Amethyst is a semi precious stone, It is a violet variety of the quartz group. As a silicate mineral which has the chemical formula of SiO2 silicon dioxide.
t has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale
It has a colour range of lilac through to dark purple. However if treated with heat some amethyst will change colour to shades of green.
It is the birthstone for February.
Amethyst is thought to be a protective stone which removes negative energies. It is also associated with Purification and Spirituality,
It was considered a strong antidote against intoxication,
It is used by Buddhists for prayer beads.
Amethyst beads were being traded as early as 4200 BC During the Neolithic Times.
It was used as a gemstone to make bracelets by the Ancient Egyptians and the idea of Amethyst guarding off drunkenness goes back to the Ancient Greeks, who named it "Amethystos" which means "not drunk".
Amethyst beads were used to make simple bracelets and necklaces during the seventh century Anglo Saxon times.
During the Middle Ages Amethyst was still considered a rare gemstone as many of the large sources such as those in Brazil and South Africa had yet to be discovered. As a rare stone it was connected with Royalty decorating English Royal Regalia. It was also worn by clergy of the Catholic Church often as rings and was also used to decorate crosses.
Some early Christians associated Amethyst with Christ, with the purple colour representing purity of spirit and the reddish hues present in the stone represented the purifying, which may have been why Medieval soldiers wore Amethyst amulets as protection and also as a healing stone.
Nowadays it is found globally and is mined in Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Tanzania, Uruguay, USA, Zambia. As it is now found in abundance in several countries, it is no longer rare and is therefore not an expensive gemstone, which is fabulous news for those of us who love the colour purple!
It is generally recommended that you keep your Amethyst jewellery out of sunlight, as exposure to heat can cause the colour to deteriorate.
I currently have this selection of amethyst jewellery available on my website and over the months I am sure I will be adding more too -
