Looking to purchase amethyst jewellery? Now is a better time than ever! Amethyst has a passionate presence in the gemstone industry. Read on to find out more about February’s extravagant gemstone…
Amethyst is the purple variety of the treasured mineral Quartz; it ranges in beautiful colours from a strong royal purple to a cool light lilac. Ranked at 7 on the Mohs scale, Amethyst is generally a hard gemstone and making it ideal for use in jewellery.
This lovely purple member of the Quartz family was originally discovered around 3000BC in Europe! Since then, this stunning gemstone has been accessible around the world. Mexico sources tall, well-shaped amethyst, Brazil on the other hand is home to enormous quantities of deeply coloured amethyst.
The royal purple stone has one of the most fascinating histories of all gemstones. First off, the name of February’s birthstone is derived from the Greek word amethustos, which translates to “not drunken, due to the association with the Bacchus, the Greek god of wine.
The ancient Egyptians believed amethyst could keep a person from being poisoned, cure insomnia and bring pleasant dreams. Medieval churchmen used this charming stone to promote good relationships and wisdom. There are also various folklores that suggest amethyst was also used to enhance courage, creativity, and self-esteem and to protect the wearer against evil.
Amethyst Buying Guide
Once available to only royalty, worldwide supplies have made amethyst a relatively accessible gemstone. Today, it is affordable and available to everyone! So we’ve put together a short and simple buyers guide below.
The first aspect you should look for is the colour of the amethyst. The finest colour is a strong reddish purple colour with no visible colour zoning. Stray away from stones with any brownish colour as they are of lower value.
Next you need to check for very good clarity, the clarity you’re looking for is eye-clean; this means there are no inclusions visible to the eye. Zambian amethysts tend to have more inclusions, however due to their stunning colour, the inclusions are acceptable.
As far as the cut of the stone goes, amethyst is cut into a variety of standard shapes and also freeform shapes. So when choosing the ideal cut of your amethyst, it really depends on your preference.
Lastly, you would need to consider the carat weight you want the stone to be. Amethyst is available in a wide range of sizes however we do recommend using it as a large centre stone. This is because the price per carat does not soar high with large sizes.
Now you know about amethyst and how to correctly purchase this gorgeous stone, visit our Amethyst Gemstone Rings page to find the perfect ring for you. Happy Shopping! xx