Amethyst

Purple quartz with an old story

On the strand, amethyst settles into medium to dark purple, bead after bead. Tip it to a window and a red or blue flash shows. The color reads from across the room and still feels easy up close. Small faceted rondelles make tight, even lines. Pears and hearts throw a clean sparkle in earrings. Dark African material looks almost inky indoors, then opens in bright light.

Where it comes from

Amethyst is quartz, Mohs 7, worn for more than two millennia. A necklace with amethyst beads dates to 2000 BCE, and the center stone bears an inscription in a South Arabian script from the 8th century BCE. Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it, and Romans linked it to Bacchus. It was as expensive as ruby and emerald until large deposits in Brazil were found in the 19th century. Today Brazil and Uruguay supply much of the volume, while Zambia is known for darker African material. Zambian material can show more inclusions, though in small rondelles they disappear to the eye. We cut our beads in Jaipur, India, and choose them strand by strand in Cupertino, California.

What tradition says

In crystal tradition, amethyst is the sobriety stone. The name comes from the Greek amethystos, "not drunk." Legends tie it to Dionysus, called Bacchus by the Romans, and people long said it kept the mind clear and quick in battle and in business. Greeks wore it and carved drinking vessels, saying it would ward off drunkenness. It is also the birthstone for February, and by custom the gem for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries. One old note says the patron of romantic love wore an amethyst ring carved with Cupid.

These are beliefs people have held about the stone, told as tradition. They are not claims, and not advice.

How makers use it

We keep it working in everyday pieces. Small faceted rondelles build bracelet stacks and mixed strands with steady color. Pears make clean, bright earrings; hearts add a friendly center to a pendant. We stock 3x5mm rondelles for tight spacing and 9x15mm pears when a single drop is enough. A stronger red or blue flash shows in the top color; hold it to the light to see it. Dark African material is cut small to keep the eye on color. Our strands are faceted in Jaipur and chosen here in Cupertino.

Looking after it

Amethyst wears well every day. Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. An ultrasonic is usually safe, but skip steam. Keep it out of direct sun, since strong light can fade the color over time.

Sources: Amethyst History and Lore - GIA, Amethyst Gemstone | Amethyst Stone - GIA, Amethyst - Wikipedia, Amethyst: The most popular purple gem, February birthstone