New Series--Birthstones ~ by Grace Augustine

With so much of the red/pink festivities going on around us, I thought I'd do something completely different. A special shout out to RIDDLE'S JEWELRY in Coralville, Iowa for allowing the use of their photos.

Today begins a new series. Each month I will post information on  birthstones...their meanings, origins, and colors. I'm excited because there are 3 of us in our Originality by Design founding members whose birthdays are in February. So, get ready to know all there is to know about the beautiful February birthstone...

AMETHYST

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Polished or carved amethyst has been part of history as far back as 4000BC in Egypt. It was Catherine the Great’s favorite gem. The Greeks were known to wear amethyst to ward of becoming drunk when at a party and went so far as to believe if they drank from an amethyst cup they wouldn’t be inebriated at all. Hebrews believed if they wore the stone, they would be protected.

Small amounts of amethyst have been found throughout the world, but the most significant mines can be found in Brazil, Uruguay, Morocco, South Africa, as well as in the United States. 

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The only mine (commercial) in the US is the FOUR PEAKS MINE in Arizona. Amethyst arrowheads have been found nearby this location, proving that the Native Americans knew about this gemstone. It’s thought that some of the gems in the Spanish crown jewels may be from this mine.

Amethyst, a form of quart, is among the most popular gemstones in the world. Its variance in color ranges from the lightest of lavenders to the deepest, richest royal purple. This beautiful stone when cut and tumbled is fashioned into one of a kind pendants, rings, earrings and lapel pins.

It is a very affordable gemstone. It’s durability and price make it

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one of the hot commodities to crafters and jewelry makers world-wide. Amethyst scores a 7 on the Mohs scale (hardness of gemstones) and does not break by cleavage (meaning cleavage is the break of a crystal face where a new face (resulting in a smooth plane) is formed.) 

According to geology.com, “Amethyst crystals grow slowly, and the composition of the waters from which they grow can change over time. As the composition of the water changes, varying amounts of iron are incorporated into the surface of the crystal. Later, radiation emitted by minerals in the surrounding rock modify the iron to produce the purple color. This can cause the crystal to have zones of different color intensity. Each of these zones records a time interval in the growth of the crystal similar to the growth rings of a tree. Although this is geologically interesting, the most preferred amethyst gems have a rich, uniform color.”

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While there is not scientific proof that gemstones hold healing properties, the amethyst is one of the leading gemstones today that are used in healing rituals. It is equated to the “crown” chakra, the seventh chakra said to connect us to the Universe.

Amethyst is a Greek word meaning “awake”. It symbolizes honesty, kindness, peace, good-fortune, peace of mind, and purity. It has long been associated with royalty and is now the favored gem to give as a token of first love. 

In today’s society, many are looking to alternative medicine. Amethyst could be part of that regimen. While amethyst are thought to be the chief stone in protection, they also have many other properties: purifying and cleansing the mind, cleansing the darkness of stress and anxiety, emanating prosperity, facilitating intuition and communication, and an overall state of well-being.

Do not wear your amethysts while cleaning because they could be

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damaged by the solvents you are using. To keep the sparkle in your amethysts, clean them with a mild solution of soap and warm water and use a soft cloth to wipe them dry. If you have amethyst crystals, they can be set out in the sun for a cleansing and infusion of new energy.

For me, amethyst is my favorite gemstone--more than diamonds, more than sapphires, more than emeralds, more than pearls. 

Those born in February tend to be lovers of all things purple…and I certainly fall into that category. 

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