All About Amethyst

Did you know there was a time when only royal family members and nobility were allowed to wear amethyst? Now you can find yourself in the company of Royals when you wear your favorite amethyst jewelry! Amethyst was as expensive and as cherished as Ruby and Emerald until the 19th Century, when large deposits of Amethyst were discovered in Brazil.

For more than 5 000 years, amethyst has been used as ornament in Europe and Asia. The name Amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos meaning ‘not intoxicated’. Greek Lore says that the Greek Gods believed that drinking from goblets studded with amethyst gems would prevent drunkenness and excess.

Medieval soldiers wore Amethyst into battle to protect them and aid them in staying focused. Amethyst is known as the stone of Saint Valentine, the patron of romantic love who wore an amethyst ring carved with the image of Cupid.

This captivating birthstone is one of the most popular varieties of quartz. Its hues of lavender-lilac to deep violet-purple can be found in various pieces of jewelry.

Amethyst is thought to evoke feelings of peace, serenity, courage and affection to its wearer. This makes amethyst the perfect gift to express love or to protect against negative thoughts.

Amethyst is adorable stone with a rating of 7 to 7.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. All jewels, however, are susceptible to wear and tear. Taking good care of them will help insure that their natural beauty and brilliance will last for generations.

Store your jewelry in a jewelry box, in a cool environment. Almost all amethysts present in the market today have been artificially treated to effectively enhance their color and improve the overall clarity. This makes them sensitive to abrupt increase in temperature and even light. Amethyst will fade to a yellow color when exposed to sunlight over a long period of time.

Avoid wearing any kind of fine jewelry while exercising, performing household chores, swimming or participating in strenuous activities. By doing so, you may put the gemstone at risk of random blows, cracks, discoloration and even breakage.

As always, protect your jewelry from chemicals! Hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride and alkaline solutions, most of which are found in household cleaners can severely damage the amethyst. Even perfumes, hand sanitizers, and hairsprays should be kept away from this stone. Avoid wearing your jewelry in swimming pools and spas.