Amethyst holds
a magical appeal that’s proven to be timeless and
universal. Amethyst displays a majestic hue of purple,
moving from very light to very dark. With purple being
the chosen color of royalty, amethyst has enjoyed an
unwavering popularity dating back thousands of years.
The
finest quality amethyst exhibits a high degree of transparency
and a rich deep purple color enhanced by flashes of burgundy
or rose. Amethyst has been a popular gemstone for centuries,
and with good reason.
It is beautiful, durable and affordable.
Amethyst is a variety of the mineral species quartz.
It is a hard gemstone that is resistant to both scratching
and breaking. Amethyst can be faceted or fashioned into
cabochon cuts.
Birthstone
Amethyst is the birthstone for February.
Origins
Amethyst is found all over the world. Major sources include
Brazil and Uruguay. Other sources include Zambia, India, Sri
Lanka and the United States. Small qualities of very fine amethyst
are also mined in Russia. Treatments
Almost all amethyst is heated to bring out is best color. Heat-treated amethyst
is very stable and requires no special handling. Care
The beautiful color in your amethyst, if properly taken care of, will last indefinitely.
Amethyst should be protected from sharp blows and scratches but is otherwise
quite resistant to normal wear. Amethyst can be cleaned with most any commercial
jewelry cleaner or plain soap and water using a soft brush. Be sure to rinse
and dry your jewelry thoroughly after cleaning. Some amethyst, whether treated
or not, may fade if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. Because of
this, you shouldn’t wear your amethyst jewelry while sunbathing or when
using a tanning bed.
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