Purple Amethyst Crystal

February Birthstone: Amethyst

Amethyst: February birthstone

Amethyst is the birthstone for February

Faceted amethyst with color zoning

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and it is widely available in a vast range of sizes and qualities. It must be predominantly purple to be amethyst however within the purple range the color can vary widely from a dusty lavender to a rich and vibrant reddish purple.

The root of the word Amethyst is the Greek amethystos which means “not intoxicating” and alludes to the long-held belief that amethyst could protect against drunkenness.

Amethyst is a great choice for jewelry due to its durability and availability and we use it often in our custom pieces. It can grow quite large, making it an excellent choice for pieces featuring large gems and its abundance means that even large high-quality pieces can be obtained for an affordable price. Amethyst also forms clusters of crystals, some of which are referred to as drusy or druzy, which are widely used in art jewelry and bespoke pieces.

In addition to being the birthstone for the month of February, amethyst is also traditionally given on the 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

St Valentine, from whom Valentine’s day derives its name, wore an amethyst ring carved with an image of Cupid.

For more information check out The Gemological Institute of America’s Gem Encyclopedia:

https://www.gia.edu/amethyst

 

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