Natural lavender amethyst 5.43ct fancy marquise cut loose gemstone for jewelry

Natural Amethyst Gemstones

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (SiO2), colored by traces of iron combined with natural irradiation within the earth. With a Mohs hardness of 7 it is durable enough for everyday jewelry, and it is the best-known member of the quartz family, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet with flashes of red.

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Gemstone guide

Natural Amethyst Gemstones

About amethyst

Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and its name comes from the ancient Greek word amethystos, meaning not intoxicated. Brazil and Uruguay are the main sources today, and Zambia is known for deep, dark material. Its color often forms in zones or bands rather than evenly through the crystal, which cutters take into account when shaping each stone. Amethyst is heat-sensitive: at higher temperatures its purple can turn yellow or orange, which is how most citrine on the market is produced, and ametrine is quartz that combines amethyst and citrine zones in one crystal.

Did you know?

Until the 19th century amethyst was as expensive as ruby and emerald. Then large deposits were found in South America and its price fell.

The Empress of Uruguay, one of the largest amethyst geodes known, stands 3.27 m tall and weighs about 2.5 tonnes. It is at the Crystal Caves museum in Australia.

How to recognise amethyst

Amethyst usually shows color zoning: look through the side of the stone and you will often see straight bands or angular patches of deeper and lighter purple. Fine inclusions that look like tiger stripes or thumbprints are typical of natural amethyst, and it shows weak dichroism in purple and reddish purple. Its hardness of 7 and density of about 2.65 separate it from purple glass and from heavier stones such as purple sapphire or spinel.

Caring for amethyst

Clean amethyst with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Long exposure to strong sunlight or heat can fade its color, so store it away from direct sun, and avoid steam cleaning and sudden temperature changes.

Every amethyst is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.