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I Heart Amethyst
- The Magic of Amethysts -
Long prized by Royalty, amethysts are the purple gemstones all others are compared to, and usually found lacking. An increasingly popular choice for jewellery, if you are looking at a purple gemstone the chances are that it is amethyst.
- What is Amethyst? -
Amethyst is actually a variety of quartz, famed for its rich, purple colour. The colour is produced by small amounts of iron, trapped within the quartz crystals. It is the most precious gemstone within the quartz family.
- What Makes a Good Amethyst? -
As with all gemstones, clarity and colour are important when judging a stone's quality, as well as size. The best quality amethysts are perfectly transparent and free from visible inclusions. For amethysts the darker colours are more prized and considered more valuable, particularly "Siberian" amethysts (not necessarily actually from Siberia), which have a deep purple colour with red and blue flashes. Often the colour of an amethyst can vary within a single stone so stones containing just a single colour are also more valuable.
Historically amethysts were much prized and had a high value due to the rarity of gemstone quality amethysts, however the discover of large deposits in South America in the Nineteenth Century brought the price down tenfold. While perhaps not so good for collectors at the time, this has meant that many more people can now afford to enjoy this beautiful gemstone.
- Green Amethysts -
"Green Amethyst", also known as Sage Quartz, is not a form of amethyst at all. This pale cucumber green gemstone is also a type of quartz, but one that has been treated with gamma radiation and then heated to give it its distinctive green colour. The subtle colour of green amethyst makes it ideal for matching with other coloured gemstones to create a more understated look. Since it is made from clear quartz, it is also a relatively cheap and affordable choice, which may explain its increasing popularity among modern jewellery designers.
Confusingly there was also another gemstone that goes by the name of green amethyst - Prasolite. This leek-green gemstone is formed by heating certain types of purple amethyst so that they lose their purple colour and gain a green hue. Initially discovered in the 1950s under certain circumstances natural events such as volcanic heat or prolonged sun exposure can turn amethysts green, however the vast majority of prasolite is created artificially in the laboratory. Since it is initially formed from true purple amethyst, Prasolite is more expensive than Sage Quartz and most of what you can buy at the moment as "Green Amethyst" is likely to be the Sage Quartz variety.
- How to Care for Amethysts -
Amethysts are fairly hard gemstones and so do not scratch easily, neither are they overly fragile or prone to fracturing. They can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner relatively safely and so not need any special care or attention. They should however be kept out of direct sunlight, sunbeds and other sources of ultraviolet light as much as possible as this can cause the colour to fade.
- Famous Amethysts -
Amethysts feature in many royal jewel collections, including the British Crown Jewels. They were also a favourite gemstone of Katherine the Great, who is said to have sent thousands of miners into the Ural mountains in search of amethysts. In the bible, an amethyst was said to adorn the robes of Aaron, the first High Priest. Jacqueline Kennedy and Joan Crawford are among more recent celebrities to have enjoyed wearing amethyst jewellery.
- Myths and Legends -
The ancient Greeks believed that amethysts were made from the tears of Dionysus, the god of wine and wild parties. Legend has it that he was pursuing a beautiful maiden, Amethystos, who did not exactly welcome his attentions. She prayed to Artemis for help and was transformed into a crystal pillar. Dionysus was so moved by her actions that he wept tears of wine over the pillar (or according to some versions, just poured a glass of wine, but that seems so much less romantic), staining it purple.
Many different beliefs accrued as to the mystical properties of amethyst. Perhaps due to the Dionysian connection, the Greeks believed that cups made out of amethyst could prevent you getting drunk. It had a high reputation for medicinal properties and was believed to protect against snakebites, dyspepsia and locusts! More modern day myths gift amethysts with special spiritual powers, and they are often seen on sale in New Age shops with claims to help concentration, intelligence and protect against harmful magic.
Traditionally amethysts symbolise friendship, chastity and trust. It is the birthstone for February.
- Place of Origin -
Amethysts are found in many countries around the world. The largest mines are in Brazil and Uruguay, but there are also significant deposits in Madagascar, India and Russia. Amethyst is found in many locations in the US, Canada and Europe, but rarely of gemstone quality. Interestingly amethysts from different places can have quite different appearances so an expert can identify which mine a given stone came from from just a close inspection. For example, Mexican amethysts tend to be very pale, often with a layer of clear quartz surrounding the purple amethyst. African amethysts tend to be smaller, but with a more intense colour. Large amethyst mines are found in Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico.
Please don't forget to browser our stunning range of amethyst jewellery where you will find jewellery for every occassion and any person at a price affordable for you.
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