By Katherine Cook
For those of you born in February, your birthstone is amethyst. Wearing amethyst is a symbol of inner strength and empowerment.
The amethyst is an attractive, purple type of quartz and is one of the most popular of the gemstones. Its colors range from light lilac to deep reddish-purple and it can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. The amethyst was once associated with royalty and wealth and has been found in royal family collections throughout both Asia and Europe. Once a jewel of the wealthy the amethyst is now a jewel for the masses.
Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations
In honor of February’s birthstone, here are 24 facts all about amethyst:
Buying and Care Information
Amethyst is the most expensive variety of quartz. Other varieties of quartz include rose quartz and citrine.
Amethyst is the gemstone associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
As a gemstone, amethyst is sold by the carat. However, most amethyst is sold “rough” by the pound or even ton. This is marketed as either geodes or crystals for collectors and crystal healers. These stones are sold in sizes that range from a small pebble to the size of a bathtub.
The purple color of the amethyst comes from small amounts of iron that are irradiated from the natural radiation of the host rock.
Some amethysts available for purchase have been heat-treated to enhance the color. Occasionally, lighter amethyst is heated and turned into a green prasiolite or a golden citrine.
Usually, the darker and more red-like the stone is, the more expensive it is. However, if it is too dark, it may be treated to lighten it and remove any traces of brown.
Despite it being an abundant stone, there are simulated amethysts made from crystal or glass. To the naked eye, a natural amethyst and synthetic amethyst are hard to tell apart. A qualified gemologist can spot the difference by looking at color zoning and inclusions.
You should store your amethyst in a location that is dark and dry. Being exposed to too much sunlight can cause darker amethyst gemstones to fade with time. As such, if you love going to the beach regularly, opt to keep your amethyst jewelry at home.
On the Mohs hardness scale, amethyst gets a rating of seven. This means that it is strong enough for daily wear in rings and other jewelry, but it may show some wear with time and require polishing. Also, if you place amethyst jewelry next to jewelry with harder gems like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, you risk it becoming scratched.
As heat can affect the color of the amethyst, steam cleaning is not recommended for jewelry with this gem. A soft brush with a mild soap is the best option for amethyst jewelry.
Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations
History and Where it is Found
Amethysts have been prized by people for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians would carve them into amulets in the shapes of animals, perhaps to be worn as a form of protection.
Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796) had an affinity for amethyst and would adorn herself in jewelry made with the gem.
In 1953, jewelry aficionado Wallis, Duchess of Windsor wore an opulent amethyst bib necklace designed by Cartier to a gala in Versailles.
Amethyst was used in jewelry in medieval churches as a symbol of divinity and wisdom. It is the central stone for St. Valentine’s ring.
Amethyst gets its name from the Greek word” amethystos,” which loosely means “not drunk.” Probably because of its wine-like color, ancient Greeks associated the gem with Bacchus, their god of wine. It is said that they believed the stone could protect them from drunkenness and they would drink from chalices carved from it.
There was a time when amethyst was worth as much as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires due to limited availability. However, that changed in the 1800s when large deposits of it were found in Brazil. Previously, Russia was the main source of amethyst production.
Today the most prominent amethyst sources are found in South America and Africa. The Kariba mine in Zambia, Africa is one of the largest producers of amethyst in the world. The stones mined there are known to be of high quality with deeply saturated colors.
Brazil is still a major player in amethyst production, however, the stones found there are usually lighter than those found in other countries. The amethyst in Brazil is sometimes found in hollow, crystal-lined geodes that are so large a person can stand in them.
The Anahi mine in Bolivia is known for its bi-colored amethyst/citrine mixed crystals called ametrine.
There is an amethyst mine here in Arizona! The Four Peaks Amethyst Mine is in a secluded location in the high, rugged part of the Mazatzal Mountains around 46 miles outside of Phoenix. The type of amethyst that comes out of Four Peaks is known as Siberian Red; the only other place known to produce such an amethyst is in Russia in the Ural Mountains.
Amethysts available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations
Symbolism and Healing Properties
Though there is a lack of scientifically-backed evidence, many people believe in the healing properties of amethyst and other crystals. In recent years the market for healing crystals has boomed.
The amethyst is said to have a calming effect and help people fall asleep and stay asleep when placed under the pillow.
People who practice feng shui use amethyst to clear their space of negative energy and protect it from harm.
People who practice crystal healing use the amethyst to enhance clarity and develop their psychic abilities.
Amethyst available for use in your design at Zander’s Creations
This February buy the queen (or king) of your heart an amethyst ring or pendant for their birthday. We have many stones ready to be placed into one of our designs, or you can work with Wayne to create your custom one-of-a-kind piece.
Wayne Cook owns and operates Zander’s Creations out of Mesa, Arizona. Wayne has 20 years of experience designing fine, custom jewelry. You can purchase pre-designed pieces online at ZandersCreations.com as well as on Etsy. Or, contact Wayne to begin creating your custom piece today.
Custom ring designed by Zander’s Creations