Amethyst, February’s birthstone, the Greek word "amethystos" translated as "not drunken." Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved and adorned with it!

Purple has long been considered a royal color and amethyst is considered the reason that purple is associated with royalty. Many monarchs have decorated significant and personal pieces with amethyst. Ancient Egyptian rulers also had a marked desire for the stone. Some of the most exquisite amethyst stones adorn the British Crown Jewels. Catherine the Great was known for her fondness of this precious stone.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. During the middle ages, the stone became popular among the Catholic clergy, as it was believed that the anti-intoxicating properties of the gem would help them maintain their vows. Other religions, like Buddhism, also attached importance to the stone.

Amethyst is available in a wide range of calibrated sizes and shapes, including many fancy shapes. Large fine stones may be sold in free sizes but generally amethyst is cut in standardized dimensions.

Chemical composition – An oxide of silicon coloredby iron.

Color – Amethyst occurs in all ranges of purple—from a nearly colorless pastel lilac to deep, rich, well-saturated bluish purple to purple. Intensely colored amethyst may have red flashes. Amethyst can show a tendency to be color zoned.
 

Durability – Amethyst is sufficiently hard to be used in a variety of jewelry items and can be worn confidently with-out concern for wear or damage.

Toughness – Good. Amethyst has no cleavage planes.
 
Stability – Amethyst has no problem when subjected to ultrasonic cleaning, steam cleaning, or normal plating and pickling solutions.

Crystal structure – Hexagonal.

Sources – Major sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Zambia, and the U.S.

Enhancements – Amethyst is not regularly enhanced. Infrequently, it may be heated to lighten overly dark material.