Amethyst

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.