‘The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear.’
(author unknown)
Its History
Amethysts have a long and rich history and have been used in religious jewelry and royal crown jewels for ages. The amethyst is even one of the emblems of the 12 apostles, and bishops as well as British royalty often wear this beautiful gemstone.
Loose Amethyst Gemstones
A New-Age Stone
Amethyst doesn’t just have a connection to the past, however, it’s also recognized in spiritual communities as an important healing stone. It is thought to attract spiritual energies and to activate spiritual awareness as well as bring peace of mind and relieve stress. Amethyst is also believed to dispel anger and fear, balance our moods and open up our intuitive capabilities.
Facts about Amethysts
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In 1993, a nine-foot cavern was found in Maine containing more than a ton of amethyst crystal.
- On the Mohs scale of hardness, the amethyst is a seven.
Custom Logo Pendant set with Light Amethyst Gemstones
Read more about amethysts in our Gemstones section.
