Wishing you a Happy Valentines Day with this huge drusy amethyst heart that I photographed at Multigemas Brazil in Mineral City, Tucson.
Amethyst was once considered as valuable as ruby, sapphire and emerald and was worn on the crowns of royalty and fingers of bishops. However, after huge deposits were discovered in Brazil in the mid-1800s, its value plummeted. Many more deposits have been found since then.
Besides Brazil, sources of amethyst include Mexico, the United States, Canada, Uruguay, Russia, France, Morocco, Zambia, Madagascar, Namibia, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Amethyst became the official birthstone for February in 1912, when the American National Association of Jewelers standardized the list of modern birthstones. In his book “Curious Lore of Precious Stones,” George Frederick Kunz said amethyst had appeared on eight other birthstone lists for February before 1912 and includes the following poem representing the sentiments for the month of February.
The February-born may find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care.
If she an amethyst will wear.
Let her an amethyst but cherish well,
And strife and care can never with her dwell
Multigemas is a Brazilian company founded in 1985 by Rubens de Vasconcelos with the influence of his Father Constantino De Vasconcelos, a gem & mineral dealer and mine owner since the 1950’s in Minas Gerais State. Rubens started business in Japan in the late 1980’s and he is one of the founder dealers of the Tokyo International Mineral Show (TIMO). Overseas business and international shows are now taken care by Frederico de Vasconcelos, third generation in the business. Rubens is still very active and also mines tourmaline, aquamarine, and morganite in Brazil. See more of their minerals and gems on Instagram @multigemas.brazil
Learn more about amethyst and other colored gems in my “Gemstone Buying Guide.” (http://reneenewman.com/gemstone.htm )
Guest articles by Renée Newman:
https://gem-spectrum.com/category/renee-newman
About the author:
Renée Newman is a gemologist (GG, GIA), lecturer, writer and author of 15 books on gems and jewelry. Her goal is to provide consumers and jewelry professionals with unbiased, affordable information on how to buy, evaluate and appreciate gems and jewelry. She can be reached through her website:
