Amethyst, the Gemstone of Royalty

Amethyst was among the five cardinal stones such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphire, until the discovery of Amethyst in huge amounts in Brazil and other areas of the world. The abundance of Amethyst makes it easy to find and available to most people. Although amethyst is considered a semi-precious stone now, it still holds an important status in the gemstone family.

Amethyst is the birthstone of February, and it is the stone of tranquillity. Buying a gold necklace with an amethyst pendant is an excellent option for your February-born friend. It is also the stone of the 6th anniversary.

This birthstone has a great position in several cultures' spiritual and religious beliefs. For example, in Christianity, the churchmen and priests used amethyst in their rings, as it is believed that it is sacred and has great power to maintain a sober state of mind. In Greek and Roman mythology, the use of amethyst in wine goblets was popular as amethyst was believed to prevent intoxication. Still, nowadays, some believe that amethyst is good for addiction treatments.

In Tibet, Buddhist priests use amethyst beads to reach high levels of spirituality during meditation. As amethyst has a great influence on the third eye & crown chakras. The soldiers in the mediaeval times wore helmets of amethyst for protection.

So what is the amethyst, and what are its healing properties?

Amethyst is a member of the quartz family of lavender & purple hue. It is created in the cavities of volcanic rocks. When these rocks cool down, the saturated water and gases get crystalized. Amethyst is formed when these crystals harden.

Unlike many stones, the value of amethyst lies in its deep colour, not the carat. Therefore, a ring with an amethyst stone of deep colour is more expensive than a ring with an amethyst stone of a light purple colour, even if the latter is larger in size.

The charm of this February birthstone is its healing properties. Till today, amethyst holds a special place among the gemstones due to its properties. For example, the stone brings tranquillity, and clearness of mind and pulls away negativity and fear. It is believed that it helps in getting better sleep and good dreams. Furthermore, it empowers the wearer with braveness, wisdom and creativity.

Many royals of ancient times used amethyst in their personal jewellery, such as necklaces, crowns, rings, etc., to feel calmness and wisdom. Also, in ancient civilizations such as The Greek, Roman and ancient Egypt, amethyst was the stone of royalty and notable people only. Common people were not allowed to own it and could not afford it. Even though amethyst is available to everyone nowadays, it still maintains its high-level status and is loved by royal members of this time, such as the British & Swedish royal families.