Amethyst
Color of Royalty
 Amethyst
holds a magical appeal that’s proven to be timeless and universal.
Amethyst displays a majestic hue of purple, moving from very light to
very dark. With purple being the chosen color of royalty, amethyst has
enjoyed an unwavering popularity dating back thousands of years. The
finest quality amethyst exhibits a high degree of transparency and a
rich deep purple color enhanced by flashes of burgundy or rose. Amethyst
has been a popular gemstone for centuries, and with good reason. It is
beautiful, durable and affordable. Amethyst is a variety of the mineral
species quartz. It is a hard gemstone that is resistant to both
scratching and breaking. Amethyst can be faceted or fashioned into
cabochon cuts.
Birthstone
Amethyst is the birthstone for February.
Origins
Amethyst is found all over the world. Major sources include Brazil
and Uruguay. Other sources include Zambia, India, Sri Lanka and the
United States. Small qualities of very fine amethyst are also mined in
Russia.
Treatments
Almost all amethyst is heated to bring out is best color.
Heat-treated amethyst is very stable and requires no special handling.
Care
The beautiful color in your amethyst, if properly taken care of,
will last indefinitely. Amethyst should be protected from sharp blows
and scratches but is otherwise quite resistant to normal wear. Amethyst
can be cleaned with most any commercial jewelry cleaner or plain soap
and water using a soft brush. Be sure to rinse and dry your jewelry
thoroughly after cleaning. Some amethyst, whether treated or not, may
fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. Because of this,
you shouldn’t wear your amethyst jewelry while sunbathing or when using
a tanning bed.
Photo: Robert Weldon, Professional
Jeweler Magazine © 2002-2005 Jewelers of America |
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American Gem Society