Crystal Of The Month: Amethyst
Deriving from the Ancient Greek word amethystos, amethyst, is one of the most popular crystals worldwide. With a pallet of beautiful colors and formations as well as its gentle calming properties, Amethyst lends itself to many natural and artistic uses. Being much sought after this versatile gemstone is a great addition to your inventory.
Quick Facts About Amethyst
Typically purple in color, this February birthstone is known for its durability and lasting brilliance, making it ideal for various uses. Its most popular uses include:
- Jewelry
- Insets on carved objects
- Sculptures
- Natural home decor
History
People have revered this purple gemstone for thousands of years. It is first described in ancient Greek writings. Amethystos in Greek means to not be intoxicated and was worn or infused into cups by the Ancient Greeks to prevent intoxication. According to Greek mythology, amethyst owes its purple color to the Greek god of grape and wine, Dionysius. While there are several versions of the tale there are some consistencies among the legend.
Dionysius was uncontrollably pursuing a beautiful mortal woman named Amethyst who fearing for her chastity and or life cried out to the Goddess Artemis for help. Hearing her cry Artemis turned her into a pure white crystalline stone to protect her. When Dionysius realized what he had done he shed tears for Amethyst and poured wine over her pale white stone figure as an offering. The wine turned the stone purple.
Many other cultures have revered the stone as well. The Ancient Egyptians carved Amethyst into animal-like amulets for protection. Amethyst is also mentioned in the bible as one of the stones adorning the high priests breastplate in Exodus. In the Middle Ages, amethyst was a symbol of royalty which still holds true today.
Location
Amethyst is a crystal that forms in geodes typically found in volcanic rocks. As volcanic rocks cool, cavities (or geodes) may form. As the volcanic materials, gases, and mineral-saturated water cool, crystal forms. When the crystal structures harden, they become this beautiful purple crystalline gem.
You can find these stunning crystals throughout the world. However, the most common location is South America, with Brazil being the largest exporter. Other countries known for their reserves of this crystal include:
- Siberia
- Uruguay
- Namibia
- Sri Lanka
- The United States
- Australia
Properties
This gemstone is known for both its physical and healing properties.
Physical
Amethyst is a type of quartz with a purple hue. Amethyst can form as natural points, crystals, clusters, and geodes. The color can range from deep to light lilac purple and or reddish purple depending on the amount of iron and other minerals present. Amethyst, when hearted by nature or man, turns into Citrine.
Amethyst is known for its durability. With a seven on the Mohs Hardness scale, they are ideal for carving sculptures or crafting bracelets, rings, earrings, and other jewelry. Its durability allows jewelers to cut it in a variety of different ways, including:
- Faceted
- Bead
- Cabochons
Healing
As mentioned above, this gem has been held in high esteem for years due to its brilliance but also because of its healing properties. For centuries, healers have used amethyst to improve how the body functions, including:
- Endocrine function
- Hormone regulation
- Immunity
- Skin’s appearance
- Reducing headaches
Crystal healers may also use it to help promote a sense of calm and peace, reducing anxiety and depression in their patients. Many believe it also helps relieve stress, reduces anger, and helps improve focus and memory.
The use of amethyst in chakra healing has increased in popularity over the last few years, which we’ll discuss further in the next section.
How To Use This Beautiful Crystal
People use amethyst in many different ways due to its physical and healing properties.
Jewelry
We mentioned that amethyst has always been a popular gemstone for jewelry. In recent years, it has been used as a diamond alternative in engagement rings. It is also readily available to wear as a necklace, pendant, or bracelet.
Chakra
We talked about some of the healing properties of amethyst above, but let’s elaborate further, specifically as it relates to Chakras.
What Are Chakras?
Chakras are energy points in the body and are first mentioned in a sacred spiritual text dating to around 1000 BCE.
The 7 Chakras are the seven major points of intersecting energy in your body. They correspond to major organs and nerve bundles, and when they’re open and aligned, they can improve your mental and physical well-being.
The seven chakras are:
- Root Chakra
- Sacral Chakra
- Solar Plexus Chakra
- Throat Chakra
- Heart Chakra
- Crown Chakra
- Third-Eye Chakra
What Role Does Amethyst Play?
Each Chakra is associated with certain colors and gemstones. Amethyst is used by practitioners to open the Crown chakra. An amethyst can be placed directly on the crown chakra in order to activate the chakra. It helps one absorb negative energies and leaves calm, clarity, and positive energy in its place. When combined with stone placement on the third-eye chakra, amethyst may help decision-making, confidence, and connection to the world around you.
Sleep
Amethyst has been shown to create a calming atmosphere which helps promote sleep. Amethyst crystals can be placed in a bath or put under a pillow to help your customers with chronic insomnia enjoy more peaceful and restful sleep. It also helps one to remember their dreams.
Interior Decorating
The calming properties of amethyst combined with its beauty make amethyst very popular among interior decorators. Amethyst is available in many accent pieces including, small standing clusters, decorative carvings, or giant clusters set in stands or stand-alone pieces. Placing an amethyst cluster in a home may protect against misfortune and facilitate serenity.
Your Amethyst Wholesaler
Whether you’re an interior designer shopping for your clients or a local store searching for new products to add to your inventory, we have a wide range of amethyst specimens for you to offer your customers. The Gemstone Factory is a reliable distributor of wholesale amethyst in many forms.
You can conveniently place an order on our exclusive wholesale website at www.gemstonefactory.net. Once you have created an account you will have access to our pricing and information on how to place an order. Alternatively, if you have any questions make sure to send us an email at sales@gemstonefactory.net where a team member will be happy to help you.