Amethyst, the February birthstone, is associated with spirituality, wisdom, sobriety, and security. Said to encourage calmness, bravery, and contemplation, amethyst is the gemstone gifted on the 4th, 6th, and 17th wedding anniversaries. Its name comes from the Greek word ametistos which means not drunk. (According to legend, amethyst was created from the tears of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine--hence its association with curing or preventing hangovers!) The world's most popular colored gemstone, amethyst is the most valuable member of the quartz family and is highly regarded for both its beauty and affordability. A 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, amethyst is fairly durable and well suited for fashion rings, earrings and other jewelry.

Its color is derived from aluminum impurities and ranges from deep purple to pale lavender. Deeper hues are more valuable and a deep regal purple color with pink and cherry highlights is considered to be the most valuable. Known as the stone of spirituality and contentment, amethyst is revered as the jewel of the gods and thought to help heal grief and personal losses.

A prized gem for centuries, it was once worn by Leonardo Da Vinci to defend against evil and increase intelligence. Amethyst is also included in religious and royal jewelry collections all over the world from ancient Egypt to the British Crown Jewels. Believed to enhance spirituality and intuition while helping to dissipate evil thoughts, amethyst is often used by crystal healers to bring stability and inner strength. In Feng Shui, amethyst enhances the wealth corner focusing on giving and receiving material wealth. It is a good stone to solve discord and makes a beautiful gift. Amethyst crystals are found throughout the world, including the United States. We are happy to source the perfect amethyst for your custom piece or provide more details on existing jewelry and gemstones in our collection.