While the term "goshenite" was previously also applicable to beryls with a very pale, yet perceptible, hue, it is now only used for material that appears completely colorless. As such crystals lack the impurities responsible for the colors seen in emerald, aquamarine and morganite, goshenite represents beryl in its purest form.

First described from material found close to Goshen, Massachusetts, goshenite’s relative abundance - especially when combined with the fact that beryls are usually prized for their body colors alone - means that only the largest and most transparent crystals are faceted for collectors, and fewer still are included within gem-set jewelry. However, this is also true for most other colorless crystalline minerals, as they are almost invariably deemed to be inferior to diamond in terms of their visual appearance, durability, rarity and perceived value.