Amethyst: The Power of Purple

Amethyst like Turquoise, is now the name of a color as well as the stone.

The ancient Greek wore Amethyst jewelry and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. The use of Amethyst is traced back to 25,000 BC in Europe where royalty utilized it in crowns, scepters and jewelry.

Amethyst is one of several quartz stones. It is considered to be a semi-precious stone and traditionally the birthstone for February, but in ancient times, it was considered the “Gem of Fire”.

Amethyst gemstones are the favorite of most artisans, jewelers, & consumers because of it’s durability, affordability and attractive color. It is on the hardness scale of 7 which allows it to be able to be used in all types of jewelry.

When speaking of Amethyst, most people think of a dark purple gem, but it can actually occur in many purple shades. The purple color can be so light that it is barely perceptive or so dark that it’s nearly opaque.

Amethyst is a crystalline quartz in color ranging from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. Value of this gemstone depends on the color. Siberian mines once produced the world’s finest stones. The term Siberian Amethyst no longer refers to the origin but the fine grade that refers to the color in which this particular color demands a higher price.

Amethyst deposits can be mined in Canada, Brazil, France, Munice, Myamar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzanire and the US.

The world’s most important Amethyst deposits are usually in fractures and cavities of igennis rocks. Large cavities can contain hundreds of pounds to several tons of Amethyst crystals. Amethyst is readily available in larger sizes but does not mean you have to pay top dollar for pieces with visible inclusions.