Amethyst, the purple variety of the gem species Quartz, is the traditional birthstone for the month of February. It was treasured by the Roman gods as a talisman to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus.
Amethyst is available in small and large sizes, although as with all gemstones, very large sizes in rich, deep colors have always been rare. Designers celebrate amethyst as the ideal choice for jewelry because of its regal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability and wide tonal range from light to dark purple.
Occasionally, Mother Nature combines the quartz colors of amethyst and citrine into a single, exciting gemstone we call ametrine. Shown to the right. The Anahi Mine in Bolivia became famous in the seventeenth century when a Spanish conquistador received an ametrine as a dowry when he married a princess from the Ayoreos tribe named Anahi.
This information is provided by the American Gem Trade Association. For more information about gemstones or the AGTA please visit www.agta.org
Copyright © 2003 AGTA
