Did you know that amethyst ranges in colour between deep purples and lighter, pastel shades?
The reason behind such a range is that highly saturated colour is usually limited to the top of the crystal, with the rest of the crystal being near colourless.
Gemmology aside, I have a soft spot for this lovely gem and love having it as my birthstone!
Let's take a closer look at this wonderful gem.
Let's begin with some fun facts:
Amethyst is a part of the quartz family (along with citrine)
It has been the most-prized quartz for centuries
The Ancient Greeks thought it had magical and medicinal properties
Amethyst is a popular choice for religious jewellery and royal jewels
Almost all amethyst on the market is eye-clean (no noticeable inclusions)
Source
Russia was the major source of amethyst until a new, plentiful source was discovered in Brazil in the 19th century. The latter is still one of the main suppliers.
This new discovery made amethyst less rare, more readily available and consequently, more affordable. Zambia, Argentina and Uruguay have also become significant producers of this wonderful purple gem.
Amethyst cutting and marketing centres include Germany, Thailand, China and India.
This also applies to most of other gemstones.
The city of Idar-Oberstein in Germany is known for cutting high-end stones, while India and Thailand focus on commercial-quality gemstones.
Availability
Amethyst is abundant and readily available in a variety of sizes and shapes, from tiny 1mm round stones, to 5 carat+ ovals and trilliants, like below.
February Birthstone
Amethyst is also known for the following traits:
blocks negative energies
helps to remember and understand dreams
gets rid of distracting thoughts
helps achieve peace and understanding
Do you know what powers your birthstone holds?
Visit my previous post What is my Birthstone? to find out!
Durability
In terms of hardness, amethyst scores a 7 out of 10 on Moh's scale.
With sapphires and rubies at 9 and diamonds at 10, these can scratch your garnet if not stored properly or if they rub against each other.
Although I would not recommend amethyst for engagement rings, they make a great and affordable option for large cocktail rings and other jewellery such as pendants and earrings.
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Is Amethyst on your wishlist?
I would be delighted to hear about it!
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