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AMETHYST : The
violet, purple to almost pink variety of Quartz is called Amethyst, an ancient
name derived from the Greek amethystos, meaning "not drunken", as it was
believed to protect those who wore it from drunkenness. It is the most highly
prized variety of Quartz. Quartz may resemble some violet synthetic corundum,
but the latter turns reddish strong artificial light or full sunlight. The
presence of iron, doesn't provide a uniform colour to the stone.
Purple has long been considered a royal color so it is not
surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Fine
amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of
Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty.
Amethyst has long been a favorite
gem of kings and queens for its royal purple hues. The gem, the most precious
member of the quartz family, exhibits color ranging from pale lilac to deep
purple. Amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were worn by
Catherine the Great as well as Egyptian royalty.
Through the ages, various special properties have also been prescribed to
amethyst. The Greeks and Romans considered it a strong antidote against
drunkenness and drank wine from goblets carved out of the gem. Leonardo Da Vinci
wrote that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.
The stone also is supposed to bring peace of mind to the wearer and prevent
fatal poisoning.
In some legends, the stone also represents piety, celibacy and dignity. In
Tibet, for instance, amethyst is considered sacred to Buddha and rosaries are
often made from it. In the Middle Ages, the gem was an important ornamentation
for the Catholic Church and other religions. In fact, it was considered the
stone of bishops, and they still often wear amethyst rings.
The Birthstone for February, Amethyst is an extremely popular gem for jewelry
because of its regal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability and wide
range of hues. It also is the recommended gem for couples celebrating their
sixth wedding anniversary.
Generally, South American amethyst tends to come in larger sizes than African
amethyst. But the African variety has a reputation for having deeper color
intensity and is therefore considered more valuable. The African version also is
harder to come by than amethyst mined from South America. Most of today's
amethyst comes out of Brazil.
The finest and most valuable amethysts are very clear, with very deep color (and
they sometimes exhibit reddish or rose overtones). Some stones are so
oversaturated with color they have areas that are blacked out, which can
negatively impact their value.
Amethyst is available in a wide range of calibrated sizes and shapes, including
many fancy cuts. Large fine stones are sold in free sizes but generally the
stone is cut in standardized dimensions. Paler shades, sometimes called "Rose of
France", were common in Victorian jewelry. Banding - darker and lighter zones of
color - is also a common occurrence. Occasionally, amethyst is even found
combined with its sister quartz citrine into a single stone called Ametrine.
The most common enhancements to amethyst are heat and irradiation. The stone,
which ranks a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, is considered durable enough for
everyday wear. However, care should be taken not to expose the gem to excessive
amounts of bright sunlight, as this can cause its color to fade.
Because amethyst was thought to
encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very important in the
ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in
particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear
amethyst rings. In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and
rosaries are often fashioned from it. The legend of the origin of Amethyst comes
from Greek myths. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an
insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his
path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting
Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess
Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to
protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for
his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the
quartz purple, creating the gem we know today. The Hindi Name for this
Gemstone is "KATELA".
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