Buyer's Guide: Amethyst

    Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst, transparent purple quartz, is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry.

    Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

    Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolise piety, amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear amethyst rings. Rosaries are often fashioned from Amethyst.

    In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha.

    The Greek work "amethystos" basically can be translated as "not drunken." Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it! The gemstone still symbolises sobriety.

    The legend of the origin of amethyst comes from Greek myths. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

    Amethyst ranges in colour from pale lilac to deep purple. The pale colours are sometimes called "Rose de France" and can be seen set in Victorian jewelry. The deep colours are the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes.
    Amethyst is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as in Zambia, Namibia and other African countries.

    Generally, amethyst from South America tends to be available in larger sizes than African amethyst but amethyst from Africa has the reputation for having better, more saturated, colour in small sizes. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, is also mined in Australia.

    Amethyst is available in a wide range of calibrated sizes and shapes, including many fancy shapes. Large fine stones may be sold in free sizes but generally amethyst is cut in standardised dimensions.

    This description was taken from the International Colored Gemstone Association.