Voodoo Vibes

Amethyst Ametrine Crystal

Amethyst - The Birthstone For February And So Much More

The ancient Greeks associated amethyst with Bacchus, the greek god of wine.  Purple is also another color long since associated with royalty, and the British Crown Jewels contain some fine examples of amethyst.

Russia used to be the main source for amethyst until new deposits were discovered in South America.  The stones color ranges from pale lilac to a rich purple, and many jewelry professionals consider the African amethyst with its royal purple to reddish overtones to be the gem's finest color.

Amethyst is a member of the Quartz family.  Most people associate amethyst with the color purple , however some amethyst is heat treated to change the color to yellow thereby producing citrine or green quartz (sometimes referred to as green amethyst). Heat treating is usually undetectable and does not affect the stability of the stone.

Amethyst jewelry became very popular during the later half of the 19 century.

Another member of the quartz variety is Ametrine, this takes it name from the fact that it is a striking mixture of both amethyst and yellow citrine.

Amethyst/Ametrine stones are usually faceted as a mixed, or step cut. to show of the beauty of the stone. It is common for the stones to have inclusions which can take the form of tiger stripes, feathers or thumb prints.

Care of your amethyst jewelry

Amethyst is routinely heat treated, so steam cleaning is not recommended. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe, but the best method for cleaning stones is to wash with warm soapy water.

It is quite a tough stone but nevertheless abrupt temperature change can fracture the stone, or alter the color by causing fading.

Chemicals that can damage amethyst are hydrofluoric acid, alkalies, and ammonium flouride. Remove all jewelry before working with any of these.

Birthstone History and Lore

Amethyst, the birthstone for February, associated with the Star Sign Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 19). The stone symbolizes Healing, Peace, Happiness, and Love. Amethyst has long since been considered as a spiritual stone, thought to calm fears, raise hopes, and enhance thoughts of spirituality since it has no negative side effects.

For a feeling of calm wear amethyst so that it is touching the skin. Crystal Energies: Receptive, Element: Water

Amethyst has been used for centuries to help combat stress. It was also used in love spells and was thought to be an excellent stone for men to carry in order to attract a women. Amethys  is also believed to sharpen the mind and help enhance mental powers.

About the Author

Written by Sandra Ralph, an Accredited Jewelry Professional (GIA), and webmaster of www.aboutgemstonesandjewelry.com.  Visit my website for more information about the care, facts and folklore of a variety of different gemstones / birthstones.