Every birth month has its stone, and February's is one of the most beloved purples in the world. Amethyst has been prized for thousands of years, worn by royalty and clergy, and it is still one of the easiest colored stones to fall for: rich in color, generous in size, and comfortable to wear. This guide explains what gives amethyst its color, how to judge quality, and how to choose a stone that suits your jewelry and your life. For the full list of month-by-month stones, see our birthstones page.
What Is Amethyst?
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, a silicon dioxide mineral with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, a refractive index of roughly 1.544 to 1.553 and a specific gravity near 2.65. Its name comes from the Greek amethystos, often translated as "not intoxicated," reflecting an old belief that the stone protected its wearer from drunkenness. Our amethyst education page gives a broader overview of the species.
The purple comes from trace iron in the crystal structure. Natural irradiation acts on that iron and creates color centers that absorb light in the yellow-green part of the spectrum, leaving the violet and red-purple you see. That same mechanism explains two behaviors worth knowing: heat can alter the color, and strong, prolonged light can fade some stones.
Color: The Most Important Factor
With amethyst, color does most of the work. The most sought-after stones show a strong, saturated purple with flashes of red or blue in the face-up view, a combination the trade has long called "Siberian" even though the term describes a color, not a locality. Very pale stones, sometimes sold as Rose de France, have a soft lilac charm of their own, while very dark stones can look almost black in low light.
Amethyst is often color zoned, with straight bands or angular patches of deeper and paler purple. A skilled cutter orients the stone so the strongest color fills the face, which is one reason cut and color are so closely linked in this species. We cover that relationship in our guides to hue, tone and saturation and cut quality, and you can compare shades in our purple gemstones collection.
Clarity: What Is Normal in Amethyst
Amethyst is a Type II colored stone in the usual trade classification, which means it is generally expected to be eye-clean. Under magnification you may see liquid-and-gas "fingerprint" inclusions, fine feathers, and the zigzag, tiger-stripe-like patterns associated with Brazilian-law twinning, a feature that is actually a useful identification clue. Visible dark crystals or large fractures are a different matter and affect both beauty and durability. Our clarity guide explains how to tell which inclusions matter.
Cut, Size and Shape
Quartz forms large, clean crystals, so amethyst is available in sizes that would be rare and costly in many other gems. That freedom lets cutters choose fancy shapes and bold sizes without much compromise, and it suits statement jewelry. Pear and oval cuts are classic, while emerald and cushion cuts show off depth of color. If you are choosing a shape, our gemstone shapes page is a good starting point, and you can browse the oval cut collection and pear cut collection.
Because quartz has a specific gravity of about 2.65, a one-carat amethyst measures larger across than a one-carat ruby or sapphire. If you are buying for a particular setting, shop by millimeter dimensions, not by carat weight.
Treatment, Origin and Lab-Grown Amethyst
Most amethyst is natural color, but heating is well known in quartz: moderate heat can turn amethyst yellow to orange (citrine) and some material green (sometimes sold as prasiolite). Prolonged heat or light can also fade the color of some stones. Amethyst is also grown in laboratories using hydrothermal methods, and the product is chemically and physically the same as natural quartz, which is why identification relies on gemological features such as growth patterns and inclusions. Every listing states whether a stone is natural, lab-grown or cultured, and we state a stone's treatment wherever it is known. For more, see our guide to gemstone treatments.
Amethyst comes from several well-known sources. Brazil and Uruguay produce large quantities, with Uruguayan material valued for deep color, and Zambia is known for rich, saturated stones. Origin matters less to value in amethyst than in sapphire or emerald, so color and cut usually drive the decision.
Amethyst Jewelry and Everyday Wear
At a hardness of 7, amethyst is comfortable for pendants, earrings and bracelets and works well in rings with sensible care. It has no cleavage, but it can scratch against harder gems, so a bezel, halo or protective setting is a smart choice for a ring worn daily. Yellow gold warms the purple, while white metals give a cooler, more modern look. Browse finished pieces in our amethyst jewelry collection, or explore February birthstone jewelry.
If you would like something made to your own design, our bespoke service can help. For gift ideas, see our gemstone jewelry gift guide.
How to Care for Amethyst
Clean amethyst with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid steam, sudden temperature changes and long exposure to strong sunlight, all of which can affect color. Ultrasonic cleaners are usually fine for clean stones, but avoid them for any stone with visible fractures. Store pieces separately so harder gems do not scratch them. Our durability and care guide covers this in detail.
Amethyst, Citrine and Ametrine
Because amethyst and citrine are the same mineral, they sit naturally side by side. If you love warm golden tones, our citrine collection and the November birthstone guide are worth a look. Ametrine, a natural bicolor quartz that shows purple and golden zones in one crystal, is a rarer option, and you can see it in our ametrine collection. For broader purple options such as spinel, tanzanite and purple sapphire, read our purple gemstones guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the February birthstone?
Amethyst is the modern and traditional February birthstone. It is the purple variety of quartz, and its color ranges from pale lilac to a deep, saturated violet. Because quartz is common, amethyst is accessible, which makes it a lovely choice for everyday birthstone jewelry. You can browse the current selection in our February birthstones collection.
Is amethyst durable enough for an everyday ring?
Amethyst rates 7 on the Mohs scale, which is enough for regular wear. It has no cleavage, so it is reasonably tough, but it can pick up scratches from harder materials such as sapphire, spinel and diamond. A protective setting such as a bezel or halo helps, and so does removing rings for heavy work. Our durability guide covers hardness and toughness in more detail.
Does amethyst fade in sunlight?
Some amethyst can fade with prolonged exposure to strong light or heat, because the color comes from a color center that is sensitive to both. Stones from different deposits vary, and many pieces never show visible change in normal wear. As a precaution, avoid leaving amethyst jewelry on a sunny windowsill or in a hot car, and store it away from direct light when you are not wearing it.
How can I tell amethyst from citrine or purple glass?
Amethyst and citrine are both quartz, so they share the same hardness and refractive index; the difference is color. Amethyst shows characteristic angular color zoning and sometimes a hint of Brazilian-law twinning under magnification, while glass tends to show round bubbles and swirl marks. A gemological lab can confirm identity for a significant stone. We state on each listing whether a stone is natural, lab-grown or cultured.
What makes one amethyst more valuable than another?
Color is the main factor: a rich, saturated purple, ideally with flashes of red or blue, is preferred over pale or overly dark stones. Clarity matters less than in many gems, because quality amethyst is usually eye-clean. Cut and size also play a part. Because market values change, we do not quote figures here; the amethyst collection shows current pricing.
Is amethyst heat treated?
Amethyst is frequently left untreated, but heat can change quartz color: moderate heating turns some amethyst into yellow to orange citrine, and some material becomes green. This is why much commercial citrine began as amethyst. We state a stone's treatment wherever it is known, and the treatments page explains the common treatments in colored stones.
