Amethyst
Name
Did you know that the name comes from the greek words "a" (not) and "methystos" (intoxicating), which means "counteracting the intoxication".
So "Amethystos" means "not drunk". Back in the days it was believed that wearing an amethyst would protect you from drunkenness.
Colour
The color of an amethyst ranges from pink, light violet to a dark violet and is produced by the trace element iron. The purple can be cool and bluish, or a reddish purple that's sometimes referred to as raspberry. The darker the color, the more valuable the gemstone is. By firing at temperatures above 470 ° C, the amethyst can also accept green, light yellow, reddish brown or colorless hues.
Cut
The amethyst is usually cut in cabochon form or in different faceted forms.
Cabochon cut: This shape is an unfaceted, round or oval cut, in which the underside is flat and the top is arched outwards. The cabochon cut accentuates and enhances the shimmer inherent in the stone's structure. Those shimmers are especially vivid in cat's eye quartz, falcon and tiger's eye, moonstone and opals.
Faceted cut: There is wide variety of faceted cuts - some of them are displayed in the picture to your right.
Power
The amethyst used to be considered as an effective gem against drunkenness, which is probably in connection with the Greek meaning of his name as mentioned above. It is also said to have a calming effect on the heart and nerves, to improve the ability to concentrate and to work against migraines and stress symptoms. It also stands for warmth and security and promotes flexibility and cooperation. So I would say the perfect stone to wear for work in order to concentrate better, feel less stressed and be more cooperative with your colleagues.
Birthstone
The amethyst is the birthstone of February. So if it is yourself who is born in February or your better half, friend or family member the amethyst will surley fit you just perfectly.
Mineral group
The Amethyst belongs to the quartz family, such as the citrine, the rose quartz or the tiger's eye. Also interesting to know: The quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the earth's crust after the feldspar.
Locations
The most beautiful amethysts are found in Brazil. But also in Uruguay, Madagascar, India, Canada, Mexico, Zambia, the USA and other deposits the amethyst is mined. And they even can be found in Idar-Oberstein in Germany which is the gemstone capital of Germany.
Mohs scale
The Mohs hardness describes the hardness of a mineral on a scale of 1 to 10 and is named after its inventor, the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs (1773 - 1839). It is the basis of the hardness test. Friedrich Mohs scored various minerals against each other and arranged them according to their hardness. The scale consists of a series of 10 minerals, each of which "scratches" all standing in front of him. Diamonds have a Mohs hardness of 10 and are therefore the hardest minerals.
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1 + 2 can be scratched with the bare fingernail
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1 - 5 can be scratched with the knife
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6 - 10 can be scratched with pane
The amethyst has hardness 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Care
Please be aware that most gemstones should not be exposed to direct sunlight for too long since they will gradually bleach and loose their vibrant color. The best way to care for an amethyst is to clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually safe except in rare instances where a stone is dyed or treated by fracture filling.
Not recommended: Steam cleaning and subject to heat.
Combination
The amethyst fits perfectly with silver, white gold or platinum. Pared with elegant or sportive white or purplish cloths will support the stunning shades of amethyst even more and underline the freshness and intensity of this stone.