We can all use a little help, encouragement, and inspiration sometimes. Whatever you believe about the healing properties of gemstones, it’s undeniable: Jewelry empowers us. That’s the motivation behind our Gemstone Feature series. By sharing the stories of some of the gemstones gracing our latest Bloom pieces, we celebrate the countless ways jewelry brings positive energy to our lives.

February birthstone Amethyst – also the customary gemstone for the 6th and 17th anniversaries – is another longtime favorite of Bloom’s staff. One of us may even have a rather large, rough Amethyst crystal sitting right next to her computer monitor, with the idea that it certainly can’t hurt her clarity of mind as she completes her work. It’s also just darn pretty, with a magical violet sparkle that is consistently enjoyable to behold in everything from daylight to candlelight. 
So what’s the Amethyst fuss all about? Why has this purple gemstone been such a longtime favorite of everyone from royals and priests to magicians, healers, and commoners? Read on to learn more about the origins, meaning, and supposed healing properties of Amethyst, and check out Bloom’s full collection of Amethyst jewelry here.

What Is Amethyst?

Amethyst is a variety of Quartz with purple coloring, ranging from deep royal purple to a more pink-hued pastel violet. Quartz is a hard, crystalline, naturally forming mineral made of silica. Behind Feldspar, it’s actually the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust. 

Many different varieties of Quartz are classified as gemstones, including other Bloom favorites such as Citrine (yellow), Rose Quartz (pink), and Rock Crystal (colorless). According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Amethyst tends to be the most highly valued variety of Quartz, given long-standing demand for it in everything from high-end designer pieces to mass-marketed class rings. GIA also reports that Amethyst crystals can grow to be truly massive: In GIA’s museum, they displayed an Amethyst weighing a whopping 164 pounds! 

What Is the Meaning of Amethyst?

According to the SpruceCrafts, Amethysts date as far back as 3,000 BC. That’s a long time to collect associations and supposed meanings, so we’ve got a solid range to cover. In general, the meaning of Amethyst tends to focus on protection, mental clarity, balance, peace, and having a sense of control over one’s life.

First off, protection: SpruceCrafts indicates that ancient Egyptians believed Amethyst could guard against poison, and that it was carved into amulets and used as prayer talismans to help shield warriors from harm during battle. Greek mythology echoes this meaning, suggesting – as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) reports – that Amethyst was historically believed to prevent drunkenness, helping wearers to remain clear-headed and quick-witted. Indeed, the name reportedly comes from the Greek word amethystos, which means “not drunk.”

Apparently a popular myth about Bacchus, the Roman god of wine (here shared by IGS) furthered the belief that Amethyst could help to prevent drunkenness. And thus the Ancient Greeks reportedly believed that you could drink all night and still stay sober, provided you had an Amethyst in your mouth or on your person. Clearly, this is not a sound strategy – but it does leave us with Amethyst’s long association with mental clarity. On the flipside of avoiding muddy-headed, drunken behavior we find Amethyst’s associations with the ideas of inner strength, emotional balance, and self-empowerment. 

What Are the Healing Properties of Amethyst? 

The supposed healing properties of Amethyst are thought to include a wide range of benefits, including:

• Promoting mental and spiritual health, clarity, and calm. Amethyst has long been thought to calm and balance the emotions, soothing dreams and bringing wearers a sense of peace. Amethyst is also believed to help clear, focus, and stimulate the mind: As IGS reports, “Amethysts are said to help the mind flow freely in both mental and metaphysical dimensions.” Amethyst is also commonly used to relieve insomnia and promote healthy sleep, given its supposed calming effects. 
• Protection from harm. Maybe those ancient Egyptians were onto something, because Amethyst is still commonly embraced as a stone of protection. Many healers believe that Amethyst has purifying properties that help wearers to boost their immune systems and fend off both physical and mental ailments.
• Self-empowerment and inner strength. Amethyst has been widely embraced to help wearers increase courage, improve self-esteem, sweep away fear and negativity, make decisions, and achieve a sense of control over their lives. While we always take gemstones’ supposed healing properties with a grain or two of salt, what’s not to love about a stone that helps us remember our own power and agency?

Bloom’s Picks for Clearly Lovely Amethyst Jewelry

You can check out Bloom’s full collection of Amethyst jewelry here, or simply peruse a few of our favorites below. 
Bloom’s Amethyst & Gold Filigree Bracelet (pictured) makes a perfect – and perfectly affordable! – gift for a loved one or yourself. Featuring our Bloom customer favorite filigree chain interspersed with adorable Amethyst gemstones, the bracelet can be clasped on any part of the chain, guaranteeing a perfect fit for every size wrist. Looking to step up the sophistication? Consider our Amethyst & 14k Gold Filled Paperclip Duo Bracelet, which pairs Amethyst gemstones with on-trend 14k Gold Filled Paperclip Chain in two sizes.

Our Bloom customer favorite layering chain is ready for spring in its incarnation as our Amethyst & 14k Gold Filled Filigree Layering Necklace. This timeless necklace is lovely on its own or layered with other favorites and can be worn at varying lengths from 17”-18”.

Already have – or want to begin creating – a keepsake-quality charm bracelet or necklace? Our Amethyst Birthstone Charm is more than ready to join the party. (Visit Bloom’s Charm Bar for more inspiration!)

These delicate, pretty-in-purple Amethyst Stardust Gold Drop Earrings (pictured) are a perfect way to regularly showcase the February birthstone. Available in your choice of 14k Gold Filled or Sterling Silver, they feature Amethyst teardrop stones and Vermeil Textured Chain. Prefer the look of several smaller Rondelle gemstones over the look of the larger teardrop? We’ve got you covered with our Amethyst Rondelle Stardust Drop Earrings.

Rest assured that any gift you give from Bloom really can last forever! Every piece of jewelry we sell comes with our Lifetime Guarantee. Whether it needs to be repaired, refreshed, polished, or detangled, we are proud to offer complimentary lifetime care. Simply contact us at sales@jewelrybybloom.com to let us know.