Birthstones are gems – precious and semi precious – that are associated with the birth month of an individual. These colourful stones are often with good fortune, and hold significant meaning for the wearer. The stone of the month for February is the stone that exudes royalty – the gorgeously purple amethyst.
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Where Does Amethyst Come From?
Amethyst is a semi precious stone, and nothing but a purple variety of one of the most common minerals on earth – quartz. Ranging from a light pink hue to a deep purple, the stone owes its vibrant colour to iron impurities and irradiation. As for the geographic distribution, amethyst is found in abundance in Brazil, Siberia, Uruguay as well as many other countries in the world. Synthetic varieties are also commonly created in laboratories and imitate high quality natural amethyst with impeccable composition and resemblance.
The Significance of Amethyst
Besides it’s stunning beauty and royal colour, amethyst has historically been regarded as a precious stone. Although the discovery of extensive deposits in Brazil has reduced its status to semi-precious, it is still associated with special virtue in many cultures. The name itself is derived from Greek term amethystos which means ‘not intoxicated’, which explains why ancient Greeks would carve their drinking vessels out of amethyst in order to avoid over indulgence.
As a birthstone for February borns, and aquarians, amethyst is known to lend stability, and help build inner strength. The stone is also known to create a sense of responsibility and is regarded by many as the ‘sobriety stone’.
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What’s an Amethyst Worth?
Given the abundance in which amethyst is mined, the value of amethyst has decreased over the years. It is mostly valued now based on the vibrancy and depth of the colour. The highest quality or colour is generally associated with the Siberian or Russian grade of amethyst, as it
tends to hold flashes of red and blue hues. With a hardness of 7, amethyst is widely used in jewellery, and the pricing is affected by the colour, cut and design primarily.
How to Best Wear an Amethyst?
Given its majestic colour, amethyst is a popular choice of stone when it comes to jewellery design. It’s adorned by not just those born in February but many others who are attracted to the lure of the high grade purple colour.
Pieces of jewellery featuring an amethyst can add a lot of elegance and glamour, particularly to an evening ensemble. The purple stones add the perfect pop of colour to your style statement, particularly when combined with dark attire. Best work as a ring or a pair of earrings, it sets beautifully against sterling silver as well as in combination with diamonds.
For regular wear, one can even opt to wear it as a pendant, choosing a lighter grade of the stone.
