An
amethyst is a variety of
the quartz. It is
the traditional
birthstone of
February.
Designers celebrate
amethysts for their
regal color, variety of
sizes and shapes,
affordability, and wide
tonal range from light
to dark purple.
Purple
has long been considered
a royal color, so it is
not surprising that
amethyst has been so
much in demand
throughout
history. Fine
amethysts are featured
in the British Crown
Jewels and were also a
favorite of Catherine
the Great and Egyptian
royalty. Great
thinkers like Leonardo
da Vinci believed that
amethyst could dissipate
evil thoughts and
quicken the
intelligence.
