Amethyst

Amethyst’s uniqueness lies in the colour it possesses. Richly adourned in violet, this is a gemstone which invokes the feeling of seductiveness. Categorised today, under the category of semi-precious stones, it was once upon a time hailed as the ‘Gem of Fire, and was as expensive as the emerald and ruby. Amethyst is a purple variety of the quartz family and is considered its most valued members. Because of its grape like colour, the Greeks associated the gemstone with the wine God, Bacchus. This belief led to it being named amethyst, which is actually derived from an Ancient Greek word ‘ametusthos’ meaning ‘not intoxicated’ or ‘not drunk’.
Purple is a regal colour and amethyst being ornated in violet, is a gem of unparalleled beauty and a gem which has always been in great demand over the years. It has always been regarded as the traditional birthstone of the month of February, the month which the Romans dedicated to Neptune, their water God. Today, amethyst has found its way into women’s earrings, rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, eternity rings, engagement rings etc. In fact, they are the most important quartz variety which is used in jewellery. They lend an exceptional beauty to any jewellery piece and in it you are sure to garner a lot of admiration.

Amidst the prised possession of Atyaza Inc, are an extensive collection of amethyst necklace, amethyst earrings, amethyst pendant, amethyst bracelet, amethyst engagement ring, amethyst bridal set ring and amethyst eternity ring. They have been designed by out top notch designers who have made sure to project the beauty of the stone elegantly.

Amethyst has a surreal mix of history and facts. Its presence can be traced back to as far as 25,000 years ago in France. It was also found amidst the ruins of the Neolithic man. It largely owes its origin to a Greek myth which was recounted by a 16th century French poet. Bacchus, the God of wine, angered at a mortal human decided to seek revenge on the first person that crossed his path by sending two tigers to devour him/her. As it happened, the first person was none other than the beautiful maiden Amethyst who was on her way to worship at the temple of Diana. In her terror, she called out to the goddess Diana to save her, who turned her into a sparkling white crystal. Realising his errors, Bacchus felt remorse and wept. He poured his wine into the crystal turning the stone into the exquisite violet hue we know of today.
Early Egyptians placed the stones in the tombs of pharaohs, believing it to be blessed with great powers. They had a strong belief that if an amethyst is tied around the neck along with the hairs of peacock and feathers of a sparrow, one would be protected from sorcery and will also be cured of gout. It was believed to promote celibacy and symbolise saintliness, and was thereby considered a gem of prime importance in the decoration of Catholic and other churches back in the Middle Ages. The people of the Middle Ages also used it as a medication, to sharpen intellect and to eliminate sleep. It was also thought to bring victory in battle and to protect the wearer from bad dreams.
It is believed that Cleopatra wore a signet ring of amethyst, which also also had the figure of Mithras engraved on it. It is also widely considered the stone of Saint Valentine, whose amethyst has the engraving of the figure of Cupid, his assistant. Saint Valentine’s Day is observed in the month of February, which is also the birthstone for amethyst. In addition, amethyst is especially endowed with the power to prevent drunkenness and overindulgence. They were also known to dispel evil thoughts and increase intelligence. Back in the Renaissance period, amethyst symbolised humility and modesty. The European soldiers wore amethyst in battle as they believed that it would protect them, heal them and keep them cool-headed.
Throughout history, famous personalities like Queen Catherine the Great of Russia, have opted amethyst. It is a part of the Crown of Jewels of England and also plays a key role in the Chinese art of Feng Shui. Because of the enchanting beauty it radiates and the magical power it possesses amethysts is still largely a part of women’s jeweleries. Whether ring, earrings, bracelet, necklace, pendant or an engagement ring, amethyst’s magical wand is enough to glorify and beautify any type of setting. It is also an ideal gift option, as a jewelery of amethyst is considered a gift of protection, love and respect. Needless to say amethyst is in great demand amongst jewelery designers for the creation of designer pieces.

As mentioned, amethyst is a variation of quartz crystal whose chemical name is silicon dioxide (SiO2). Earth is the storehouse of a large amount of quartz in varied colors. Amongst all the members of the quartz family, amethyst is considered the most precious. As with quartz, Amethyst has its presence in the oozing muddy liquid at the centre of the earth. It usually comes forth owing to the rising and cooling process of magma. The alluvial flow, which develops as a result, fill the veins and gas cavities available near the surface of the earth. They are hydrothermal solutions which are mainly a composition of hot water mixed with silica, sulfides and other minerals.
After the silica mingles with oxygen, silicon dioxide is formed. When the silicon dioxide is in its soluble form, it swiftly flows into the cavity or is slowly dripped layer upon layer. When the flow of the aqueous liquid floods into cavities or veins, the quartz solidifies and develops into druse. In this druse form, one can find amethyst in geodes or veins. An amethyst geodes is basically a hollow rock which has amethyst crystals that lines the inner walls. The liquid that fills up the cavities also contains a small amount of iron which is responsible for the colour range from light lilac to deep purple.
Due to this variation of purple to violet colours, amethyst makes beautiful and gorgeous earrings, ring, bracelet, necklace, pendant, engagement ring, eternity ring and bridal set ring.

Major amethyst deposits can be found in Brazil, Russia, Zambia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Madagascar, Uruguay, Namibia and Mexico. The amethyst found in Southern Brazil is generally light violet. The amethyst from Uruguay has a deep purplish-blue colour and are considered the most beautiful. Those from Madagascar are usually red in colour. The amethyst found in the United States are not of jewelry grade. The best variety of amethyst are found in Sri Lanka, Siberia and Brazil.
Because of its availability along the length and breadth of the world, amethyst jeweleries are increasingly popular and has already graced the lives of many women. Be it amethyst ring, amethyst earrings, amethyst necklace, amethyst, bracelet, amethyst pendant, amethyst engagement ring or amethyst eternity ring, the gem endows a magical charm like no other.

Being the purple variety of quartz, amethyst’s identity lies in its purple colour. However, it is known to display a range of other shades like light lilac, deep purple, lavender and mauve. Amethyst of top quality is generally deep to medium purple with flashes of violet or red colour. The deep purple amethyst with a tinge of red and blue flashes and widely identified as Siberian amethyst is known to fetch the highest prices. They are considered to be the most valuable. The colour of amethyst is mostly due to the iron impurities, though it can also occur via natural radiation exposure.
Amethyst, is also sometimes heat treated, which changes its colour or transform it into Citrine. There are some form of amethyst, which change its colour to a light green after heat treatment. Such stones are known ‘Prasiolite’ or ‘Green Amethyst’ in the gem trade. However, since amethyst’s identity lies in its purple color, the green amethyst is not considered a true amethyst.
Amethyst which is free of inclusions of any kind are considered to be the best quality amethyst. The fine amethyst is the one that is transparent, which basically means that the light passes through the stone without any obstructions. There is a translucent amethyst in which the passage of light is weakened when it travels through the stone.
Amethyst has a score of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale and thus is strong enough for daily wear. Most of the amethyst gemstones available in the market are heat-treated so that a deeper colour can be attained. The heat treatment are permanent and the colour will not fade over time.
Today, amethyst is faceted into many cuts. They are used in all forms of jewelery including bracelet, earrings, necklace, pendant, ring, engagement ring, eternity ring and bridal set ring. Its hardness makes it perfect for ornamental jewelery.

Amethyst is believed to possess amazing remedial for many ailments and has thus, been widely used throughout history. Hundreds of years ago people believed that amethyst when moistened with saliva and rubbed on the face could eliminate pimples and rough skin. The gemstone was prescribed for stomach pains and to heal any illness of the lungs. They play a big role in treating the brain, the central nervous system and to alleviate a headache. Those who deal with a lot of stress and excessive workload, amethyst can provide relaxation. They are helpful in treating insomnia too, and aids those in depression.
The gemstone does wonders for natural healing when worn as ring, earrings, pendant, necklace, or bracelet, etc. It helps a person attain peaceful sleep and controls fear. They raise hopes, lifts the spirit of the people and promote positive thoughts. It is a stone that is often worn by a healer who places an amethyst on the part of the person’s body to be healed, which is usually the heart or the lungs. They are used to cure problems in the blood and is also used to cure breathing problems. They help overcome fear and cravings too.

Amethyst is endowed with powers unbound. As a gem that induces dream, peace, love, healing, courage, spiritual upliftment, psychism, amethyst are wonderful options for rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, engagement rings, eternity rings, bridal set rings etc. They not only render a subtle and breathtaking beauty, but will also bless you with its healing properties. Atyaza Inc has an array of jeweleries in amethyst and they have been designed by our designers who are adept at creating innovative and unique designs like none other.