For folks born in February, amethyst is the go-to gemstone. This fascinating February birthstone is vibrant, stunning, and full of meaning. If you want to know more about this glittering, purple precious stone, we've excavated some enthralling information about this captivating crystal!
Fast Facts About February's Birthstone: Amethyst
A member of the quartz family, amethysts with intense, rich purple shades have long been considered the most precious of these natural crystals and have been the preferred color choice of jewelry buyers for decades. Interestingly, the popularity of very light lavender amethyst gemstones, known as the Rose of France, is growing rapidly.
| Amethyst Fast Facts | |
| Type of Stone | Quartz Mineral |
| Color Range | Light lilac to a deep royal purple |
| Mohs Hardness | 7 |
| Symbolism | Stone of peace |
Although it is classified as a semi-precious gemstone today, since the time of ancient Mesopotamia through the Middle Ages, amethysts held the classification of precious gems. Worn by Egyptian Pharaohs, reigning kings and queens, and Cardinals of the church, these stunning gemstones shared the title of one of the five Cardinal Gems along with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
Healing Properties of Amethyst
The people of medieval times trusted in the protective powers of amethyst, believing that this stone protected them from the effects of drunkenness, stopped them from being poisoned, and helped hunters in capturing their prey. They also believed that it aided soldiers in battle, keeping them safe as they achieved victory.
The Chinese, in contrast, associated amethyst with money and wealth. According to Feng Shui, this stone held the ability to attract riches.
There are many people today who still believe that amethysts hold special qualities that aid in mental, spiritual, and physical healing. These qualities include, but aren't limited to:
- Soothing the mind bringing calm and serenity
- Assisting in meditation
- Alleviating anxiety
- Reducing negativity
- Enhancing feelings of stability and mental strength
- Removing body toxins
- Improving the effects of arthritis
- Improving overall health
A Stone With a Story
The story of the February birthstone is almost as spectacular as this beautiful gem itself. According to ancient legends, the wine God Bacchus was fit to be tied over a particular insult hurled in his direction. So mad was he, that he decided the very next person he came into contact with would meet their demise courtesy of his ferocious tigers.
According to the story, a maiden by the name of Amethyst was the first person to cross the angry God's path. Just as the tigers pounced, Amethyst called upon the Goddess of Diana, whose shrine she was headed towards, for protection from harm.
To save the maiden's life, she was transformed into a clear white crystal. Bacchus felt terrible for his temper and cruelty. The God of Wine poured the juice of his grapes over the white crystal, giving it the purple hue that people have come to love.
Determining the Stone's Overall Value
As is the case with many stones, an amethyst's value is determined by several factors, including color, clarity, carat, and cut. Here is how these factors play into the price of this precious gem.
Color
The color of amethyst ranges from deep violet to a light shade of lilac. Generally speaking, the dark-hued stones tend to be the most valuable ones, so long as they are not so dark that they appear to be nearly black.
Clarity
Another factor used to determine value is the continuity of the color. A gem with a consistent color throughout will often be more valuable than one with light and dark areas in a single stone. The clearer the stone, the more precious it is. An amethyst used in jewelry will appear clean to the eye and have little to no inclusions or flaws.
Carat
Many times, the bigger the gem, the more expensive it will be as well, meaning a stone of several carats will typically fetch higher prices. However, with amethyst, there is little carat value difference. This makes it a great gemstone choice for those who prefer bolder-sized jewelry.
Cut
Cuts refer to the shape in which a stone is fashioned. Round stones are slightly more expensive compared to other stones. This is partially because of their popularity as well as the amount of rough material that is wasted to get this stone style.
According to jewelry company With Clarity, "the price of amethyst can range anywhere between $20 to $50 per carat." They specify that color is the most important factor in the price of the gemstone. This pricing doesn't include the cost of the metals used to create the base of the jewelry piece or any additional gemstones, just the amethyst.
Mining Amethyst
Several parts of the world are responsible for producing this most stunning gem. The state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil produces the majority of these stones, thanks to the large quantity of igneous rocks found in the area.
Uruguay, Siberia, and Canada also contribute to the mining of the pretty purple February birthstone. In fact, Ontario, Canada claims amethyst as its official province stone.
Fun Facts About February's Birthstone
Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone that obviously has a lot of folklore surrounding it. Here are some other fun facts about the birthstone of February.
- Amethyst is the sixth and 17th anniversary gemstone.
- Supposedly, St. Valentine has a ring in the shape of Cupid made of Amethyst.
- Amethyst comes from the ancient Greek word "amethystos," which means "not drunk."
- The February birthstone is the most expensive type of quartz.
- Amethyst is purple due to radiation exposure.
- Citrine, the November birthstone, can be made by heat treating amethyst!
A Beautiful Stone Loaded With Meaning
The February birthstone, otherwise known as the stone of the Aquarius, is beloved by so many people for so many reasons. For some, it signifies the month in which they were born. For others, the purple magnificence and regality are too lovely to pass up aesthetically.
Others are inspired by the deep lore of the gem and the many beliefs of the healing powers associated with the amethyst. Regardless of why people like this gemstone, it's one of the most majestic, sophisticated, and meaningful stones in the world.
