Certificate of authenticity

Amethyst on rotating metal base

Amethyst

Dimensions: 70 x 33 x 23 cm
Without stand 53x33x20cm
43 kg
Origin: Brazil
Id: A0129

Amethyst

Amethyst is a translucent, purple variety of quartz (SiO2) and has long been the most important quartz variety for jewelry. Although amethyst must always be purple to be called an amethyst, it occurs in a wide range of purple hues, from light lilac to deep purple.

The mineral is dichroic, meaning that it actually has not one but two colors, bluish violet and reddish violet. This gives the stone a "lively" character.

Although amethysts may appear as long prismatic crystals, most people know amethyst as a cluster of crystals with typical six-sided purple crystal points.
The color is the result of irradiation of the impurities of mainly iron in combination with other trace elements causing changes in the crystal lattice. Because irradiation occurs after crystal has been formed, amethyst often shows color zoning: the most intense color is found at the tip of the crystal.
The name amethyst comes from the Greek word α-μέθυστος “a-methystos”, which means “not drunk”. Because the color of the stone was very similar to the color of their wine, the ancient Greeks thought that if you had that stone with you, you could not get drunk.

Amethyst was also believed to have the ability to enhance the mind and spirit and was often used to improve mental clarity and focus. It was also used to ward off evil often worn as a protective talisman.
Until the early 17th century, amethyst was a rare, and therefore precious, stone. But when new deposits of amethyst were discovered all over the world, the price plummeted.
At present the main suppliers of amethyst are Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and Artigas in Uruguay, where large geodes with amethyst have been found in the volcanic rock.