Jet of the Day 2/1/12 - Rustic Rock Jewelry

The February Birthstone - Amethyst

Rustic Rock Jewelry

The modern birthstone for February is Amethyst, with acceptable alternative choices being black onyx, moonstone; or most purple gemstones. 

This seductive gemstone, of all gemstones, is said to protect its wearer against seduction.  It is often used as an engagement ring with this ancient belief in mind.  The Greeks believed that amethyst would prevent them from becoming drunk and the word amethystos means sober. Even today Amethyst is used to provide a reminder to those who struggle with an addiction to alcohol.

The Brass Hussy - Gold Amethyst Earrings

Amethyst is the most popular crystalline quartz for jewelry and is considered  a semi-precious gemstone.

Foret - Amethyst and Peacock Pearl Earrings

The color of Amethyst is attributed to certain iron constituents in connection with natural radioactive radiation.  Not all amethyst is purple. There are also lavender, reddish-purple, bluish-purple, dark purple, and a brownish-black color. 

Rustic Rock Jewelry - Amethyst Crystal Necklace

 Green quartz is very commonly known as green Amethyst, but is actually Prasiolite. 

bytheseagemdesigns - Green Amethyst Earrings

In its purest form, Amethyst is colorless or transparent, allowing light to pass through unhindered. The top quality, most expensive Amethyst is a deep medium color of purple with rose-colored flashes, found only in Siberia.

Citrine

Many people have come to know  Citrine under the name gold topaz, or Madeira or Spanish topaz. It is often referred to as the birthstone of November, which is, in fact, Topaz. Citrine has nothing to do with Topaz but it does have something to do with Amethyst.  

Rustic Rock Jewelry (sold)

 Citrine is actually somewhat rare in nature. Most citrines on the market have been heat treated. Specimens of Amethyst or smoky quartz are often heated to high temperatures to produce more profitable orange yellow citrine. 

Little Brown Bird - Citrine Nugget Charm Necklace

Silver Smack - Wire Wrapped Citrine Silver Earrings

As mentioned, citrines whose colors are produced by artificial means have much more of an orange or reddish color than those found in nature; these  are usually a pale yellow. Much of  natural citrine may have started out as amethyst but heat from nearby magmatic bodies may have caused the change to citrine.

Ametrine

Ametrine, in nature,  is a rare and unusual bicolour yellow and purple quartz gemstone,  which occurs in quartz when amethyst and citrine reside in the same crystal.

StoutDG - Ametrine Wire Wrapped Sterling Pendant

CSerpent 10mm Ametrine Destash

The Ametrine that we commonly see on the market is a mixture of half amethyst and half citrine, made by heating an amethyst until it turns into citrine, then irradiating a part of the resulting crystal or gemstone to convert that portion back to amethyst.

Sort of Related Interesting Tidbit:

Quartz varieties (along with Citrine) that form large crystals)

• Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.
• Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
• Prasiolite is a leek-green variety.
• Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
• Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
• Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.

Happy February everyone. Happy Birthday to all the February babies. May you receive lots of Amethyst goodies :)

        Norah

      Gus and Tina