Sparkling Birthstone Gems Under the Christmas Tree: February Amethysts

One of the loveliest of all the birthstone gems, amethyst has long been ascribed mystical healing powers and soothing properties. Whether cut into sparkling facets, left in polished nugget form, or carved and set in cabochon shape, its lovely purplish hues have captured our imagination.

Amethysts also have a uniquely Canadian connection. Found in the coastal cliffs of the Maritimes, particularly near Parrsboro, NS, in the heart of the Minos Channel fossil grounds, the amethyst gems in nugget form are known as Glooscap's Tears, after a Mi'kmaq legend.

In the Mi'kmaq oral tradition, Glooscap , the first human and mythic hero was created out of the earth and given a soul and spirit by the Sun. According to legend, Glooscap cried tears of amethyst that fell into the Bay of Fundy, washing up on the shores by Parrsboro. If a traveler from Nova Scotia takes one of Gloscap's tears (an amethyst) with them, they will always be able to find their way home.

Amethyst comes from a Greek word, amethusos , meaning not drunk . An ancient Greek legend describes how Bacchus turning a young maiden to stone, and later, in remorse, he poured wine on the statue, staining it purple and creating the gem amethyst.

This gave rise to the notion that amethysts protected against drunkenness. Goblets carved of amethyst were said to prevent whoever drank from it from being overwhelmed by the drink’s spirit.

Amethyst is reputed to be not only the stone of Spirituality and Sobriety, but also the stone of Transformation. It is said to foster healing, selflessness, and is associated with increased nobility, spiritual awareness, inner peace, and positive transformation.

Amethyst is said to bring calmness and clarity, where there is anxiety and confusion, to calm the mind and help us connect with our spirituality.

In the tenth century, Andreas, Bishop of Caesarea, ascribed twelve gemstones of symbolic meaning to the twelve apostles. The amethyst signified the Apostle Matthias.

From as early as A.D. 610, Bishops have worn a ring to denote their special office. Originally, the Bishops' ring was always designed around a single stone - a ruby, an emerald, or a sapphire, and the stone was not engraved. Eventually, though, amethyst gradually became the preferred gemstone because of its spiritual qualities and mystical significance.

According to Josephus (A.D. 37-95), the breastplate worn by the high priest of the temple embodied miraculous powers. In this breastplate were twelve stones, representing twelve angels who guard the gates of Paradise, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and were arranged in four rows to represent the four seasons. The amethyst was the ninth stone in the third row of the twelve gemstones.

A similar embodiment is associated with the amethyst in the Bishop's ring. The amethyst's luminous quality, its color, and its mystical meaning became the reason for its selection as a "protective stone" worn by a Bishop. The violet color denoted not only his compassion, but also his power as a man of God.

Gradually, the Bishop's ring evolved into the traditional modern ring - a single, oval amethyst, with the Bishop's seal carved directly into the gem.

The ring, still worn by Roman Catholic Bishops, is generally worn on the middle finger of the right hand, and is highly visible when the Bishop raises his hand to the blessing. The carved gem was also used as a seal that could be pressed into warm wax, and used to imprint official documents.

The Bishop's ring has always been fashioned of gold, and is usually very heavy. It represents a link beyond the Bishop himself, and a lifelong union with the church. It identifies the Bishop as a successor to the apostles, and symbolically represents the eternal worth of his office.

Amethyst is a macro crystalline variety of quartz, Silicon Dioxide. The purest form of quartz is colorless. The purple color of amethyst derives from small amounts of iron impurities in the crystal structure of the quartz.

Amethyst is classified as a semi-precious yet popular gemstone, in part, because of its abundance in nature. It occurs in different form in different parts of the world, depending how the gemstone was formed.

Amethyst is mined in geode form, and in some parts of the world, such as coastal Nova Scotia, is found in nugget form. The nuggets tend to be generally much smaller than some of the crystalline forms.

Although quartz must always purple to be amethyst, it is also available in an impressive array of purple shades. Intensely colored amethyst may have red flashes or have zones of varying color - this is common in larger crystals and in naturally occurring nugget amethysts.

In nature, amethysts can be found in ge long and prism-like with a six-sided pyramid at either end or as crystalline crusts with only the pointed terminations (druzes).

A premium amethyst is purple, bluish purple to reddish purple in hue, of vivid intensity and medium dark in tone.

Heating the amethyst removes the purple color or converts it to yellow Citrine, another form of quartz.. The iron impurities can be re-oxidized by chemical means and the stone returned to its original color.

The process is called irradiation and may be accomplished either naturally, by the breakdown of elements at the site of the amethysts' crystallization, or by man-made irradiation. As a rule the process is reversible, but there are exceptions.

Exposing an amethyst to extreme heat may alter the existing pattern of iron impurities, causing the amethyst color to be lost completely.

All forms of quartz (including amethyst) are piezoelectric, which have important applications in electronics. This rare property is possessed by only one other gemstone - tourmaline.

The characteristic hardness of amethyst makes it an ideal choice for almost any type of jewelry setting. Normal plating and pickling solutions will not not alter its color or structure.

Though soldering poses no significant problems, care must be taken, as amethyst is sensitive to sudden temperature changes. A persistent or sudden application of heat could cause the gemstone to crack or change color.

Amethysts are sufficiently durable to be worn everyday. The gems do not not break easily, however, sharp blows should be avoided.

Clean your amethyst gemstones with warm water, gentle hand soap and a soft bristle brush.

As well it is wise to avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight as the heat and low-level of radiation will cause the amethysts' rich purple color to fade.

One of the lovely traditions that has come down to us from the early twentieth century is Mothers' birthstone jewelry. Rings, bracelets, brooches, and pendants containing the birthstones of all the children, or grandchildren, are much beloved as a tangible reminder of the children's birth months.

Usually, the mother's or grandmother's birthstone is mounted in the center of the display, and surrounded by those of her children or grandchildren. I have seen many lovely combinations, including an exquisite sluice box (gold nugget) ring from the Yukon.

Whether the amethysts in piece you select are those of the recipient, or one of their children, you can be sure how loved and appreciated your gift will be.

© 2010, text by Elle Fredine, All rights reserved