4/7/2023 0 Comments Amethyst gemstone month![]() With the amethyst, however, there is little carat value difference. Many times, the bigger the gem, the more expensive it will be, and a stone of several carats will probably fetch higher prices. An amethyst used in jewelry will be appear clean to the eye and appear to have no inclusions or flaws. The clearer the stone, the more precious it is. A gem with a consistent color throughout will often be more valuable than one with light and dark areas in a single stone. Another factor used to determine value is the continuity of the color. 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. The color of amethyst ranges from deep violet to a light shade of lilac. Still, merchants are required to tell you if a gem is natural or synthetic.As is the case with many stones, an amethyst's value is determined by several factors, including color, clarity, carat, and cut. The GIA Laboratory can tell the difference, but many in the jewelry industry do not request testing because of the cost and time required to determine the origin of what is a comparatively inexpensive gem. In some cases, it is very difficult to distinguish natural from synthetic amethyst without access to advanced gemological testing. Having the same chemical and physical properties as its natural counterpart, synthetic amethyst has been known since the 1970s. A soft brush with mild soap is the safest option.Īs you shop for the February birthstone, you’ll also encounter lab-created amethyst. Though the color is stable with normal use, this is not a birthstone to wear to the beach every day.Īmethyst birthstone jewelry can be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner, but steam cleaning is not recommended. Note, too, that excessive heat can remove the color entirely, and some amethyst fades with prolonged exposure to strong light. However, submitting it to intense heat may render it slightly more brittle than usual, and care must be taken not to damage pointed faceted corners and sharp edges. Heat treating amethyst results in a permanent change in color. Some amethyst turns yellow – to citrine – with heat treatment. It can also remove unwanted brownish inclusions in some amethysts. Heat treatment can’t make pale amethyst darker, but it can lighten the color of very dark amethyst and make it more attractive. Heat treatment is the most common technique for improving the color and marketability of natural amethyst. Because this February birthstone is more susceptible to damage than harder gems such as rubies, sapphires and diamonds, you risk scratching your amethyst jewelry if you place it next to these harder stones. This means that it is appropriate for daily use in rings and other jewelry, but over time it may show wear and require repolishing. The Anahí mine is also famous in gem circles as the source of the unusual bicolored amethyst-citrine crystals called ametrine.Īmethyst is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It was discovered by a Spanish conquistador in the 1600s, given to him as dowry when he married Anahí (a princess from the Ayoreo tribe), forgotten for three centuries, and rediscovered in the 1960s. Hidden in the Pantanal wetlands, the Anahí mine is shrouded in fascinating lore. The Anahí mine in Bolivia is another prominent source for amethyst. Amethyst from Brazil sometimes forms in hollow, crystal-lined geodes so large you can stand in them. Today, the most important sources of amethyst are in Africa and South America. Brazil is still a major supplier, especially its southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, though the rough amethyst mined there tends to have a lighter color than amethyst found in other countries. ![]() ![]() Once as rare as ruby or emerald, amethyst was suddenly in abundance. Russia was the major source of amethyst until the 19th century, when large deposits were found in Brazil. The famous jewelry connoisseur Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (1896–1986), made a memorable statement when she wore a lavish Cartier-designed amethyst bib necklace to a gala in Versailles in 1953. Wear it in celebration of your wedding nuptials or as your February birthstone and you’ll be in royal company: Catherine the Great (Empress Catherine II of Russia, 1729–1796) had a penchant for the gem and decked herself in amethyst necklaces, earrings and other ornaments. Renaissance Europeans thought it calmed lovers overrun by passion.Īmethyst is the gem traditionally given for the sixth wedding anniversary. Because of its wine-like color, early Greek mythology associated the gem with Bacchus, the god of wine. Amethyst was also believed to keep the wearer clear headed and quick witted in battle and business affairs. ![]() The name “ amethyst” derives from the Greek amethystos, which means “a remedy against drunkenness,” a benefit long ascribed to the purple birthstone. ![]() Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate ![]()
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