10 Interesting Facts About The Amethyst Gemstone

If you are looking for a gorgeous purple colored gemstone, an amethyst is a wonderful choice. Many jewelers design with this gemstone because of it's purple beauty and affordability. To better understand an amethyst let's take a look at the history behind the amethyst, its meaning, the color options and how to care for the stone.

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WHERE WAS THE FIRST AMETHYST GEMSTONE FOUND?

The first amethyst gemstone was found 25,000 years ago in France.

HOW DO YOU CLEAN AN AMETHYST?

An amethyst gemstone can be cleaned with soapy warm water.  Usually cleaning your amethyst in an ultrasonic cleaner is fine. Avoid using a steam system on the gemstone. 

WHAT ARE THE COLOR OPTIONS OF A AMETHYST?

The amethyst gemstone is a crystalline quartz and is known for its hues of purple. The amethyst gemstone colors range from light, pinkish purple stones to deep grape hues.

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF A AMETHYST GEMSTONE?

WHAT IS THE LARGEST AMETHYST IN THE WORLD?

The largest amethyst in the world is the Empress of Uruguay geodes stone. It stands at 3.27 meters high and weighs 2.5 tons. The gemstone was discovered in 2007 in the Artigas department, Uruguay by the Uruguayan mining company Le Stage Minerals.

WHERE DO AMETHYST GEMSTONES COME FROM?

Amethyst are found throughout the world. The gemstone comes from Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and the United States - Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Maine and Colorado. The majority of amethyst are sourced from Brazil and Uruguay.

IS A AMETHYST A PRECIOUS GEMSTONE?

An amethyst is not considered a precious gemstone. The four precious gemstones include the diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald. An amethyst is a semi-precious gemstone. 

WHAT BIRTHSTONE MONTH IS A AMETHYST?

HOW STRONG IS A AMETHYST GEMSTONE?

An amethyst is considered a durable gemstone. It is a 7 on the mohs scale. The Mohs Scale measures the hardness of various minerals from 1 through 10 - one being the softest and ten the hardest. The scale measures all the different minerals based on the Mohs Scale. 

HOW MUCH DOES A AMETHYST COST?

How much does a amethyst costs depends on the quality, size and color of the stone. A amethyst gemstone starts at $20 - $50 per carat. The highest valued amethysts are referred as a "Siberian quality." This type of amethyst exhibits red and blue flashes on deep purple color.

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This blog post is written by California Jewelry Designer, Lisa Ramos
A member of the IGS- International Gem Society. 

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