Introducing the royal purple gemstone, February’s birthstone, the exquisite amethyst!
Amethyst jewelry is not only a popular choice for February birthday gifts and Valentine’s Day gifts, but its beautiful royal purple color makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to stand out from the crowd. Amethyst is known from the ancient Greek word amethystos, which translates as ‘not drunk.’
It’s time to take a little journey into the world of amethysts and learn more about this gemstone, its history, who’s worn it, and why it will always be a very popular Valentine’s Day gift for someone special in your life.
What Is February’s Birth Stone?
February’s birthstone is exquisite amethyst. Not only is the beautiful purple gemstone absolutely stunning with its royal purple hues and color, but it’s also resilient and affordable.
At deBoulle Diamond & Jewelry, we stock a wide selection of beautiful jewelry and timepieces, perfect as a gift, for a special occasion, or just to let someone know how much you care about them.
Amethyst Facts and Symbolism
Not only is the amethyst February’s birthstone, it’s also the gemstone for your 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
Ranking 7 on the Mohs Scale, making it an ideal gemstone to handle daily wear. Amethyst is actually a variety of quartz, getting its rich purple color from the natural impurities found deep within its crystal structure.
Greek legend suggests that those wearing amethyst would be immune from the effects of alcohol and that the gemstone promoted clear-headedness and clarity.
At one time, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Museum displayed an amethyst that weighed over 164 lbs. While amethyst is found worldwide, a cave discovery in Maine, USA, revealed a ton of this beautiful gemstone.
Three famous celebrities who wore amethyst as part of their engagement rings include supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Penelope Cruz, and reality television star Kim Kardashian. Gisele’s engagement ring featured a large amethyst carefully surrounded by two smaller diamonds. Penelope’s engagement ring was a classic solitaire shape, set in a beautiful gold band, and Kim Kardashian’s ring was a square-cut amethyst set on a platinum ring band.
The former Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, once wore a beautiful statement necklace to a gala event in Versailles in 1953 designed by Cartier and decked out entirely in amethysts. To this day, many still consider the piece one of Cartier’s most iconic jewelry creations.
The History of the Amethyst
As mentioned above, amethyst comes from the ancient Greek word amethystos, which translates as ‘not drunk.’ It was believed that by wearing jewelry featuring amethysts, the wearers would be safe from becoming intoxicated and suffering the effects of poison.
It’s believed that a Cupid ring, the ancient Roman God of Love, counterpart to the Greek God Eros, was once worn by St. Valentine, the Patron Saint of Love, after whom Valentine’s Day was named.
The Ancient Egyptians listed amethyst in the Egyptian Book of Dead, instructing it to be carved into the shape of a heart and placed with the dead before burial. Multiple Pharaohs have been discovered with amethyst artifacts and jewelry pieces, and their use dates back to 3000 BCE.
The Best Way to Wear Your Amethyst
Purple isn’t always the easiest color to style, but when it comes to amethyst, you want to wear it with either similar shades of purple or neutral shades such as white, black, grey, silver, and gold.
The warm and cool color tones of amethyst make it an ideal choice for any complexion, so take your look to a royal level with the beautiful purple amethyst gemstone.
