Amethyst - the February birthstone
Also the 6th year wedding anniversary gemstone
Mineral - Quartz
Colour - Purple
Mohs Hardness - 7
Amethyst is the birthstone for those born in February and also the wedding anniversary gift on the 6th year of marriage.
The name of this stone was derived from the Greek amethystos, which means "not intoxicated". It was believed that the wearer of this gemstone would be safe from intoxication when drinking wine.
Most known for its purple colour it was used in many ceremonial jewels of royalty for centuries. Catherine the Great loved the stone and wore Amethyst necklace, earrings and other pieces. For many years this gemstone had a value and appreciation equal to rubies and sapphires and today still it is one of the most popular purple semi-precious gemstones.
Where is Amethyst found?
The most important sources of amethyst today are Brazil and Africa, with most of the stones on the market coming from the southern parts of Brazil. Amethyst from Zambia are known for their superior quality with rich saturated tones.
Amethyst care and cleaning
With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale of harness, Amethyst is suitable for daily wear in rings and other pieces of jewellery. When storing your Amethyst jewellery, keep it separate from other harder stones like sapphires, rubies and diamonds. These stones are harder and can scratch your purple gem.
Heat treatments are common with Amethyst and an industry accepted standard. Just know that a light stone can not be heated to create a deeply saturated purple stone. This treatment is usually used on very dark stones to create a more appealing colour and the treatment is permanent.
Amethyst stones can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner or a soft brush with a mild non-abrasive soap can also be used.
Why we love Amethyst
- The tones ranging from lilac through to royal intense purples.
- Wide variety of shapes and sizes that are readily available.
- Clarity! Most stones don't have any visible inclusions you can see without using magnification.
Shop our Amethyst collection or customise one of our designs or your own with this gemstone.