Amethyst Facts, Information and Description

Amethyst is the official birthstone for February as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birth stone for the Zodiac sign of Pisces.

Amethyst is suggested as a gem to give on the 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and the most valued member of the quartz family. It must be purple to be amethyst, but it can display a range of shades including deep purple, light lilac, lavender and mauve. Top quality amethyst is a deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes. Its purple color made it a stone of royalty for many thousands of years.

Amethyst can occur as crystals that are six sided on either end. It also forms as drusy which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock. It is found inside geodes and in alluvial deposits all around the world and occurs in both crystalline or massive forms. When manganese is present in clear quartz amethyst is produced, while the amount of iron contained in the specimen accounts for the depth of purple.

Mohs scale of hardness is 7.

Most amethyst gemstones on the market today are heat-treated to produce a deeper color. Heat treating is permanent and these stones will not fade over time. Unless otherwise stated, assume that any amethyst you purchase today has been heat treated to increase the depth of color. Also, note that most citrine available on the market today is actually heat treated amethyst.

Amethyst  Folklore, Legend, & Healing Properties

Throughout history amethyst has been used to guard against drunkenness and is thought to be helpful in overcoming addiction. It has been used for hearing disorders, insomnia, headaches and other pain. Some sources suggest it is used to stabilize mental disorders.

Worn to make the wearer gentle and amiable. Amethyst powers include: dreams, healing, peace, love, spiritual upliftment, courage,  psychism, protection against thieves, and happiness.

This legend and the connection to Bacchus led to the belief that drinking wine from a cup made of amethyst would prevent drunkenness, and later, that wearing amethyst would also prevent the wearer from becoming drunk or being poisoned. Amethyst is also considered as an aid to the brave because it was believed to protect soldiers in battle.

Other legends say that amethyst can control evil thoughts, help hunters in the capture of animals and can make the owner shrewd in business matters.

Amethyst is a variety of quartz which occurs in transparent light to dark purple. The darker more intense colors are more valuable than the lighter smoky or lavender color. Dark rich, royal colors of amethyst have been treasured by kings and queens for centuries and can be traced back to the Minoan period in Greece (c. 2500 B.C.). During the 15th century the French fleur-de-lis brooch could only be worn by the Royal family on ceremonial occasions.

The two main sources of amethyst are Brazil and Zambia although it is also found in Uruguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and the US state of Arizona.

Amethyst is used as faceted stones or polished cabochons and is carved in various shapes. Amethyst beads are used in necklaces, earrings and other jewelry in both rough unpolished forms, smooth glossy shapes, faceted beads and briolettes.

One of the largest cut amethysts in the world is 343 carats and is housed at the National History Museum in London. Very dark stones are sometimes heated to enhance color.

According to legend, amethyst originated when Bacchus, the God of Wine, grew angry at mortals. He vowed the next mortal that crossed his path would be eaten by tigers. At that time, a beautiful young maiden named Amethyst was on her way to worship the Goddess Diana. Diana, knowing of Bacchus vow, turned Amethyst into a pillar of colorless quartz to protect her from the tigers. Bacchus, witnessing the miracle, repented and poured wine over Amethyst, staining her purple.

Unique Birthstone Jewelry

Amethyst is also listed as a birth/natal or star stone in the following birthstone tables:

Modern - February
Traditional - February
Ayurvedic - February
Zodiac - Pisces
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Aquarius
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Sagittarius
Talismanic - Scorpio
Arabic - February
Hebrew - February
Roman - February

Amethyst is the modern February birthstone and the accepted gem for the 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries

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Gemstone

A gemstone or gem, also called a precious or semi-precious stone, is a piece of attractive mineral, which — when cut and polished — is used to make jewelry or other adornments.^[1] However certain rocks, (such as lapis-lazuli) and organic materials (such as amber or jet) are not minerals, but are still used for jewelry, and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone.

Crystal

In chemistry, mineralogy, and materials science, a crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions.

The word crystal is a loan from the ancient Greek word κρ?σταλλος (krustallos), which had the same meaning, but according to the ancient understanding of crystal. At root it means anything congealed by freezing, such as ice.^[1] The word once referred particularly to quartz, or "rock crystal".

ZODIACAL SIGNS, GEMS & BIRTHSTONES
All gems are related to planetary forces and anyone wearing jewels from their natal planets will be in harmony with his or her stellar rays.

This is a chart of the gemstones related to each zodiacal sign and recommended Maha Lakshmi birthstone necklaces:

Many people prefer to use stones that relate to their astrological sun sign. Your sun sign is the sign that most people identify with when looking up their horoscope. These sun signs are as follows:

Aries
The symbol of this sign is activity – initiative, ambition or creativity. Arians always rise from the lowest to the highest form – from red to white.
Gems: All red stones, like garnet, ruby, red jasper

Taurus
the symbols of this sign are love and wisdom. Taurus are closely attuned to products of the earth. They need to transform the love of personal to that of selfless service.
Gems: All yellow stones like topaz, citrine, amber

Gemini
This is the sign of duality. It symbolizes life and death, joy and sorrow, health and sickness, abundance and poverty.
Gems: All purple stones, like amethyst or fluorite

Cancer
This symbolizes love and life. The magic power of love is the message and quest of this sign.
Gems: All green stones – emerald, jade, peridot, agate, green jasper

Leo
This is the sign of wisdom and activity. Divinity and humility are keynotes for meditation for the native of this sign.
Gems: All gold and orange stones – amber, orange jasper, carnelian, fire opal, topaz

Virgo
This sign symbolizes reason transformed into wisdom. Knowledge and understanding produce wisdom.
Gems: Amethyst and fluorite

Libra
It symbolizes the balance that must be weighed with the deeds of the year. It symbolizes the unfolding of love leading to unity.
Gem: Yellow stones – topaz, amber, citrine

Scorpio
This is one of the most powerful signs. Its force being dual in aspect, it moves from the lowest depths to the greatest heights. It purifies the animal nature and lifts forces to a higher plane of expression.
Gems: Red and clear crimson stones – ruby, garnet, coral, red jasper, bloodstone

Sagittarius
This sign symbolizes high idealism and noble aspirations. Its highest expression is a spiritualized mind.
Gems: Blue Stones – Sapphire, lapis-lazuli, blue topaz, sodalite

Capricorn
This sign denotes the mystery of the darkest night and the glory of the light. This sign symbolizes the crossing of the bridge of darkness before reaching the radiation of the great white light. The goal for a Capricorn is to conquer one’s ego.
Gems: Black and white stones – black tourmaline, jet, moonstone, opal, pearl

Aquarius
This sign symbolizes promotion of communication and group work. The goal of an Aquarian is to achieve oneness of the whole, or wholeness of the one.
Gems: Clear blue stones – blue topaz, lapis-lazuli, sapphire

Pisces
This sign symbolizes selfless service, the ideal way to achieve success. It denotes the spirit struggling to rescue humanity from greed.
Gems: Soft blue and indigo stones – blue topaz, indigo sapphire, azurite

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BIRTHSTONES BY MONTH
The origin of modern western “birthstones” can be traced to the days of Moses when he gave instructions about the “breastplate of judgment.” This is corroborated by the academic texts of the Gemological Institute of America. In the Bible, the breastplate is described as being set with 12 gemstones, each with an engraving of the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

In the book of revelations, gems in the breastplate were described as being the foundation stones of the temple of the “New Jerusalem.” The order that the 12 gems were given was used as the order for birthstones for the months. For no seemingly relevant reason the first of the birthstones was assigned to the month of March. Together the two lists are as follows:

These stones were used as birthstones until August 12, 1912 when the American National Retail Jewelers Association (ANRJA) changed the list of stones which would be more advantageous commercially for the jewelry industry. Then, in 1938, the American Gem Society (AGS) adopted the new list, adding one additional stone, citrine, to the list. In 1952, the list was once more changed and gained the approval of ANRJA, AGS, NJA (National Jewelers Association) and ASIA (American Stone Importers Association). This then, established the official list of birthstones that is still used today.

This list has absolutely no correlation to the astronomical/astrological signs of the zodiac. Its purpose is purely commercial. Since the sun changes signs every month around the third week, it is not possible to assign any stone to an entire month. It is the sign of the zodiac that is the determining factor at birth, not the month in which one is born.

The signs of the zodiac each have a planet that is the Lord, or ruler, of that particular sign. Each of the planets also has a gemstone that vibrates and transmits cosmic energy. Therefore the only meaningful system of birthstones is according to the sign which the sun, or moon, tenants at the time of birth, although it is more practiced in Asia to choose a stone according to the moon sign.

The list of birthstones accepted throughout Asia since ancient times is according to the position of sun, or moon, as follows:

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GEMS & PLANETS
Different gemstones are said to receive their potencies from the cosmic energies of various planets. Vedic astrology and the Ayurvedic system of medicine tell us that certain planets can have effects on bodily organs and parts of the body. The planets are also said to have effects on our minds and subtle parts of our consciousness. In addition, their specific positions in the horoscope indicate the path of destiny.

The medical and astrological uses validate each other. Different planets have influence on different parts of our bodies. A weak planet in the chart often manifests physically as a weakness in the part of the body affected by that planet’s cosmic energy. Gems have the power to harmonize planetary influences. The birthstone gemstones for each planet are as follows:

Secondary Gemstones: (for financial purposes, these can be used instead of primary gemstones)

Secondary gemstones may be worn as rings, bracelets or earrings. Either primary or secondary gems may be worn as necklaces. The jewelry should be fashioned in such a way that light will pass through the stone to the body. This means that the piece must be open-backed and the stone must be mounted so that it comes into physical contact with the skin.

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GEMS FOR EVERYDAY
you may wish to wear a certain stone on a particular day, or wear one that represents the day of the week on which you were born.

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