Amethyst

amethyst

The purple variety of quartz known as amethyst has been employed as a gemstone since very early times, and the appreciation of this gem material has extended down through the ages, reaching its culmination when facetted amethyst gems were justly popular. A recent swing of the pendulum of fashion seems to be reviving [...]

Amethyst as talisman

Amethyst was originally regarded as a very precious stone until the immense quantities received from Brazil reduced its value generally.

From the earliest dawn of history the occult properties of the amethyst as an antidote to inebriety have been recognised, by all writers, the name originating from a Greek word meaning “without intoxication” and [...]

Healing stones

In the sixteenth century sapphires, emeralds, rubies, garnets, jacinths, coral and sardonyxes were used in all tonics prescribed to protect the heart against the effects of poison and of the plague. As it was noted that these remedies were frequently ineffectual, an explanation was sought in the fact that spurious stones were often used, the [...]

Birthstone

Birthstones have their roots in ancient astrology, and there have been many birthstone lists used over the years. The most common one today is based on a list first publicized by the U.S. jewelry industry in the 1950s.

This list assign birthstones as follows:

* January – Garnet * February – Amethyst * [...]

Chrysoberyl

There are certain stones and other minerals which, owing to their possession of numerous microscopically fine cavities, of a globular or tubular shape, have the appearance of “rays” or “stars,” and these are called “asteriated.”

Several of such stones have been discussed already in the last chapter, and in addition to these star-like rays, [...]