Amethyst

A royal purple admired by Kings and queens for centuries, amethyst is an affordable luxury. Its rich color durability has made it one of the world’s most popular gems.

HISTORY AND LORE:
Amethyst comes from the Greek amethystos, which means “not drunken” Wine goblets were carved from its purple gem because it was said to prevent intoxication.
Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and piety, it was used for bishop’s ring and church ornamentation in the Middle Ages.
Buddhist believes the gem aid meditation and today it continues to be used for rosaries in Tibet.

QUALITY, VALUE, & AVAILABILITY:
The color of amethyst ranges from “pale lilac” (sometimes called “Rose de France”) to deep purple. A rich purple with rose flashes is considered the finest color.
Amethyst is relatively common, affordable, and can be found in large sizes in variety of gem cut and shapes.
There is a synthetic amethyst that is grown in labs in Russia, China, and other places. It often takes a gemological laboratory like GIA gem Laboratory to separate it from natural amethyst, so use care when buying from questionable sources.

SOURCES:
Mined mainly in Brazil, Urugay, Bolivia, Tanzania, Zambia and Namibia, small amounts of amethyst are also found in the United States in Arizona at the Four Peaks mine near Phoenix .

ROUTINE ENHANCEMENTS:
Dark material may be heated to lighten color.

CARE & CLEANING:
Amethyst is the mineral quartz, with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Its durable and great for everyday wear.
Avoid exposure to heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight, which may bleach the color.
Clean with mild dish soap in warm water: use toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.