Amethyst

 Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the sixth of marriage.

Once considered more valuable than diamonds, this member of the quartz member occurs naturally as crystals within rocks.

The stones are mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and in the mountains of Russia

Amethyst can lighten if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560 Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown..

(They are then called citrines. These are more richly colored and more expensive then natural citrines)

Ideally deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range in hue from pale lilac to nearly black purple.

Since purple has always been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in the ornaments of in the British Crown Jewels and in the adornments of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well.

They have been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning royal jewelry, scepters, and crowns.

The intense violet hue of February's birthstone appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color…as a symbol of their elevated position.

Purple dye was once scarce and expensive, so it was reserved for the garments of royalty, and the color came to symbolize power and status.