruguay – $30,000
10. “Open Geode” From Uruguay – $30,000
Brazil, Zambia, and Uruguay are home to more amethyst geodes than any other place in the world. But Uruguay seems to produce the largest and most valuable specimens, including this “Open Geode.”
Valued at $30,000, this crystal-encrusted stone is split cleanly into two parts, displaying the wealth of amethyst inside. What’s more, these halves are situated on a wooden frame, resembling a chair seat and back.
But while you could try to sit on this giant geode chair, we don’t recommend it. After all, the crystals that grow inside geodes can be quite sharp!
Why It’s Expensive
It isn’t often you see a massive geode turned into an artistic piece of furniture, making this sculpture-like piece a unique find. In addition to its one-of-a-kind nature, this amethyst geode is valuable due to its size and high gemstone content.
After all, amethyst is the birthstone for February babies. As such, it’s an in-demand jewel that never goes out of style.
But while this rich purple gemstone might be captivating, it’s actually not one of the most expensive birthstones. Still, you wouldn’t know it after checking the price on this high-priced amethyst geode!
9. Down the Rabbit Hole by Lawrence Stoller – $30,000
If you’ve read Lewis Carroll’s children’s book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (or seen a film adaptation of the novel), you’re likely familiar with the expression “down the rabbit hole.” This term is used to describe the curiosity that leads someone into a strange world, and it’s also the given name of this quartz geode sculpture.
Shaped like a gaping maw, this silvery geode sits atop a wrought metal stand, its tunnel-like interior drawing the eye of all who see it. And there, at the very back of the stone, is a small circular opening, aka “the rabbit hole.”
Lawrence Stoller, an artist who works almost exclusively with crystals, created this masterpiece in the early 2000s. In 2007, it went to auction, selling for an impressive $30,000.
Considering its beauty and peculiar charm, it’s surprising that it didn’t fetch an ever higher price.
Why It’s Expensive
Though most crystal-filled geodes are beautiful, few can be considered bonafide works of art.
But Down the Rabbit Hole is an exception, exuding both natural beauty and delicate partisanship. And like most high-quality art pieces, it’s worth a pretty penny.
8. Agatized Geode Slice From Uruguay – $35,000
At first glance, you might mistake this geode for a contemporary floor lamp. After all, it sits atop a simple black pole stand, reflecting the light around it. But the more you look at it, the more breathtaking it becomes.
The Agatized Geode Slice has a blue-brown exterior that shimmers like an iridescent oyster shell, exuding an undeniable natural charm. But when you look at its middle, you’ll see tiny pillars of white quartz crystals and calcite formations.
These crystals somewhat resemble the stalagmites and stalactites found in watery caves. But instead of being dull yellow or white, these deposits are a brilliant mix of glimmering hues, each one drawing the eye and capturing the imagination.
If you’d like to experience the magic of this specimen for yourself, you’ll be glad to know that you can buy it online for the comparatively low price of $35,000.
Why It’s Expensive
Like many other high-priced geodes, this specimen hails from Uruguay. In addition to being a geological wonder, it’s also a piece of natural history, as it likely formed during the Cretaceous Period. During this time, dinosaurs walked the earth!
All-in-all, this geode is expensive because of its museum-worthy quality, unique appearance, and sculpture-like appearance.
7. Super Gem Amethyst Cave – $35,000
There are quite a few terms that describe common geode shapes. For example, if you’ve ever heard the term “geode cave,” chances are the person was speaking about the concave nature of a geode specimen, not a cave made of geodes!
Some of the most impressive and valuable geodes in the world are “caves.” These stones have a distinct internal pit or opening surrounded by a solid rock exterior. That’s certainly the case for the Super Gem Amethyst Cave, an orb-like hunk of gemstone-filled geode from Uruguay.
This geode weighs more than 1,900lbs (877kg) and features an interior of twinkling amethyst gemstones. These crystals sparkle like unknown galaxies, highlighting the tall pyramidal calcite crystal growing inside the cave-like interior.
Due to its size and natural beauty, this amethyst cave sold for $35,000 in 2018. But one can’t help but wonder how the buyer managed to carry this massive geode home!
Why It’s Expensive
A palm-sized hunk of quartz geode can sell for less than $20. But when your geode weighs almost two thousand pounds, you can expect the price to increase accordingly.
The Super Gem Amethyst Cave is a massive specimen, and its unique calcite feature makes it an intriguing find. Consequently, the primary reasons it sold for such a high price are size and rarity!
6. Amethyst Geode Coffee Table – $39,981
It’s not unusual to see geodes decorating bookshelves or coffee tables. But have you ever seen a geode that was a coffee table?
If not, take a look at the Amethyst Geode Coffee Table, a massive tub-like amethyst geode with a curvy, custom-cut sheet of glass covering its gemstone interior.
Though you might think this coffee table is a handmade sculpture, it’s almost entirely natural. The only thing about it that’s even slightly fabricated or human-made is the glass top!
This geode’s amethyst content alone would make it worth several thousands of dollars. But because it was carefully converted into a functional piece of living room furniture, it’s worth about $39,981 (up to €20,000)!
Why It’s Expensive
Imagine setting your cup of coffee or favorite book onto a glass pane that’s seemingly hovering over thousands of tiny amethyst crystals. How much would you be willing to pay for that experience?
If you’re an amateur geologist or someone born in February, the answer might be close to $40,000, the rough estimate of this geode’s worth. Of course, if you buy this table, you’ve got to spring for the matching “Open Geode” chair!
5. Deep Purple Amethyst Tower – $55,000
Nearly all geodes are stones with hollow or semi-hollow centers covered in crystal formations. But few are as cocoon-like as the Deep Purple Amethyst Tower.
This amethyst cave stands about 6ft (1.8m) high and more than 2.5ft (0.8m) wide, with a solid stone bottom and back. But its interior is a crystal-covered labyrinth of amethyst. It looks out of this world, which might be why it’s listed for a truly phenomenal $55,000.
Why It’s Expensive
The average geode is small enough to fit on your bookshelf or bedside table. But this staggering hunk of stone and gemstone isn’t your average geode.
It’s an incredibly large specimen filled with valuable amethyst crystals, making it one of the most valuable geodes on the planet. It’s also one of the few high-priced geodes still for sale, so if you’d like to make it yours, you might want to act fast!
4. The Cathedral – Up to $100,000
In addition to geode “caves,” there are geode “cathedrals.” These are typically tall, rectangular geodes with concave or semi-flat interiors. But The Cathedral amethyst geode is a bit of an outlier.
Instead of being tall and thin, it has an oblong, football-like shape. But don’t let its awkward exterior fool you; the exposed crystals are anything but boring.
Poised in the center of an eye-like ring of purple amethyst sits calcite spires, reaching upward like fingers or the belltowers of a cathedral—hence the name! The majestic calcite pillars, encircled by a nest of precious amethyst, helped push this geode’s value into the hundreds of thousands.
When The Cathedral went up for auction in 2022, it had an estimated maximum value of $100,000.
Why It’s Expensive
Several of the costliest geodes are filled with amethyst and calcite crystals. But most are expensive due to their size or coloration.
The Cathedral is a pricey specimen because it looks hand-carved, but it’s all-natural. People have compared the creamy white calcite crystals to Gothic cathedrals or ethereal palaces, and it’s not hard to see why.
But while this sparkling purple cathedral-shaped geode might cost as much as a small home or apartment, it’s not nearly as costly as the world’s most expensive opals!
Its value also pales in comparison (literally) to the Amethyst Crystal Centerpiece, a dark purple amethyst geode designed to make your study or living room a thousand times more interesting.
3. Amethyst Crystal Centerpiece – $125,000
Have you ever attended a party with colleagues or co-workers and used the room’s items as a place to start a conversation? If so, you’d likely love to be in the same room as the Amethyst Crystal Centerpiece.
This massive open-face geode has a distinct shape that resembles a human heart (anatomical, not cartoon). It’s also uniquely dark, with murky amethysts that seem to collect light instead of reflecting it.
But at $125,000, this centerpiece might be one of the priciest icebreakers ever created.
Why It’s Expensive
This sculpture-like geode is valuable due to its remarkably dark coloration, hefty size, and customized hardware, which allows it to sit upright on a table or shelf. It might not be the largest amethyst geode in the world, but it’s certainly one of the most interesting.
Still, few people are lining up to take photos of themselves with Amethyst Crystal Centerpiece. The same can’t be said for the next entry on our ranking.
2. Empress of Uruguay – $190,000
Like several of the world’s most expensive meteorites, many of the priciest geodes are unusually large. But few are as massive as the Empress of Uruguay, a towering hunk of amethyst geode from South America.
This multi-ton behemoth measures almost 11ft (about 3.3m) high and was discovered in 2007. A decade later, it became a showcase exhibit/attraction at the Crystal Caves Museum in Atherton, Australia.
The museum paid approximately $120,000 for this amethyst-encrusted geode, though they likely made back at least a portion of this expense after showcasing it to the public. The museum has reportedly received offers to buy this geode for as much as $190,000, but this geode is currently not for sale.
Even the tallest visitors looked small when standing next to this towering amethyst-and-calcite specimen, making it one of the most alluring geodes in the world. You can snap a photo of yourself standing beside (or is it beneath?) this massive stone by visiting the Crystal Caves Museum, as the stone is a hallmark feature of every guest’s museum experience.
Why It’s Expensive
The Crystal Caves Museum received offers up to $190,000 on this geode due to its size and quality.
Few geodes are quite as lustrous and gem-packed as this one. Additionally, the museum likely knew they could attract larger crowds by offering photo-ops with the geode, so the high price was likely seen as an investment with profitable returns.
1. One of the World’s Largest Amethysts – Up to $400,000
The most expensive geode is One of the World’s Largest Amethysts, a (thus far) nameless geode that debuted at a Bonhams auction in 2020. Though it’s not as famous as the Empress of Uruguay, this amethyst geode is taller and heavier than its counterpart.
While the Empress of Uruguay weighs 2.5 tons, “One of the World’s Largest Amethysts” weighs about 14 tons, making it more than five times heavier. That said, this geode is only about four or five feet taller than the Empress of Uruguay.
Most of its weight is centered at the bottom of the stone, which consists of unexposed, rough stone. This stone dissolves away to dark purple amethyst crystals embedded with yellow calcite orbs, with a shape that somewhat resembles a royal throne.
One of the World’s Largest Amethysts has an equally regal value, estimated at up to $400,000!
Why It’s Expensive
The Empress of Uruguay is often touted as the largest amethyst geode in the world, but this legend is far from true. Some amethyst geodes are larger than the average bedroom, measuring 18ft (5.5m) wide!
While this specimen might not be quite that expansive, it’s undoubtedly more expensive than other amethyst geodes. Its unique coloration and shape add to its intrigue, as it’s not quite a cave or a cathedral.
In short, this geode is valuable due to its size and rarity. If you’re interested in making it a part of your collection or living room decor, you’ll need to contact Bonhams for more information.
What’s the Most Expensive Geode of All Time?
The most expensive geode of all time doesn’t have an official name, but it’s colloquially referred to as “One of the World’s Largest Amethysts.” This throne-shaped hunk of gemstone and rock was featured in a Bonhams auction in 2020, and its estimated value fell into the $300,000 to $400,000 range.
It’s easy to understand why this specimen has such a jaw-droppingly high value. After all, it’s several feet taller (and several tons heavier) than the infamous Empress of Uruguay.
Are you interested in learning more about nature’s priciest wonders? If so, check out these related articles!