How to Choose the Perfect Amethyst Gemstone
Amethyst is a semi-precious stone and is a pastel variant of violet. It has porcelain colors and ranges from dark blue or light brown to reddish purple. It has been found in Greece, Switzerland and parts of Canada. Typically, it is used in jewelry because it is an affordable option.
This crystal is one of the most popular gemstones around. They were first discovered by ancient Egyptians, and spread quickly through many cultures like the Greeks and Romans. The stone has been used for healing for thousands of years and is still popular today as part of jewelry or in its natural form as a geode.
Amethyst gemstones have a long list of healing properties. These properties can be very powerful and beneficial, easing pain, promoting balance, clearing impurities and offering spiritual insight. It is said that amethysts can help with many emotional problems such as sadness, anxiety or stress - making this stone highly coveted.
This gemstone belongs to another family dynasty of semi precious stones indigenous to Brazil. Although Amethyst can be identified all over the world, they are most abundant and popularly worn in India and USA throughout.
It is a violet variety of quartz that ranges in color from pale to deep purple. It is the traditional birthstone for those born in February, and the modern birthstone for people with the zodiac signs of Pisces or Aries. It is also the anniversary gemstone for married couples celebrating their 11th and 20th anniversaries.
Amethyst was highly appreciated throughout history and found its way into numerous works of art and jewelry masterpieces, including the beautiful pieces embedded in the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun. Because of this, a number of meanings have developed over time that represents different aspects of its character.
Ways to choose the right Amethyst gemstone
The following are the few things that one can consider while choosing the right amethyst gemstone:
1) Clarity of Gemstone
The best type of amethyst is clean and clear to the naked eye. When evaluating amethyst, look at the stone in bright light (natural daylight or artificial light), and observe the gem closely. Inclusions are flaws within the gemstone that may affect the clarity grade of the gem. If there are any external (visible) flaws on your stone, chances are that there will be internal flaws as well. The fewer inclusions the stone has, the better the value for your money.
2) Gemstone Cut
The cut of an amethyst is important, but not as critical as inclusions and clarity. The shape of a particular amethyst can add to its beauty, but you are not going to see the difference between a well-cut amethyst or poorly-cut one unless you get it in your hand. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. Although it has long been valued for its purple shade, there are other varieties of amethyst that have different tints ranging from light to dark lilac. Amethysts can have tone differences within the same crystal, so it's important to look at each stone individually.
3) Treated Amethyst
Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz bearing many of the qualities and characteristics of quartz. Amethyst can be found in different colors such as purple, reddish-violet, blue, yellow, brownish, dark green; its color may range from light to dark. Interestingly, its color is partly due to the heat-treating process. Heat treatment makes amethyst more desirable and attractive than it originally is.
4) Synthetic Amethyst
Synthetic amethyst is a variety of quartz found in almost all countries around the globe. It is created in a lab by irradiation of clear quartz. Production of the gemstone was first initiated in Russia, sometime in the 1840's. However, it was officially commercialized in the mid to late 1900s.
5) Cost-effective
The price of an amethyst ring depends on the carat weight. In gems and jewelry testing, a carat is defined as one-fifth of a gram or 200 milligrams. When you check out online resources, there is an array of pricing for different stone weights based on the carat weight.
According to the industry standard, a one-carat amethyst ring will cost more than double of what a 0.5-carat rings would be priced at. But this estimation is just scratching the surface of available options and prices. Let's dive into the world of amethysts and find out why stones of different weights vary in cost so much, and what determines the final price you'll pay!
Amethyst is used in jewelry making, most commonly carved into beads. It is sometimes also set as gems in jewelry. Although amethyst gemstones are not very common in the market, they are sought out as collectors’ items. Amethyst gemstones can be made into rings, necklaces and earrings, but may not always be immediately recognizable as amethysts.
