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Amethyst, one of the world’s most popular gemstone is the birthstone for the people belonging to the zodiac sign Aquarius. Amethyst is also regarded as the anniversary stone for the fourth and sixth year of marriage. Though the stone is colorless in its purest form it assumes medium to dark hues in the purple shade. It is the most valuable coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz.
Amethyst derives its name from different sources like from Middle English ‘amatist’, from Latin ‘amethystus’ and also the Greek ‘amethustos’. The experts are of the opinion that the violet color of amethyst is due to the iron content but there is also another group saying that the manganese or hydrocarbons present in the stone is responsible for its color. Oriental amethyst also known as purple sapphire is not a quartz variety but it is a much harder and rarer stone.
There are rich deposits of amethyst in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Siberia, Canada, India, Bolivia, and Argentina and some African countries with Zambia being the leading producer.
Amethyst is one of those rarer yet affordable stone. The majestic color of the stone has made it not only favorite among the contemporary jewelers but also among royalties. The pale colored stone known as ‘Rose de France’ is clearly seen to be a part of Victorian era. Amethyst is associated with healing power. It is a blood purifier, headache reliever, and energizer. Amethyst improves blood sugar imbalance and also strengthens the immunity of an individual. Amethyst symbolizes sincerity, security, and peace of mind and is said to produce a relaxed and soothing sleep if kept under the pillow at night.
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