February 18, 2020

February: Amethyst

As we enter the month of LOVE, I'd like to remind you that the birthstone for February is Amethyst, the purple variety of Quartz and possibly, a cure to your hangover (I'll explain that later). It's a beautiful, romantic purple hue that is widely accepted and liked.

I've always wondered why the birthstone of February is not red, in light of Valentine's Day. However, I've concluded that birthstones are intended for a celebration of birthdays, and we should embrace just that, separating it from any holiday or other celebration.

It has been said that wearing amethyst can be symbolic of personal empowerment and inner strength. History shows that Royal families of Europe and Asia have used Amethyst in their jewelry for many years.

So the name “amethyst” is derived from the Greek word amethystos. Amethystos in Greek means “a remedy against drunkenness,” a benefit that has been long attributed to the amethyst birthstone, hence the "cure to hangover" remark mentioned earlier.

Amethyst also happens to be the gemstone for another milestone: the 6th Wedding Anniversary. There are so many beautiful shades of Amethyst that look great in both white and yellow gold settings.

Amethyst Care and Cleaning tips:

On the Mohs scale of hardness, Amethyst ranks 7, which is pretty hard, making it appropriate for daily wear in your jewelry. However, we still recommend wearing all gemstones with caution as they could scratch and although rare, given the right amount of pressure, they can even break.
At your local jewelry store, Amethyst can be cleaned in the ultrasonic. If you'd like to clean your amethyst jewelry at home, we recommend using warm soapy water and a soft bristle brush.

Our Amethyst Jewelry Picks (click images to shop):