Entering February, it is inevitable to talk about this month’s birthstone – amethyst, which is also one of the symbols of the twelve apostles of Jesus. This ancient necklace can be traced back to 2000 BC. The inscriptions on the main stone can be traced back to the 8th century BC in Southern Arabic. -Lance Grande and Allison Augustyn published in “Gems and Gemstones: Timeless Natural Beauty of the Mineral World” in 2009, University of Chicago Press.
Amethyst, the name derived from the Greek word amethystos, means “not drunk” and has long been believed to have the function of preventing drunkenness. Due to the wine like color of amethyst, early Greek mythology associated this gemstone with the god of wine, Bacchus. People also believe that wearing amethyst can keep one’s mind clear and quick witted in war and business. Europeans during the Renaissance believed that amethyst could calm down lovers who were overwhelmed by passion. According to tradition, the gemstone given on the sixth wedding anniversary is amethyst. Wearing amethyst to celebrate a happy marriage, or as a February birthday stone, with royal friends: Catherine the Great (Russian Empress Catherine II, 1729-1796) owned an amethyst pendant and also wore necklaces, earrings, and other accessories set with amethyst.
The legend of amethyst also includes some claims about mysterious powers, such as the ability to transmit power and wisdom to the wearer. Before the discovery of large mineral deposits in Brazil in the 19th century, Russia had always been a major producer of amethyst, and amethyst, which was once as rare as rubies and emeralds, suddenly became abundant. Nowadays, the most important production areas for amethyst are in Africa and South America. Brazil remains a major supplier, especially in its southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, although the amethyst raw stones mined here are lighter in color than those found in other countries. Amethyst produced in Brazil sometimes forms large hollow crystal cavities throughout the crystal, large enough to accommodate you standing inside.
The Annecy mineral deposit is located in the Pantanal wetland and has a fascinating legend. Many faceted amethysts on the market are ‘flawless to the naked eye’, meaning they have no visible inclusions. If the gemstone is brightly colored and of high quality, gemstone professionals may overlook minor inclusions. This material is usually used for convex gemstones or carvings. The visible inclusions in the light and soft colored gemstones greatly reduce their value.
