February Birthstone: Amethyst’s Meaning, Grading and More!
February's birthstone, amethyst, was once in the exclusive club of royal bling, but guess what? Now it’s within reach of most consumers!
If this month of love marks your birthday, wearing an amethyst becomes not just a beautiful adornment but a symbol of personal empowerment and inner strength. And for those looking for the perfect valentine's gift—nothing can please the queen of your heart more than an amethyst jewellery!
Hold on! There is more you didn't know though, so read on…
Benefits of Amethyst Gemstone
Spiritual Benefits: Amethyst is frequently employed in meditation, contributing to an overall sense of spiritual equilibrium.
Psyche Benefits: Amethyst acts as a natural tranquilizer, easing insomnia, stress, and strain. It brings calmness, soothes irritability, and balances mood swings. Additionally, it has the power to dispel anger, rage, fear, and anxiety.
Aids in Decision Making: Its sobering effect enhances mental clarity, improving decision-making skills. Got a fuzzy brain? This natural gemstone is like a mental squeegee that helps in clearing up your decision-making fog.
Helps Overcome Temptation: Back in the day, guys wore amethyst to stay sharp – dodging temptations and keeping their heads cool, even with weapons in hand!
Increases the bond between lovers: This February gemstone helps to nurture a profound emotional link between partners and enhances their connection.
Amethyst and the Legend of Valentine's Day
For centuries, February 14th has marked the celebration of Valentine's Day, a tribute to love. Legend has it that Roman Emperor Claudius II faced challenges recruiting married soldiers, leading him to ban all marriages. Defying the Emperor, Valentine continued to perform marriage rituals in secret. Roman lore suggests Valentine wore a sparkling purple Amethyst ring with a Cupid carving, aiding soldiers in recognizing him.
The tale of Saint Valentine, Cupid, forbidden unions, and the mythical Amethyst ring collectively bestowed upon Amethyst the title of the "couple's stone."
Who wouldn't appreciate a gem with such a daring yet romantic history?
Properties and Grading
Until the 19th Century, Amethyst held a value comparable to Emerald or Ruby. However, the discovery of large deposits in Brazil changed the game. Today, Amethyst stands as the most valued member of the Quartz family. Its calming hues make them an excellent choice for fashion that celebrates vivid and subtle tones.
Mineral : Quartz (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Primary Color: Varies from deep purple to pale lavender depending on the presence of manganese and iron.
Mined in : Some of the largest amethyst geodes have been found in Brazil. Other locations include Sri Lanka, India, Uruguay, Madagascar, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Africa, Russia and the United States.
Zodiac : Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air, Water
Symbol: Royalhood, Wealth and Power
Chakras: Third Eye Chakra, Crown Chakra
Birthstone : February
Gifting: it's used to celebrate both 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries!
Popular Shapes: rounds, ovals, pears, emerald cuts, and more!
For Tibetans, Amethyst holds sacred significance to the Buddha, often crafted into prayer beads. To embrace its benefits through jewellery:
- Adorn an amethyst necklace or bracelet as a reminder for mindfulness and staying present.
- Place this natural gemstone in your pillowcase for a peaceful and restful sleep.
- Carry an amethyst during challenging conversations to stay calm and clear-headed.
- Artists can find renewed passion and inspiration, creating spiritual works of art in the presence of Amethyst.
Did you know?
Amethyst still maintains its presence in the halls of power, adorning church officials in the Church of Scotland, the Anglican/Episcopal hierarchies, and the Roman Catholic church.
The 4 C’s
Color
The best amethyst showcases a vivid reddish-purple or pure purple tone without any brownish or bronze hints, and it remains uniformly colored when viewed from the top. If it becomes too dark, it might appear black in dim light.
Clarity
Many faceted amethysts in the market are "eye clean," meaning they have no visible inclusions to the naked eye. Gem professionals tend to overlook minor inclusions in gems with rich color and high overall quality. Notably, visible inclusions significantly reduce the value of pale, pastel-colored gems.
Cut
Amethyst comes in an extensive array of fancy shapes, including custom cuts. Many cutting styles are calibrated in standard millimeter sizes, making them suitable for mass-market jewellery.
Carat Weight
Large-sized amethyst doesn't command a significantly higher price per carat than smaller sizes, making it an excellent choice for bold jewelry designs. Unlike certain colored gems, even small-sized amethysts can exhibit strong coloring, facilitating the matching of sets with different sizes.
Amethyst Buying Guide:
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Versatile Purple Hues: Amethyst's range of purples, varying from pale lavender to deep violet, makes it a versatile match with various materials like pearls, gold, silver, smoky quartz, and more.
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Color Triumphs over Origin: While some might expect amethyst from specific regions to have better color, like Siberia or Zambia compared to Brazil— remember that origin alone doesn't determine value. Quality, particularly color, is the key factor. Strong reddish-purple tones hold more value than pale colors.
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Cut Matters: Don't compromise on cut quality. A well-cut amethyst sparkles with lively brilliance, reflecting light evenly across the entire gem. Poorly cut gems are less marketable and often sold at a discount.
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Lab Report Assurance: For significant purchases, consider obtaining an independent laboratory report to confirm the natural authenticity of the amethyst. This ensures transparency and confidence in your purchase.
At Angara, we ensure to provide you with a certificate of authenticity along with every gemstone purchase. Our gemstones are BIS Hallmarked, sourced ethically and are handcrafted by skilled experts.
Amethyst Jewellery Caring Tips:
Save from wear and scratches: Avoid placing your amethyst jewellery next to rubies, sapphires, and diamonds to prevent potential scratches, given its susceptibility to damage.
Optimal Repolishing: Due to wear potential, periodic repolishing ensures the longevity and beauty of amethyst jewelry.
Treatments: Common for color improvement, heat treatment is effective for lightening dark amethyst and removing brownish inclusions.
Caution to maintain the colour: Keep your Amethyst jewellery away from heat and harsh sun rays as excessive heat may remove its color entirely, and prolonged exposure to strong light can cause fading. While stable with normal use, amethyst is not recommended for everyday beach wear due to potential color fading.
Cleaning Guidelines: Amethyst birthstone jewelry can be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners; however, steam cleaning is not recommended. Opt for a soft brush with mild soap for safe cleaning.
Amethyst, a gem that has captivated royalty for centuries, now provides you with the key to select a majestic gift for your loved one born in February. Dive into our purple collection, and choose the style that resonates best with your sentiments!
Worried about authenticity? At Angara, every piece of jewelry comes with a certificate, ensuring you gift yourself or your dearest the pure beauty of this gemstone.
FAQs:
1. What are the different varieties of amethyst, and do they have distinct meanings?
Some of the most common types include traditional amethyst, rose de France amethyst, green amethyst, bi-color amethyst, auralite 23, black amethyst, brandberg, chevron amethyst, elestial amethyst, pink amethyst, red tipped amethyst, and spirit quartz.
These varieties vary in color and formation, and they are believed to have unique metaphysical properties and healing attributes
2. What are the popular jewellery styles featuring amethyst?
Popular jewellery styles featuring amethyst include bracelets, pendants, earrings, mala bracelets, and evil eye stud earrings, each showcasing the versatility of amethyst in various designs and settings.
3. How can one differentiate between genuine amethyst and imitations or synthetic stones?
Distinguishing real amethyst from the synthetic variety can be tricky due to its common presence. However, paying attention to factors like cut, color, and clarity can be helpful in identifying the authenticity of the stone.
