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Gemstone Properties
Amethyst
Colour of Royalty
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
Photo: Robert Weldon, Professional Jeweler Magazine
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 quantities of very
fine amethyst are also mined in Russia.
TREATMENTS
Almost all amethyst is heated to bring out its 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 mild soap and lukewarm 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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