THE FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE

With its ties to royalty and intoxication, the amethyst is one unique and distinctive stone, both in colour and in history.

Purple Amethyst has been highly esteemed throughout the ages for its stunning beauty and legendary powers to stimulate and soothe both the mind and emotions. As early as the Roman era, this gemstone was linked to the month of February, and thus Neptune their water-god; it later became associated as the stone of St. Valentine and again, by default, connotations of faithful love and passion.

Amethyst itself is most commonly found as a purple quartz, with tones ranging from pinkish-violet to deep bluey-purple. The best amethysts can be found in Siberia, Sri Lanka and Brazil. As a stone, it has always held significant importance in the depiction and representation of power. Fine specimens of the gemstone are featured in the British Crown Jewels and in the collections of Cleopatra and Catherine the Great. The latter loved the stone so much that she sent thousands of miners down into the Ural Mountains to search for the gemstones.

When it comes to buying amethysts today there are a number of important factors to look out for. The best amethysts are untreated, transparent, a deep, rich purple with flashes of rose, and the cleaner the stone is from inclusions the higher the price. The cut and shape of amethyst is very much down to personal preference and often has no impact on value.

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