AMETHYST

gcr.edu.vn 12 October, 2018
5/5 - (1 vote)

AMETHYST The essence of the color purple, amethyst is beautiful enough for crown jewels yet affordable enough for class rings.

OVERVIEW

ABOUT AMETHYST

Amethyst was as expensive as ruby and emerald until the 19th Century, when Brazil’s large deposits were discovered. It was believed to prevent intoxication—amethystos means “not drunk” in ancient Greek. Today, as the most valued quartz variety, amethyst is in demand for designer pieces and mass-market jewelry alike, and its purple to pastel hues retain wide consumer appeal.

BIRTHSTONES & ANNIVERSARIES

Amethyst is the birthstone for February and the gem for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

ST. VALENTINE

The patron of romantic love wore an amethyst ring carved with the image of Cupid.

CAMILLO LEONARDI

The astrologer wrote that amethyst quickens intelligence and gets rid of evil thoughts.

164 POUNDS

Single amethyst crystals can be huge: the GIA Museum displayed a doubly terminated crystal that weighed 164 pounds.

FACTS

  • Mineral: Quartz
  • Chemistry: SiO2
  • Color: Purple
  • Refractive Index: 1.544 to 1.553
  • Birefringence: 0.009
  • Specific Gravity: 2.66
  • Mohs Hardness: 7

QUALITY FACTORS

Assessment of the following characteristics determines amethyst’s value.

COLOR

The finest amethyst color is strong reddish purple to purple with no visible color zoning.

CLARITY

Most amethyst doesn’t have inclusions you can see without magnification.

CUT

Amethyst is cut into a variety of standard calibrated shapes, including rounds and ovals.

CARAT WEIGHT

Amethyst is available in all size ranges for setting into a variety of jewelry styles.

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