Discover facts about amethyst and everything you need to know about using this gemstone in your beaded jewelry designs.
Amethyst is a very popular gemstone with beaders and jewelry makers due to its rich purple hue – and it’s definitely my favorite gemstone!
It is the birthstone for February. Part of the quartz family, amethyst is a common crystal, mined from the USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, East Africa, Siberia and India. Most sources today come from Africa and South America.
Amethyst is a relatively hard stone, with a rating of 7 on the Mohs scale. It may be found as a geode, cluster or single point. In bead form, it is often used as round, polished beads, cut stone or faceted beads or pendants.
The colors of amethyst
A clear stone; the colors of amethyst range from light lilac to dark purple. It can show color zoning – such as fades of color within the stone or even as bands.
Watch out for dyed amethyst, which may be paler amethyst that has been artificially dyed to make it stronger in color, or clear quartz, which has been dyed purple. A giveaway sign of dyed amethyst is dye pooled in cracks and crevices, creating unnaturally uniform darker lines, whereas natural amethyst has variations in color and inclusions.
Heat treating can also be used to intensify the purple color too. When heat-treated to a high temperature, amethyst can turn orange/yellow – this can lead it to be misclassified and sold as Citrine.
Using amethyst in jewelry
Amethyst is a relatively hard-wearing stone – making it ideal for day-to-day jewelry such as rings, necklaces and pendants – it may just need a polish over time. While a fairly hard stone, you’ll want to avoid using amethyst in jewelry next to harder stones, such as diamonds or garnet, to avoid scratches on the amethyst. If you are stringing amethyst with harder stones, using spacer beads in between will help prevent wear on the stones. Amethyst can fade in direct sunlight.
Amethyst stone benefits
Some people attribute certain qualities to gemstones – and amethyst is thought to be a powerful and protective stone. It is thought to be useful for attracting positive energy, facilitating decision-making, and promoting emotional centering. It is associated with the third eye and crown chakras.
