About Amethyst
- gem_head
- Feb 1, 2021
- 3 min read
As I sat staring out the window watching the snow fall in New York City, thought I'll write a quick blog post this morning. And of course because today marks the first day of February, it was the obvious choice to write about the February birthstone - Amethyst!
Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral family Quartz. While Amethyst is abundantly available today at a wide range of price points, this was not always the case. For many years, Amethyst was reserved for Kings and the Clergy only, and is quite possibly one of the world’s first known precious gems.
It’s famously known the stone’s name is derived from the greek word “Amethystos” meaning not drunken. The name is attached to ancient Greek lore that believed the stone could ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus - the Roman God of wine. Since then, and in many cultures, amethysts were known as the ‘Sobriety stone’ and have been worn as protective talisman. While Romans are knowns to have carved amethyst crystals in to goblets to drink from, the Chinese are known to have incorporated amethyst in Feng Shui remedies to ward off negative energy.
In the olden days, Amethyst was believed to have been far more valuable than diamonds due to its color, and relative rarity. The color Purple was rare due to the simple logic of Supply and Demand. Purple dye came from the mucus of one species of sea snail in former Lebanon. To harvest it, they had to crack open the snail , extract a purple-producing mucus and expose it to sunlight for a precise amount of time. Apparently it took over 250,000 snails to yield just one ounce of usable dye. And so, purple dye became exceedingly rare and was worth its weight in gold. There may have been other means of producing purple dye, like from berries and such, however this was the highest quality of purple dye with the most vibrant shade and a long lasting finish.
Amethysts can be found within regal wardrobes and jewels across the world. The British Sovereign’s Orb and the Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross are both set with a large amethyst beneath the cross. (See below images)
Historically, the highest-quality amethysts were found in Russia and were featured in regal jewelry. Amethyst lost most of its value due to discovery of vast deposits in South America during the 18th century. Brazil is now the primary source of this gemstone, however fine-quality amethyst can also be found in parts of Zambia, Mexico, Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Canada, Maine, Colorado, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Over the ages, many cultures have observed spiritual overtones in amethysts, it has been worn as protective talisman and even today, crystal healers and metaphysicians believe Amethyst is one of the most effective healing crystals available to man - bringing the wearer inner peace. Amethyst is often recommended to remedy obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety as well as insomnia.
References
Amethyst Meaning & Healing Properties. (n.d.). Energy Muse. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from https://www.energymuse.com/ameth-meaning
Andrews, E. (2018, August 23). Why is purple considered the color of royalty? HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/why-is-purple-considered-the-color-of-royalty
Cartwright, M. (2021, January 29). British Crown Jewels. Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/British_Crown_Jewels/
Griffith, J. (2017, January 27). Explore the Historic Significance and Mythology of Amethyst. The Gemmological Association of Great Britain. https://gem-a.com/gem-hub/birthstones/birthstones-february-meaning-colour-amethyst-story-zodiac
Sotheby’s. (n.d.). Amethyst Bird on a Rock Pin [Photograph]. Www.Sothebys.Com. https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/magnificent-jewels-and-jadeite-hk0721/lot.1606.html
The British Sovereign’s Orb and The Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross. (n.d.). [Photograph]. Www.Hrp.Org.Uk. https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-crown-jewels/#gs.rt992b
The Jeweler Blog. (2016, February 4). Amethyst: Here Are 10 Fun Facts About February’s Regal Birthstone. https://thejewelerblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/04/amethyst-here-are-10-fun-facts-about-the-february-birthstone/
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