Amethysts Gemstones
Amethysts gemstones are the purple variety of quartz and have been a very popular gemstone through the ages. Amethyst (a commonly miss spelling is Amythiest) comes from the Greek word, amethustos ,and means, “not drunk” or “not drunken”, and may have come from a old belief that amethyst will ward of drunkenness.
Although amethysts are purple there is a wide variety of shades and hues and some of the deep purple amethysts are very striking in their color and beauty. There are many different amethysts unique to each of various locations. Checking out the location list in the, ‘where do Amethysts come from?’ link will quickly point out the diversity and range of amethysts available.
Amethysts usually occur as crystals, sometimes long prismatics with a six sided pyramid at each end. The color can vary with the deeper rich violets being the most popular.
As gemstones go Amethysts are cheaper than many others and this is mostly do to it not being particularly rare. However, rarity is not the criteria for admiring beauty and even though the amethyst is quite common it is nevertheless a very beautiful gemstone. It is possible to get a very nice large stone for a good price.
Amethysts make great gemstones for rings, earrings, pendants and broaches. Browsing around to find the best amethyst for you is a good idea and Amethysts can get grimey as much as any other gemstone but can be easily kept in good condition. A regular gentle wash in warm soapy water, rinsed and then dried well is all that is required. The use of detergents and chemicals is not advised as they may have an adverse affect on the gemstone as well as the setting it is in so insuring you know what the quality and size is, is important.
Provided one looks after one’s amethysts gemstones, they will provide in return much pleasure through the years.