February birthstone: amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, colored by iron and natural gamma radiation. Until major Brazilian deposits were discovered in the 19th century, amethyst was rarer than ruby — the Romans, the Greeks, and the British Crown all reserved it for royalty. Today it’s one of the most accessible fine gemstones.

That accessibility hasn’t diluted its appeal. A well-cut, deeply- saturated amethyst is still one of the most striking purple stones on earth.

Color

Amethyst color ranges from pale lavender to deep violet, with the most prized stones showing a slight red modifier called “Siberian color” in trade slang (the original deposit, long since exhausted). Color is the entire ballgame:

Origin

• Uruguay (Artigas) — produces the deepest, most saturated violet. Premium pricing within the amethyst market.
• Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) — high-volume source. Wide range from pale to deep.
• Zambia (Kariba) — known for an unusual blue-violet hue.
• Russia (historical) — the original “Siberian” reference stones. Functionally extinct as a current source.

Origin matters less for amethyst than for high-end stones like sapphire or emerald; color quality dominates pricing.

Treatments

Most amethyst is sold untreated — heat treatment turns amethyst into citrine, which is why citrine is also November’s birthstone. If you see “heated amethyst” on a sticker, it’s an honest mistake — heating destroys amethyst color rather than improving it. Untreated is the trade default.

Daily wear

At Mohs 7, amethyst is the threshold of comfortable daily wear. Set in a bezel or partial-halo for daily rings; prongs are fine for less- worn pieces. Avoid harsh chemicals (pool chlorine in particular) and prolonged sun exposure, which can fade saturation over decades.

Ultrasonic cleaners are safe for clean amethyst; skip them on stones with visible inclusions.