Amethyst is the birthstone for February, a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the ancient Greek, amethysts, meaning not intoxicated and the stone was believed to protect its owner from drunkenness.
The amethyst was considered a stone of friendship that put the wearer in a chaste frame of mind. It has been used in the ornaments of the Catholic clergy for centuries, including the Papal Ring. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priests of the Jews.
Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and moderate refraction. The gemstone will change color when heated and can become colorless when heated at high temperatures.
The fact that these stones can lose their color means amethyst jewelry should not be worn in intense sunlight, such as sunbathing. It also should not be worn under 'black' lighting.
Amethyst is a gorgeous stone with its rich purple color and generally is not expensive. It looks beautiful set in both sterling and gold. 14kt gold is a wonderful contrast to the amethyst, and in sterling silver the rich color is highlighted.
With great prices on these fine quality pieces you can choose gifts for birthdays, Valentine's Day, or just to say, "I love you!"
