| , a transparent purple variety of quartz, is one of the most popular of the colored stones. Once believed to bring peace of mind to the wearer, it was also thought to prevent the wearer from getting drunk, and if the circle of the sun or moon was engraved thereon, amethyst was believed to prevent death from poison.
Available in shades from light to dark purple, this February birthstone is relatively hard, fairly brilliant, and overall a good, versatile, wearable stone, available in plentiful supply even in very large sizes (although large sizes with deep color are now becoming scarce). Generally, amethyst from South America tends to be available in larger sizes than African amethyst but amethyst from Africa has the reputation for having better, more saturated, color in small sizes. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, is also mined in Australia. The preferred African amethyst, though less plentiful and smaller than Brazilian, comes in a beautiful deep purple with reddish overtones. Amethyst ranges in color from pale lilac to deep purple. The pale colors are sometimes called "Rose de France" and can be seen set in Victorian jewelry. The deep colors are the most valuable; particularly a rich purple with rose flashes
Specifications:
- Color: Light to dark purple
- Transparency: Transparent to opaque
- Refractive Index: 1.544 - 1.553 DR
- Specific Gravity: 2.65 - 2.66
- Florescence: None to weak green
- Hardness: 7
- Toughness: Good
- Principle Sources: Brazil, Africa, but found in
Uruguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Arizona
Now Only $260.00 USD with Freight/Insurance Included nucow.com Item #0102
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