Jewellery

Amethyst

Amethyst is in the quartz family and ranges from the lightest violet to a deep dark purple. The amethyst gets its colour from iron being in the area where the quartz is growing. As with most stones the brighter the colour, the more expense the piece. The very pale and very dark stones at either end of the spectrum are the cheapest shades. It has a good clarity and sparkle and we can source it in most shapes and sizes so a really nice stone to experiment with. 

The name amethyst comes from the Koine Greek amethystos meaning "intoxicate" a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.

Colours: All shades from pale lilac to deep purple

Mohs scale: 7

Crystal Formation: Six-sided prism ending in a six sided pyramid. 

Country of origin: Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, France, Namibia and Morocco.