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Birthstone of the month

Amethyst

February's purple birthstone has been found among the possessions of royalty throughout the ages.   The intense violet hue of amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this colour.  Purple dye was scarce and expensive at one time, and so it was reserved for the garments of kings and queens.   Amethyst has been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning crowns, scepters, jewellery and breastplates worn into battle.  A large Amethyst is among the closely guarded gemstones in the British Crown Jewels.

Once considered more valuable than diamonds, Amethyst is a member of the quartz family, occurring naturally as crystals within rocks.   Deposits of this gemstone are found in Brazil, Canada, Australia, India, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka and in the United States.

This gemstone has tremendous healing and mysterious powers, which makes Amethyst jewellery very popular.   Amethyst when worn as jewellery adds spirituality to the entire panache of the wearer.
It tends to induce positive feelings in an individual and brings luck, prosperity, happiness and peace of mind to its wearer.

Care of Amethyst:

With regular and daily use, amethyst can lose its sheen.   It is imperative for Amethyst jewellery owners to take its proper care.   A jewellery box or armoire is ideal for storage of your good jewellery. When exercising, remove your Amethyst rings, bracelet and pendants as excessive sweat can lead to oil and dirt deposits on the jewellery.   You may also use mild soap and warm water to clean them.
You should also remove your precious jewellery embellished with Amethyst, while swimming because the chlorine in the pool can damage its shine and brilliant hue.

Looking for a good Amethyst, examine the colour of the gemstone first.  The deep and rich violet coloured stones will be the most expensive while the lighter colours will be more affordable.