A stone of peace, amethyst is believed to have a calming presence 

The February birthstone is truly one of the most unique gems and is believed to hold many special powers. It’s beautiful and vibrant purple color is the most common hue and is almost mesmerizing. It’s name derives from the Greek word amethystos meaning “not intoxicated”, as the ancient Greeks believed that this gem prevented intoxication.

 
A Gemstone With Meaning

Amethyst is known to have many healing powers and properties. It is a great stone for healing the body and mind as well as relieving anxieties and stress. This stone is a symbol for empowerment and strength and is often believed to protect its wearer. Amethyst is said to keep the wearer safe from all harm, whether from in our minds and bodies or from danger around us. If one is experiencing anxiety or fear, amethyst is the perfect stone to have nearby to treat those constant worries. This gem is said to get rid of almost all negative emotions that arise.

A fun way to send messages to others through gemstones is known as acrostic jewelry. Many gemstones are used in a single piece of jewelry and the first letter of each gem used spells out the message. One of the most popular messages formed is from the combination of ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, and diamond that spells out “regard”. Acrostic jewelry was created during the Victorian era by Marie Antoinette’s jewelry designer. While there are other gemstones that begin with the letter a, amethyst is a great choice to add to an acrostic piece because of its vibrant color that stands out next to others.

Another jewelry style with a much deeper meaning is suffragette jewelry that became popular in the early 1900s. The Women’s Social and Political Union fought for the right to vote in England and determined that the color scheme for this jewelry would be green, white, and violet. It is thought by many that these colors were chosen as they form an acronym for the phrase, “Give Women the Vote”. Another reason these colors were chosen is because the colors symbolism reflects the woman’s qualities such as green being hope, white being purity, and violet being dignity. Peridot, pearls, white enamel, and amethyst were commonly used for this jewelry.

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Not just purple?

The color of amethyst is most commonly found in purple. Hues can range from light lavender to dark violets. However, this gem can be found in other colors as well. Prasiolite, or green amethyst, is very rare and only found in a few mines. Heat treatment is often used to alter the color of amethyst. When amethyst is heated it can turn pale green, orange, or yellow. Most green amethyst in today's market is amethyst that has been heated. This is also true for most citrine seen in modern jewelry. Natural citrine does exist, but it is very rare and expensive.

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Perfect For Every Occasion

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is used to rate the hardness of a gem. A low number on the scale indicates that a gem is soft and susceptible to scratches, while a hard stone resistant to scratches will be higher on the scale. Amethyst is a 7-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Amethyst is considered a hard enough stone and does not scratch easily. It is fairly durable and can be used in all types of jewelry for regular wear without fear of damage. Amethyst is generally favored by jewelers in part because of its resilience, and of course its beauty.