The Pomegranate Jewellery Guide To Amethyst

February 2023

Amethyst is a stunning gemstone that has been popular for use in jewellery for centuries and is a firm favourite of ours. As it's the birthstone for February, we thought now would be the ideal time to give you more insight and share some facts about this lovely gemstone. Read on to find out more!

Amethyst gemstone guide

When we think of Amethyst, we're most likely to picture a dazzling purple gemstone but did you know that the stone can also be found in a variety of different colours including green?

Amethyst lends itself to some really beautiful jewellery pieces and our range of Amethyst jewellery does a great job of showing just how versatile this stone is and how different it can look depending on its colour, quality, cut and setting,

Facts About Amethyst

Amethyst is the birthstone for February and it's also a gemstone associate with 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

Amethyst is a member of the quartz family and is most typically a violet variety of quartz.

The name comes from the ancient Greek "amethystos," which means "not drunken."

Each crystal inside of an Amethyst Geode has 6 sides.

According to Greek mythology, the god Bacchus became angry at mortals and vowed to unleash his tigers on the first person he encountered. The goddess Diana intervened and turned the person into a clear crystal. Bacchus, feeling remorseful, poured wine over the crystal, staining it purple and creating the first amethyst.

Amethysts are found all over the world, including Brazil, Russia, South Korea, Zambia, and the United States. Currently Brazil is the biggest producer of amethysts, followed by Uruguay and Zambia.

Amethyst geodes found in Uruguay are often deep purple and their crystal points (known as terminations) are frequently bigger than those found in Brazil.

Amethyst is quite a hard gemstone with a Mohs hardness rating of 7 meaning it's able to resist scratches and abrasions well, which makes it a particularly suitable gemstone for everyday jewellery.

The colour variation seen in Amethyst gemstones is caused by the presence of trace elements such as iron and manganese, as well as the amount of natural irradiation that the crystal has been exposed to. However, treatments such as heating or irradiation can also enhance the colour of Amethysts.

Give the name, The Empress of Uruguay, the biggest Amethyst Geode in the world is a massive 3.27 meters tall and it weighs 2.5 tonnes or 393 stone. That's 3 and a half times heavier than a cow to put it into perspective.

Amethyst Colours

Although typically light lilac through to deep purple in colour, Amethyst gemstones can be found in a range of different colours.

Here at Pomegranate we love green Amethyst which come in a huge array of different hues, from the very slightest hint of blue/green, through to deeper blue/green hues like that seen in our lovely Ayla Green Amethyst Round Ring.

Amethyst Care Instructions

Amethyst is a relatively hard and durable gemstone but it will require proper care to maintainit.

Don't explose Amethyst to harsh chemicals as it can be damaged by things like bleach, ammonia and other household cleaners.
We'd recommend limiting exposure to swimming pools or hot tubs as chlorinated water over time can cause damage.
Maintain the luster of your amethyst jewellery by cleaning it regularly using a mild soap and warm water solution. Use a soft damp cloth and then leave to air dry.
When your amethyst jewellery is not being worn, store it inside a soft pouch or jewellery box to help protect it from dust and scratches.
Exposure to extreme temperatures can damage amethyst, so try to avoid exposuing your jewellery to rapid changes in temperature.