The word “amethyst” comes from the Greek word amethystos, which means “a treatment against drunkenness,” a quality that has long been associated with the purple birthstone. Early Greek mythology connected the gem with Bacchus, the deity of wine, because of its wine-like tint. Additionally, amethyst was thought to maintain its wearer logical and astute in both combat and professional situations. It was believed by Renaissance Europeans to calm lovers overcome by passion.
The jewel that is customarily given at the sixth wedding anniversary is amethyst. You’ll be in regal company if you don it in honor of your wedding or as your birthstone for February. Empress Catherine II of Russia (17291796), known as Catherine the Great, loved the gemstone and adorned herself with amethyst necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry. Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (18961986), a well-known jewelry enthusiast, created a lasting impression in 1953 when she attended a gala in Versailles wearing a pricey amethyst bib necklace by Cartier.
In This Article...
What are February’s two birthstones?
We in New England are firmly covered in a layer of snow as February descends. The birthstones for February offer a pleasant glow in the midst of winter’s gloomy days and still-long nights. This month, you have a few fantastic options if you’re looking for a gift for someone who was born in February. Let’s look at two gorgeous birthstone possibilities for people born in February: amethyst and jasper.
What gemstone is considered fortunate in February?
Amethyst. Everywhere in the world, one can find amethyst, a purple quartz that is a stunning combination of violet and red. The word for “intoxicated” in Ancient Greek is methustos, from which the name was derived. People in ancient times who wore the gemstone thought it might keep them sober.
Why is the birthstone for February amethyst?
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, beautiful purple amethysts have been cherished. The Greeks connected these stones with the wine god Bacchus because of their hue, which resembled grapes. Since the word “amethyst” in ancient Greek meant “not drunk,” they believed that wearing one might keep you sober. Amethyst jewelry, according to gemstone lore, makes its owner wise and logical. Amethysts are said to increase intelligence and shield against negative thoughts, according to the artist Leonardo da Vinci.
Amethysts are widely used in royal and holy jewelry because purple has traditionally been regarded as a regal color due to its rare beauty and the high cost of producing the color for cloth. Amethyst is a gemstone that is frequently used in Tibetan prayer beads because it is thought by Buddhists to improve concentration. Amethyst has been equated by many civilizations with courage, tranquility, and harmony. It has also been said to be able to treat sleeplessness and ease pain.
Amethysts were as valuable and costly as emeralds, sapphires, and rubies until the 19th century, when a significant amethyst resource was found in Brazil. Large amethysts were able to be utilized more frequently in jewelry thanks to the abundance of Brazilian gems, despite the fact that this decreased the gems’ financial value. The Art Deco and Retro eras’ striking cocktail rings frequently feature them.
What does the birthstone for February look like?
The birthstone for February is amethyst, a form of quartz with a stunning purple color that ranges from a combination of deep violet and red to a lighter lilac hue. Ancient Greeks thought that wearing the stone prevented intoxication and helped the wearer maintain a level head.
What birthstone has the rarest stone?
While some birthstones are more accessible than others, precious gemstones in particular are thought to be relatively scarce. However, given that some really expensive stones are not all that rare and vice versa, price tags can be deceiving when it comes to rarity. For instance, although expensive, April’s diamond is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. Speaking of alexandrite, it is now the most expensive and rarest gemstone on the list of birthstones. Additionally extremely rare, black opals are.
Birthstones provide an intriguing way to select jewelry. They enable people to investigate jewels that they might otherwise avoid. However, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you are buying birthstone jewelry for the right reasons while making your selection.
What birthstone has the best omens?
It is regarded as a gemstone that stimulates imagination and creativity. Some people believe that wearing an opal brings bad luck to anyone born in a different month. But that specific superstition originates from a novel from the 1800s (Sir Walter Scott’s Anne of Geierstein), not from any old beliefs or experiences. Because it may display all colors, opal has actually been considered throughout the majority of history as the luckiest and most mystical of all jewels.
What color is the birthstone for February?
The purple form of quartz known as amethyst, which has mesmerized people for millennia, is your birthstone if you were born in February. It may be mined as well as made in a lab, and its lavender to deep purple hues can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. The royal families of Asia and Europe have amethyst jewelry in their collections, which is the birthstone for February. Now, the majority of people can afford it. Consider purchasing a magnificent amethyst for the monarch of your heart or reward yourself with a regal gift. Wearing an amethyst can also be a sign of inner strength and self-empowerment if your birthday is in February.
Is it lucky to wear a birthstone?
The birthstones that we currently identify with particular months were not always utilized hundreds of years ago. They originally had a connection to the 12 stones that could be seen on the breastplate of the Israelite High Priest as reported in the Book of Exodus.
A stone’s color used to be considered to be its most significant characteristic, hence, for example, there was little semantic difference between a garnet and a ruby.
The names given to stones in the past might not correspond to the stones we think of now when we hear their names:
- What we now know as lapis was probably once called sapphire.
- Most likely, the diamonds were white sapphire or topaz.
Birthstone jewelry is believed to bring protection, good health, and luck. Ancient astrologers believed that some gemstones had mystical properties.
What does the amethyst represent?
Perhaps some of the first Christians connected the amethyst with Christ because of its reputation for taming physical desires. The purple hues of the diamond symbolized spiritual purity. Its crimson and purple tones symbolized how pain chastens and purifies. Some people thought the hues made reference to Christ’s wounds and suffering. Amethysts were so employed to speed the recovery from injuries.
Amethysts have metaphysical overtones in many cultures. Some people think that amethyst, which is frequently regarded as a stone of peace, induces peaceful dreams by putting the dreamer in closer contact with the Divine. The awake mind is similarly characterized by its calmness and clarity. Amethysts are reputed to promote free thought in both the mental and spiritual realms. This diamond is frequently kept by psychics along with their tarot cards or other oracular tools.
Is amethyst a valuable gemstone?
- The most popular and expensive gemstone in the quartz family is amethyst.
- In its finest form, amethyst is colorless and ranges in hue from violet to pale red-violet. The most expensive stones have homogeneous, rich, and cloudless tones.
- Dark, single-shaded amethyst in large slices is extremely rare.
- Amethyst has a peculiar structure that results in uneven hue in the stone, despite the gemstone’s weight and light refraction being comparable to those of other quartzes. Banding, or areas of light and dark color, is a typical occurrence.