Fun facts about February’s Birthstone: The Amethyst
“The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear.”
(author unknown)
1. The word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word, ‘amethystos’, which means ‘sober’. The ancient Greeks believed that the amethyst protected them from becoming drunk. In fact, the practice of drinking wine from cups made from amethyst originated from that belief.
2. The amethyst is a quartz stone of the purple variety and is the most valued member of the quartz family. Amethysts must be purple, but they can come in a variety of shades of purple, including lavender, lilac, and mauve. Their properties and textures change with the locations from where they are mined. The highest quality amethyst is a deep, medium purple with some rose coloring.
3. Amethysts can be found in many regions in the world, but most of these stones come from Brazil and Uruguay. Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, and the USA are also sources of amethysts.
4. In 1993, a nine-foot cavern was found in Maine containing more than a ton of amethyst crystal.
5. On the Mohs scale of hardness, the amethyst is a seven.
Look at these lovely jewels we made for previous clients to celebrate the beautiful February birthstone;
Bridal ring set with an amethyst as the hero
Bold black and purple amethyst bridal ring set
Silver pendant with shades of purple amethyst accent stones
