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History
and Lore
A royal
purple admired by Kings and Queens for centuries, amethyst
is an affordable luxury. Its color and durability have made
it one of the world’s most popular gems.
Quality,
Value & Availability
The colour
of amethyst ranges from “pale lilac” (sometimes called “Rose
de France”) to deep purple. A rich purple with rose flashes
is considered the finest colour.
Amethyst
is relatively common, affordable, and can be found in large
sizes in a variety of gem cuts and shapes.
There is a
synthetic amethyst that is grown in labs in Russia, China
and other places. It often takes a gemological laboratory
like GIA’s Gem Laboratory to separate it from natural
amethyst, so use care when buying from questionable sources.
Sources
Mined
mainly in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Tanzania, Zambia, small
amounts of Amethyst are also found in the United States in
Arizona at the Four Peaks mine near Phoenix.
Routine
Enhancements
Dark
material may be heated to lighten colour.
Care &
Cleaning
Amethyst
is the mineral quartz, with a hardness of Mohs scale. It’s
durable and great for everyday wear.
Avoid
exposure to heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight, which
may bleach the colour.
Clean with
mild dish soap in warm water: use a toothbrush to scrub to
scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.
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