Jewellery & Watch News
The breathtaking purple hues of Amethyst is associated with the month of February, casting a spell of enchantment, admiration and beauty with its intoxicating clarity and stunning tones of lilac, violet and lavender. Considered a rare and prized gemstone, Amethyst looks breathtaking in jewellery, whether it’s as a February birthday gift or as an everyday statement piece pairing perfectly with stainless steel, yellow gold and rose gold.
The name for the Amethyst gemstone is considered to come from Latin origins of the word “amethystus” which translates into “not drunken”. It is believed it was named as such for its associations and powers against inebriation. In the past, people would drink out of chalices made from or decorated with amethysts rocks so they would not feel the effects of drunkenness. The ancients also referred to it as the “Gem of Fire” because of how passionate and intense its hues are.
History of Amethyst
It is not known when Amethyst was first discovered but it is strongly believed that ancient civilisations prized the gemstone more than any other gem, including precious stones like sapphire and ruby. In its past, it has been widely used in the Christian church and worn on Bishop’s rings with royal purple Amethyst believed to be a symbol of Christ. There are a number of references to Amethyst in the bible, and in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is "achlamah" meaning the precious stone now known as Amethyst. It is also one of the twelve precious stones in the high priest Aaron’s breastplate.
Amethyst and Amethyst jewellery has also been strongly linked with royalty and its shades of purple are even noted in today’s modern dictionary as “formerly worn distinctively by persons of imperial, royal, or other high rank.” Catherine the Great famously had a fondness for Amethyst and would often adorn her dresses in Amethyst necklaces, earrings and other ornaments. Another famous royal, Wallis, Duchess of Windsor made a statement when she wore an Amethyst necklace designed by Cartier to a gala in Versailles in 1953.
Where is Amethyst found?
Some of the first deposits of Amethyst were found and sourced in Russia until the 19th century when a large deposit was discovered in Brazil. Once as rare as rubies, sapphires and emeralds, Amethyst was unexpectedly in abundance. Amethyst has also been found in Africa and South America but Brazil still remains the worlds largest supplier.
Properties of Amethyst
Renowned for its mystical purple colour, Amethyst belongs to the quartz group of minerals and can be found in a variety of purple-hued shades from light lavender to mauve, deep violet to lilac. It is made of silicon dioxide and often found formed in a six sided crystal, although the physical properties of Amethyst have been found to differ depending on where in the world is it sourced. It is said that experts of the stone can tell where a piece of Amethyst is from just by looking at it! The February birthstone is also a 7 on Mohs Scale of Hardness.
Powers of Amethyst
For centuries, Amethyst has been linked to an abundance of physical, spiritual and mental benefits and so is counted as one of the most powerful and effective gemstones. As well as believing to bring luck, joy and happiness, Amethyst is famous for its associations with healing. Ancients would use Amethyst moistened by salvia to rub against pimples and rough skin to rid of bad acne and in traditional Chinese medicine, it was often prescribed for stomach pains and bad dreams.
Today, many people wear Amethyst jewellery to help with mental health disorders like anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is recommended to be worn around the head, like as a pair of Amethyst earrings. It can also be kept underneath a pillow to help with insomnia or bad dreams.
Amethyst Jewellery
Amethyst makes for a perfect companion to fine jewellery designs, not only for its associations as the February birthstone but also as a sixth year anniversary gift. So, whether you’re celebrating a February birthday, buying for your partner on your wedding anniversary or you’re simply in love with the enchanting purple shades of the gemstone, Amethyst jewellery is a must-have for every woman. Its wonderfully versatile properties means it can be worn for all occasions and when paired with other gemstones, like the crisp clarity of diamonds or our famous Whitby Jet, it looks truly exquisite.
You can shop a huge range of Amethyst jewellery and February birthstone jewellery on the C W Sellors website including Amethyst necklaces, Amethyst pendants, Amethyst bracelets, Amethyst earrings, Amethyst rings and Amethyst brooches. Get in touch with the team today for more information on the Amethyst gemstone and the interest free finance and free next day delivery available on our collections of Amethyst jewellery.
