Amethyst, stone of the month of February

Jewelry second-hand with February birthstone: amethyst

Like citrine, amethyst is a fine stone belonging to the quartz family. This stone mainly found in Uruguay and Brazil is the birthstone for the month of February.

A little history on amethyst…

The name “Amethyst” comes from the Greek word “Amethystos” and refers to sobriety. 

Legend has it that a nymph named Amethystos refused the advances of the god Dionysus before Diana transformed her into a quartz statue to protect her. The god of wine would then have spilled his wine on the latter, thus giving it a purple color. Today, myth gives way to science, and other elements explain the very particular color of this mineral.

Amethyst, a remarkable color 

Indeed, amethyst is often recognizable thanks to its purple color. A color totally in line with the current trend of Very Peri, Pantone color of the year 2022. Different shades of amethyst exist, they can range from a light lilac purple to a very deep purple including a browner shade. This characteristic element is due to the presence of iron within the crystals. 

On the other hand, when heated to approximately 250°C, amethyst loses this purple color and turns towards yellow. This process also allows them to be transformed into citrines, slightly more orange than the original citrines. It is also possible to find ametrines, half-amethysts, half-citrines, astonishing two-tone stones. 

Heated even more around 500°C amethysts take on a green color, a color more often linked to this treatment than found naturally. This variety is called prasiolite. The problem with this green quartz is that it can easily fade when exposed to too much sunlight. 

The astonishing virtues of amethyst

Originally, amethyst was used by the Greeks and Romans against drunkenness and the evil eye. Surely linked to the legend of the nymph Amethystos, they drank their wine in goblets decorated with this stone. Later, it was also considered a good luck charm by sailors and soldiers. 

The purple color of this quartz has long been a symbol of power and this is why it was often found in the hands of important men and more particularly high religious dignitaries. 

Today, it remains renowned for its many benefits and is sometimes called the stone of wisdom. Some believe that it has a tranquilizing power and helps relieve stress. Others believe that it has the ability to transmit inspiration and energy to its holder.

Amethyst in jewelry 

In addition to these many qualities, amethyst is also very popular in jewelry for other reasons. It is a solid stone, with a mineral hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and which rarely shows inclusions or cracks. This makes it easy to cut and can be used for large pieces. 

Thanks to its vast palette of colors, it is easy to combine, not only with most metals but also with different stones such as emerald, citrine or even turquoise. There Home Bulgari has also clearly detected this capacity! 

In terms of cutting shapes, the wisdom stone also offers a wide choice. Even if it is generally found in a round or oval shape, it can also be enhanced by a pear or cushion shape.

Finally, another major advantage of this stone is its price. It is one of the most affordable gemstones. So if you want to treat yourself, while following the trend and without necessarily breaking the bank: amethyst is made for you! 

Features :
Quartz family
Hardness: 7
Shock resistance: good
Density: 2.65