Amethyst

Amethyst is an interesting gem with a purple of violet colour. It used to be expensive and ranked alongside the big four, however the discovery of large deposits in South America has made it much more affordable.

What Is Amethyst?

Amethyst is a gemstone variety of quartz that ranges in colour from delicate lilac to deep purple. Deeper hues are generally more popular and much of the amethyst you can buy will have been heat treated to improve its colour. The deepest natural shade of the stone is known as Deep Russian and highly prized.

Meaning

The purple hues of amethyst have also resulted in it being associated with power and wealth; purple has long been the colour of royalty.

The name comes from the Greek for "not drunk": amethyst was often thought to promote sobriety, not something I can imagine being popular with hard drinking pirates!

As well as natural amethyst, synthetically man made varieties are easy to come by and difficult to distinguish from the natural variety. If this matters to you, check with the dealer before buying.

Popular uses of amethyst in modern jewelry include rings, pendants and necklaces.