Amethyst: 10 Interesting Facts About February’s Birthstone

February 20, 2022

By Katerina Perez

11 min read

Amethyst is the gemstone recognised as a lucky charm for those who celebrate their birthday in February. Until the 18th century, this attractive purple stone was part of a family of gemstones considered as valuable as diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. But the discovery of Brazilian deposits by Spanish colonists changed the stone’s fortunes: the volume of the raw deposits mined was so large that the cost of amethysts was significantly reduced across the globe. What other interesting facts can be found in the biography of this mineral?

I remember learning various facts about gemstones in Gem-A gemmology classes, but they were all more scientific than fun and I personally had a hard time remembering them. Here I have tried to collate 10 facts that are related not so much to gemmology but to the beauty and interesting properties of the stone, facts that you could share with your friends – at the end of the article, you can click on the e-mail icon to share this article by e-mail. Here we go:

Katerina Perez wears an amethyst necklace by Veschetti

Katerina Perez wears an amethyst necklace by Veschetti

 Katerina Perez holds a pair of amethyst earrings by Veschetti

Katerina Perez holds a pair of amethyst earrings by Veschetti

1. The origin of the name ‘Amethyst’ comes from an ancient myth about the nymph Amethys, with whom Dionysus, the god of wine and mirth, fell passionately in love. However, the beautiful nymph rejected the drunken god’s advances and when he began to pursue her, the goddess Artemis turned the nymph into a cold stone shimmering with a lilac sheen: an amethyst. Dionysus tried to revive the nymph by pouring wine over the stone, but it only turned more purple. Artemis gave the stone the ability to prevent intoxication, hence the literal translation of its name: “not drunk”.

2. The largest cut amethyst was mined in Brazil and weighs 401.52 carats. It was cut in the shape of an emerald and donated to the Smithsonian Museum in 2012. The museum website says: “It is a major upgrade for the Collection not only because of the size but also because of the superb colour, clarity and cut.”

The largest cut amethyst weighing 401.52 carats, now on display at the Smithsonian Museum

The largest cut amethyst weighing 401.52 carats, now on display at the Smithsonian Museum

3. Chinese legends about amethyst claim that an amethyst is the congealed saliva of a purple dragon.

4. The most valuable specimens are deep-coloured amethysts with a strong reddish-violet hue or dark purple without any colour zoning. That said, too deep a colour can appear black in dim lighting conditions, which reduces the value of the stone.

Amethyst at the Steinkaulenberg gemstone mine in Idar-Oberstein

Amethyst at the Steinkaulenberg gemstone mine in Idar-Oberstein

5. Another popular amethyst colour is the pale pink or light lilac, known in the trade as “Rose de France”. They are most commonly found in Brazil but there are also significant deposits in Bolivia and Zambia.

6. One of the most famous historical pieces of amethyst jewellery is the necklace given by the Duke of Windsor to the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, in 1947. It was made by Cartier using diamonds and amethysts provided by the client himself and complemented by turquoise.

The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, wears a Cartier amethyst, diamond and turquoise necklace gifted to her by the Duke of Windsor in 1947

The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, wears a Cartier amethyst, diamond and turquoise necklace gifted to her by the Duke of Windsor in 1947

 The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson's Cartier necklace set with amethysts, diamonds and turquoise

The Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson's Cartier necklace set with amethysts, diamonds and turquoise

7. The quality of an amethyst directly depends on the depth of the mineral: the deeper the deposit, the higher the quality of its characteristics.

8. These purple precious stones have formerly been an indicator of wealth and high status for centuries, worn by some of the most eminent people and members of the elite. Ural amethysts were one of the favourite stones of Catherine the Great, and the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, wore an amethyst ring throughout her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, after which love for this richly coloured gemstone spread among members of the Roman nobility.

9. One of the largest amethysts to feature in a piece of jewellery is the 210.6-carat fancy-cut stone in the Lydia Courteille bracelet from the Homage to Surrealism collection.

Lydia Courteille bracelet set with a 210.6 carat fancy-cut amethyst from the Homage to Surrealism collection

Lydia Courteille bracelet set with a 210.6 carat fancy-cut amethyst from the Homage to Surrealism collection

10. If exposed to the sun for too long, amethysts burn out. Within a century, an amethyst’s colour can fade by as much as 80% so it is worth remembering that it is better to store an amethyst in a box protected from light; this is the key to its durability.

And now I suggest you take a look at this gallery of modern amethyst jewellery created in a completely different style. Despite the fact this stone is no longer classified as precious, jewellery lovers have yet to lose interest in it since there aren’t many minerals that can boast of such an attractive purple colour and transparency

Verdura

Verdura

Byzantine riviere necklace with amethysts, pink kunzites and green tsavorites set in gold

Annoushka

Annoushka

Locket signet ring with amethyst

Boucheron

Boucheron

Fancy-shaped amethyst and diamond earrings

Ara Vartanian

Ara Vartanian

Inverted amethyst two-finger ring with black diamonds in yellow gold

Boghossian

Boghossian

Merveilles Icicle amethyst earrings in 18k rose gold

Ara Vartanian

Ara Vartanian

Oval-shaped amethyst earrings with black and colourless diamonds

Assael

Assael

Tahitian pearl, marquise-shaped amethyst and lavender spinel earrings

Annoushka

Annoushka

Lovelocket 18k gold ring with a square-cut amethyst and diamonds

Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Peekaboo earrings in rose gold with two round-cut amethysts and 18 brilliant-cut diamonds

Fernando Jorge

Fernando Jorge

Fluid earrings in18k rose gold with brown diamonds and amethyst

Pasquale Bruni

Pasquale Bruni

Giardini Segreti Haute Couture ring mounted on rose gold with amethyst, pink sapphire, white and champagne diamonds

Fernando Jorge

Fernando Jorge

Calyx earrings in lilac coated 18k rose gold with diamonds, amethyst and chalcedony

Fernando Jorge

Fernando Jorge

Orchidea earrings in lilac coated 18k gold with 2 carats of diamonds, lavender jadeite, kunzite and amethyst

Avakian

Avakian

Gatsby amethyst and white enamel earrings in 18k white gold

David Morris

David Morris

Palm 2 Flower double finger ring with pear shape amethysts, round brilliant and micro-set diamonds

David Morris

David Morris

Petite Palm Single Flower earrings with pear-shaped amethysts, round brilliant and micro-set diamonds, set in 18k white gold

Pomellato

Pomellato

Ritratto ring in rose gold with amethyst and diamonds

Sauer

Sauer

Chakra Frames Grenade ring with amethyst in 18k yellow gold

Shaun Leane

Shaun Leane

Aurora ring with a pear-shaped amethyst of 2.93 carats surrounded by rubies in 18k white gold

Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Peekaboo earrings in white gold with two cushion-cut amethysts and 18 brilliant-cut diamonds

Naomi Sarna

Naomi Sarna

Amethyst and diamond cocktail ring in platinum

Dior

Dior

Rose Dior Pre Catelan ring with a carved amethyst flower

Vanessa Martinelli

Vanessa Martinelli

Amethyst, yellow and green sapphire ring in 18k rose gold

Boghossian

Boghossian

Pear-shaped amethyst and diamond necklace

Tasaki

Tasaki

Atelier earrings in 18k yellow gold with Akoya pearls, South Sea pearls, diamond, amethyst, blue chalcedony and pink tourmaline

Isabelle Langlois

Isabelle Langlois

Ring with a central amethyst, pink sapphires and diamonds

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