The February Birthstone - Amethyst
Amethyst is the February birthstone, known for its purple hues this stone is the most popular purple gemstone. Throughout the ages, this gem has been used in jewellery and as a stone of protection. The purple of the amethyst has been compared to the purple of grapes. This stone can be found in many places around the world and is more abundant now than in the past with deposits being found all around the world. This gem is from the quartz family and has a Mohs hardness rating of 7. We love this stone for its brilliant shades of purple, it can make the perfect statement. For those born in February, this gemstone can act as a talisman for bringing good fortune to its wearer.
"Amethyst holds the power to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken one's intelligence"
Leonardo da Vinci
History of Amethyst
The name amethyst comes from the Greek word Amethstos which translates to "not to be drunk", both the Greeks and the Romans believed that this gemstone was able to prevent the holder from being intoxicated. This belief led to people drinking from amethyst goblets. It is thought that St. Valentine wore an amethyst ring with the likeness of Cupid carved onto it. Royals and the Clergy have worn this stone for many years, with the stone representing royalty and closeness to Christ. Additionally, amethyst adorned catholic crosses because of its association with piety and celibacy.
(Image Credit: Crownprincessvictoria.blogpost.com)
Despite being a variety of quartz, this gemstone was once considered to be the equal of rubies, emeralds and sapphires. With the discovery of large amethyst deposits in Brazil, the once rare amethyst saw a slip in status. None the less, today amethyst is still the most popular purple gemstone. The tiara worn by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in the above image shows one of the most spectacular tiaras in the Swedish Royal Tiara collection. This tiara was said to have once belonged to Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon I, however, it was originally a necklace. After her granddaughter married into the Swedish Royal family, she brought her grandmother's necklace with her which was later fashioned into this beautiful tiara which is still treasured by the Swedish Royals today.
Healing Properties
The healing properties of this stone have been widely associated with helping sleep and ancient lore suggesting that when one dreams of amethyst you are protected. Amethyst is thought to be able to purify negative thoughts and change them to positive. It is a stone that is said can help relieve stress and aid with anxiety. Even more so this stone is thought to bring about a calm aura and help with inner peace. Furthermore, this stone is good for work-related stress in particular as it is also thought to help with communication and abundance.
To conclude we love amethyst, regardless of whether or not it is your birthstone we believe that there are benefits to having this stone. We would recommend looking at a variety of gemstones if amethyst is not the stone for you. With many to choose from at Weir & Sons, we would advise taking your time and choosing a gemstone that you feel drawn to.