February’s Birthstone: Amethyst

February babies are incredibly lucky to have amethyst as their birthstone! This beautiful stone is a type of quartz that comes in a variety of shades of purple.³ Darker amethysts, however, are typically the most coveted. These stones are truly magical, exhibiting color-changing properties when they are heated. In fact, amethysts can be heated so that their color matches citrine’s yellow to dark-orange hue.⁶

Where Are Amethysts Located?

Most amethyst gemstones originated from Russian mines up until the 1800s.⁸ By the 1800s, however, large amounts of amethyst were found in Brazil, making this stone more widespread and affordable.¹ This gemstone can also be found all over the world in countries like Mexico, Zambia, Uruguay, Australia, India, and the United States.⁶

History

Amethysts have been a beloved gemstone for thousands of years, and have been incorporated into jewelry since at least 2000 BCE.² During Ancient Egypt, amethyst rose in popularity as one of the materials used to create amulets and carvings.⁶ Amethysts were also admired and worn by members of the upper class throughout the Middle Ages.⁸ Centuries later, Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia during the 1700s, was a prominent admirer of this birthstone, wearing a lot of amethyst jewelry.⁵

Throughout history, these stones have been rumored to hold several healing properties and special abilities. For example, amethysts were once believed to help bring mental acuity to the wearer. The Ancient Greeks also attributed unique powers to this gemstone, believing that those in possession of amethysts could drink without becoming intoxicated.^2,7

Hardness and Durability

This stone has a Mohs hardness scale score of 7 out of 10, which indicates that this is a fairly durable stone that is not easily damaged. Caution should still be taken with amethyst jewelry, however, as the stone can still be scratched and chipped.

Cleaning Your Amethyst Jewelry

To clean amethysts, scrub the stone with a soft brush in warm water using mild soap. These stones can also be put into an Ultrasonic cleaner. However, amethysts should not be steamed as they can be damaged and discolored by excessive heat. When taking care of this stone, it is also important to note that they can fade in color if they are in light for too long, including sunlight, so it is best to keep them out of harsh light for long periods of time.

Amethyst for Wedding Anniversaries

In addition to being a great gift for February babies, this gemstone is also commonly given as a 6th and 17th year anniversary gift.⁴

Shopping for Amethyst Jewelry at Necker’s Jewelers

If you’re looking for amethyst stackable birthstone rings, they can be found on our website. We also have a larger selection of amethyst jewelry available for you to shop from at our stores in DeWitt and Davenport, IA.

References

1. https://www.gia.edu/doc/Amethyst-Mining-in-Brazil.pdf

2. https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/february-birthstone/amethyst-history/#:~:text=Amethyst%20History&text=Ancient%20Greeks%20and%20Romans%20believed,as%20early%20as%202000%20BC.

3. https://www.gia.edu/amethyst-description

4. https://www.gia.edu/amethyst

5. https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/february-birthstones

6. https://www.gemsociety.org/article/amethyst-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/

7. https://www.gia.edu/amethyst-history-lore

8. https://www.gemsociety.org/article/february-birthstone/