Every month brings with it new birthstones that beautifully represent babies born in that month, and February is no different. Amethyst is the only birthstone for February, and with such a beautiful stone, who needs more options?
All About Amethyst
Deep purple amethyst stones have been highly valued throughout the centuries, and as far back as ancient Greece. Thanks to their unique purple shade, Greeks associated amethyst with rich wines and the god of wine and drunkenness, Bacchus. They thought that wearing jewelry made with this purple gemstone could prevent drunkenness, and the word amethystos actually translates to “not drunk” or “sober” in ancient Greek,
According to some ancient legends, amethyst can also help the wearer to make good decisions, think quickly and remain clear-headed in moments of stress. Leonardo Da Vinci personally used the stone to improve his intellect and guard his mind from evil thoughts. The stone is often used in religious and royal jewelry, like Buddhists using it to enhance meditation and its use in Tibetan prayer beads.
The Availability of Amethyst
Before the 19th century, amethysts were very expensive and comparable to rubies, sapphires and emeralds. However, there was a significant deposit of the stones found in Brazil that improved the quantity available and lowered the cost of ownership. Amethysts are very commonly seen in jewelry and flashy cocktail rings from the Art Deco and Retro jewelry eras.
Finding the Perfect Amethyst
Amethyst stones can be purchased in pale shades of purple that approach white and deep, lush purple stones. The shade with the most desirability and value is a red-purple hue, but you can select from a huge range of shades depending on the setting, jewelry, occasion and metals you will be using. Most amethyst stones have great clarity and few inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.
These gemstones are a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning that they are strong for wear in rings and pieces that you don on a daily basis, but you should be careful to avoid scratching by very hard or rough material. Take off amethyst jewelry if you will be using harsh household cleaners or acids to be safe.
How Much Are Your Amethyst Jewelry Pieces Worth?
Whether you have an amethyst ring that you cherish or are looking to see the value of another piece in your collection, SAZ Gem & Jewelry Appraisal is here to help. For more information, give us a call at 425-785-1871.