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Traditionally included category of most valuable gemstones (along with
diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald) the abundant availability of amethyst
has made this gem more affordable as compared to the others in the cardinal.
The best grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and
therefore its value is dependent on the demand of collectors on its find.
The deeper shades are more valuable but some cherish the transparent lilac
or lavender shades because of touch of delicacy in these soft colors. If you
are buying an amethyst clarity and a larger size really should be your
consideration.
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For
thousands of years the most striking specimen of the quartz
family, amethyst comes in hues of purple, with the most
celebrated shade being a deep, velvety violet. In olden
days when dyes for clothes were made of natural substances,
most of the colors, other than purple, could easily be obtained from nature. The purple color dye would only be obtained
from the rare saffron
flower, Crocus Sativus. Hence purple was
considered an elite color. Only the rich could afford it. Since
then purple has been endorsed by royalty and the créme de la
créme. Amethyst epitomizes the purple color and its hues.
The word amethyst has been derived from the Greek word "amethystos"
meaning "not drunken". In the olden times amethyst was
believed to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which
is why wine goblets were often carved from amethyst
crystal. |
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Amethyst
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Amethyst
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Many stories talk about the origin of amethyst.
The most popular folklore is about the Greek God of
intoxication, Dionysus. According to the story, Dionysus was
insulted by a worldly being. Enraged, he swore revenge and
divulged that he would destroy the first worldly being that
crosses his way. Dionysus created ferocious tigers to carry
his wish. A young maiden, Amethystos, who was on her way to
pay tribute to goddess Artemis, became the unsuspected
victim. Artemis transformed Amethystos into a pillar made of
crystal to protect her. When Dionysus learned of this transformation, he wept
tears of wine on the pillar in remorse of the incident. The
wine tears turned the crystal purple and amethyst was
created.
Another story talks of a drunken Dionysus coercing a maiden
called Amethystos. She refused his affections and prayed to
the gods to remain chaste. The goddess Artemis granted her
prayer, transforming her into a white crystal. Dionysus
poured wine over the crystal,
coloring the crystal purple.
Since ancient times amethyst has been considered the
"sobriety stone." In ancient Roman times, crushed amethyst
gem beads mixed in wine were believed to prevent
drunkenness. These gemstones are still believed to heal
alcoholism, compulsive behaviors, and addictions of all
kinds. An amethyst is considered to bring mental and
emotional peace in the wearer's life. On the spiritual
level, the amethyst brings chasteness and thus has been
endorsed by Catholic priests and clergymen. Even today,
Bishops and other clergymen continue to wear amethyst rings.
The rosaries of Tibet are fashioned with amethysts, as they
were presumed to be sacred to Buddha.
Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the
astrological stone for the Pisces and Aquarius zodiac signs.
Amethyst is a popular anniversary gift for the 6th and 17th year of marriage. |
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| Amethyst is found world-wide and if it was not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. Amethysts from different regions differ in quality. Experts typically identify the origin of a stone from its quality. The most celebrated quality of amethyst comes from Africa. These gems from Africa are prized for their deep, velvety violet color and outstanding clarity. Another popular source of amethyst is Brazil. The gems from Brazil have a pale to medium lilac hue with great transparency. Canada is also amongst the known cradles of this lovely gemstone. The Canadian stones are famous for the red undertones that complement the purple color. The Italian gems are prized for the even distribution of the color in the gemstone.
Amethyst from Brazil is usually available in larger sizes than the African amethyst but, on the other hand, amethyst from Africa is prized for its saturated color. Deep violet amethysts, mostly in small sizes, are also mined in Australia.
Other noted sources of amethyst include Bolivia, Argentina, Madagascar, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. |
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The
art of converting a rough crystal of amethyst into a
gemstone is very interesting as only a good craftsman can
understand which portion to be processed as a table and then
further develop the facets on the crown very accurately for high
levels of brilliance and color on the stone.
Amethyst usually occur as long crystals that are hexagonal
on either end with a prism-like appearance and may form as
"drusy" which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock.
The first and most critical step is processing of the rough
crystal and making it ready to be converted into a gem. The
crystal is carefully cut into different parts optimizing the
size of each piece for the best color and quality available.
Once this is done, the best suited shape and cut for that
particular piece is determined. The crystal is then shaped
and faceted accordingly. The facets are important as they
help in reflection and refraction of the light from the
inside of gem which gives the gemstone its luster. A skilled
lapidist can transform a rough stone into an exquisite piece
of jewel.
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Amethyst is a transparent, coarse-grained, purple variety of
quartz (SiO2) and has long been one of the most prized gem
of the quartz family. On the Mohs scale amethyst stands at a
hardness value of 7. The higher the level of hardness,
better the chances of the gemstone's resistance to scratches
and abrasion. Also, the chemical structure of amethyst makes
it very tough, helping in resistance to breaking, chipping
and cracking. The hardness of this gemstone combined with
the toughness makes amethyst a great choice for jewelry.
The presence of manganese in quartz gives amethyst its
color, while the presence of additional iron content results
in different hues. The pale hues of an amethyst are
sometimes called "Rose de France" and can be seen set in
Victorian jewelry. The deep colors are the most valuable,
particularly a rich purple with rose flashes.
Amethyst is available in a wide variety of calibrated sizes
and shapes.
Amethyst is blessed with good clarity; the gems from Brazil
are highly prized for the excellent clarity. Although, the
most prized amethyst that comes from Africa is celebrated
for its deep violet hue which is a result of the iron
inclusions in the gem. African eye clean variety is rare and
is a collector's special. |
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| Darker shades of amethyst are rarely enhanced, but sometimes
if they are too dark, they are heated to lighten the color.
There are some gemstones that would not even exist if it
were not for treatments. The ample availability of citrine,
the sister stone of amethyst, in different colors and hues
is the result of heat treatment applied to an amethyst. Naturally occurring
citrine is quite rare in nature and if not for treatments,
this gemstone would be a lot more expensive. The heat
treatment is an accepted industry norm and is permanent in
nature. Heating the amethyst also results in a beautiful
yellowish green hue, which is fast catching on in the
fashion circles of the jewelry industry. |
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Traditionally included category of most valuable gemstones
(along with diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald) the
abundant availability of amethyst has made this gem more
affordable as compared to the others in the cardinal. The
best grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally
rare and therefore its value is dependent on the demand of
collectors on its find.
The deeper shades are more valuable but some cherish the
transparent lilac or lavender shades because of the touch of
delicacy in these soft colors. If you are buying an amethyst
clarity and a larger size really should be your
consideration. |
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| Amethyst is available in a range of calibrated sizes and
shapes making it special for the jewelry designers. The high
level of hardness on the Mohs scale makes it even more
special for all types of settings, be it for designer
collection or daily wear. The seductive color induces the
passion to adorn jewelry that epitomizes glamour and
reflects a mark of perfection. |
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| Amethyst, being a member of the quartz family, tends to
lose its shimmer over a period of time if adequate care is
not taken. Warm water and mild soap can effectively
remove oils and dirt. Amethyst gemstones should never be cleaned with
mechanical cleaners. As with all gemstones, care should be
taken to protect amethyst gemstones from scratches and sharp blows. |
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