February birth stone—— "Sober" amethyst

Amethyst, as the birthstone for February, exudes a mysterious and charming allure. It is not only the lucky stone for Pisces but also the commemorative stone for the sixth wedding anniversary, symbolizing honesty, wisdom, calmness, peace, and tranquility, and is hailed as the "Stone of Honesty".

The English name for amethyst is "Amethyst", which derives from ancient Greek mythology and the ancient Greek word "améthystos", meaning "not drunk" or "sober". In ancient Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, held a grudge against Artemis, the goddess of the moon, due to a conflict and sent fierce tigers to take revenge. On the way, they happened to encounter a maiden named Amethyst. To protect the maiden from the tigers' clutches, the moon goddess turned her into a crystal statue that was clear and flawless. Dionysus was filled with remorse and shed tears of regret the color of wine, which dripped onto the statue and instantly transformed it into purple, and this is how amethyst got its name.

In ancient Greek mythology, amethyst is full of legend. It is said that amethyst was formed by the petrification of the beautiful maiden Amethyst. The ancient Greeks associated amethyst with wine, on the one hand, because it was related to the myth of the god of wine; on the other hand, it was "the color of grapes, shiny and lovely". In ancient times and the Middle Ages, people believed that the universe was reflected in gemstones, and amethyst was assigned to Neptune. People believed that amethyst had supernatural powers and was once thought to help relieve headaches, backaches, and alcohol poisoning. As a symbol of sobriety, amethyst was once believed to bring inner peace to the wearer and could also prevent the wearer from getting drunk. Amethyst was often worn as an amulet, and if it was carved with a round sun or moon on it, it was believed to prevent death from poisoning. However, it should be noted that this information cannot replace the advice of a doctor.

Purple is regarded as the color of royalty, and amethyst played an important role in the British monarchy. High-quality amethysts were carefully selected and set on the British crown and the orb. Amethyst was also deeply loved by Catherine the Great and the Egyptian royal family. Catherine II was so obsessed with amethyst that she sent thousands of workers to the Ural Mountains to search for it. The amethysts in her collection were sold by the Russian government in 1906, and of course, the finest amethyst treasures among them are still housed in the Russian treasury.

The development and utilization of amethyst in China began no later than the Song Dynasty. Shen Kuo of the Northern Song Dynasty described a strange story in his "Dream Pool Essays": "There was a bead in the family of a scholar named Song Shu. It was as big as a chicken egg, slightly purplish-blue in color, and as clear as water. When held in hand and looked at against the sky, there was a spot of emerald green at the bottom, and the color above gradually became lighter. If it was turned around, the green spot was always at the bottom. Nobody knew what it was, and some called it the 'Dripping Emerald Bead'". Purplish-blue refers to a dark blue with a tinge of purple, and slightly purplish-blue means light purple. It is speculated that the "Dripping Emerald Bead" was most likely a water-inclusion amethyst.

The color of amethyst ranges from light purple to dark purple, and its distribution is often uneven, and it can have different degrees of brown, red, and blue hues. The colors of amethysts from different origins also vary. Under heating or exposure to sunlight, the color centers of amethysts may be damaged, resulting in fading. Amethyst can turn into yellow quartz after heating.

As the birthstone for February, amethyst symbolizes honesty and a peaceful heart. As the commemorative stone for the sixth wedding anniversary, it witnesses the firm and lasting affection between husband and wife. For people born under the sign of Pisces, amethyst is even more of a lucky stone. It can not only bring courage to Pisces but also help them be more confident in social interactions and attract benefactors. Meanwhile, amethyst is also the guardian stone for Aquarius and Sagittarius, and it is also the lucky crystal for those born in the Year of the Rat, Ox, Snake, and Dog.

Amethyst is known as the "Love Guardian Stone", symbolizing beautiful and faithful love. It can bestow deep love, chastity, honesty, and courage upon couples. Wearing amethyst for a long time can greatly enhance one's wisdom, strengthen concentration, intensify cognitive abilities and spiritual perception, improve memory, and increase the vitality of brain cells and the functioning of the brain. Amethyst is also a famous wisdom crystal and the most natural sedative in nature. It can regulate the user's mood, dispel emotions such as anger, fear, and anxiety, and eliminate sadness and depression. When placed at home or in the office, amethyst has the functions of gathering qi and wealth, warding off evil spirits and misfortunes. It is best placed in the wealth position, and it can also stabilize the relationship between husband and wife, and improve intelligence and concentration. When placed beside the bed, amethyst can treat neurasthenia and insomnia, allowing the user to have a comfortable rest and feel refreshed.

When selecting amethyst, considerations can be made from aspects such as the crystal clarity, color, inclusions, and size. The more transparent the crystal, the brighter the color, the fewer the inclusions, and the larger the size, the relatively higher the price of the amethyst. However, it should be noted that completely transparent and impurity-free amethyst is very likely to be artificial crystal or cultured crystal. When maintaining amethyst, it is necessary to avoid collisions with other accessories. It should be taken off when doing housework or soaking in hot springs, wiped with a soft cloth, and avoid high-temperature heating and exposure to sunlight. It should be removed and properly stored after returning home and when taking a bath.

I.The Functions of Amethyst

1. Boosting Intelligence Amethyst contains high energy and corresponds to the brow chakra in the chakra system. It can promote the activities of brain cells, assist in thinking, help with concentration, and enhance memory. For students and office workers, wearing amethyst products is a very appropriate choice. It can make the brain work faster, improve the level of intelligence, and play an indispensable role in learning and work. Whether it's students who need to frequently memorize knowledge or office workers who engage in mental work for a long time, amethyst can be a powerful assistant for them.
2. Facilitating Social Interactions Amethyst emits noble purple light. As the saying goes, "Purple air comes from the east." It is of great help in social aspects. It will make an individual's inner temperament exude an attractive charm and often enables people to encounter benefactors by chance. Frequently wearing amethyst helps to enhance personal temperament and improve personal intuition and awareness. Amethyst can eliminate overbearingness, bring noble air, strengthen people's tolerance and forbearance, making the wearer more composed and confident in social occasions and leaving a good impression on others.
3. Symbol of Love Amethyst is known as the "Love Guardian Stone" in the West. It can bestow chaste love, courageous love, honest love, and deep love upon couples. It represents noble and steadfast love and is often used as a love token between lovers. In Greek teachings, amethyst is a symbol of the mysterious "sexual vitality" of Bacchus, the god of fertility. It is said that it can transform sexual vitality into spiritual vitality and can also play a significant role in solving sexual problems between couples and finding suitable partners.
4. Improving Sleep When sleeping, if amethyst products, such as amethyst pillows, are placed under the head, they can promote the activation of cells in the cerebellum, right brain, and central nervous system, thereby eliminating insomnia and improving the quality of sleep. However, it should be noted that people with normal sleep are not suitable to use it, because amethyst has relatively high positive energy and may have the opposite effect instead.
5. EliminatingOverbearingness Amethyst can eliminate overbearingness, bring noble air, and enhance people's tolerance. It can make the wearer more peaceful and tolerant, and improve personal charm and affinity. In social and interpersonal relationships, this characteristic can help people get along better with others and build good relationships.

II. The Culture of Amethyst

1. Amethyst in Ancient Greek Mythology In ancient Greek mythology, amethyst is full of legendary charm. Legend has it that amethyst was formed by the petrification of a beautiful maiden named Amethyst, and it is closely linked to the story of Dionysus, the god of wine, and Artemis, the goddess of the moon. Due to a conflict with the moon goddess, Dionysus sent tigers to take revenge. On the way, the maiden Amethyst was about to be harmed by the tigers. To protect her, the moon goddess turned her into a crystal statue. Dionysus was filled with remorse and shed tears of regret the color of wine, which dripped onto the statue and transformed it into purple, and this is how amethyst got its name. The ancient Greeks associated amethyst with wine. On the one hand, it was related to the myth of the god of wine; on the other hand, it was "the color of grapes, shiny and lovely". In ancient times and the Middle Ages, amethyst was believed to possess supernatural powers. It was once regarded as a good remedy for sobering up, could help relieve headaches, backaches, and alcohol poisoning, and would also bring inner peace to the wearer and prevent the wearer from getting drunk. Amethyst was often worn as an amulet, and if it was carved with a round sun or moon on it, it was believed to prevent death from poisoning.
2. The Historical Significance of Amethyst Purple has always been regarded as the color of royalty. Amethyst played an important role in the British monarchy. High-quality amethysts were carefully selected and set on the British crown and the orb. Amethyst was also deeply loved by the Russian royal family. Catherine II was so obsessed with amethyst that she sent thousands of workers to the Ural Mountains to search for it. The amethysts in her collection were sold by the Russian government in 1906, but the finest amethyst treasures among them are still housed in the Russian treasury. In addition, amethyst was also favored by the Egyptian royal family. In exploring the cultural value of traditional Russian jewelry, purple gold, as a precious material in traditional Russian jewelry, has a long history and unique cultural value. The history of purple gold can be traced back to the 5th century BC. It first appeared in the Siberian region and became a symbol of nobles and the royal family in ancient times. The craftsmanship for making purple gold jewelry is unique and complex. Each piece is carefully designed and finely carved, with attention paid to details and workmanship quality. Purple gold symbolizes the noble and royal status, power, honor, as well as wealth and prosperity in Russian culture and is a symbol of wealth. Purple gold jewelry is not only an ornament but also an embodiment of artistic expression. Its design is full of ethnic characteristics and stories, showing the unique charm of Russian culture. Meanwhile, purple gold also has relatively high economic value. As a precious material, its price has been rising all the time and has a strong ability to preserve and increase value, becoming an important pillar of the Russian jewelry industry.
3. The Origins and Characteristics of Amethyst
4. Distribution of Origins Amethyst is widely distributed in nature, and major commercial deposits are located in many countries. Among them, amethysts from Brazil and Uruguay are relatively common. In addition, countries such as South Korea, Zambia, Madagascar, and China also produce amethyst. Brazil is a major producer of gem-quality amethyst in the world, and the production from the pegmatite deposits in Minas Gerais is the most famous. The colors of amethyst produced in Brazil range from light purple to dark purple, but the output of dark purple amethyst is relatively small, and most of it is light purple or medium purple. The crystal grains of Brazilian amethyst are relatively small, with relatively more internal impurities and lower clarity. Brazilian amethyst is made into a large number of bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry and distributed all over the world, and the price is relatively affordable. The amethyst produced in Uruguay has the highest-grade purple hue. Its purple is very deep and gorgeous, with a wine-red luster. Uruguayan amethyst is mostly in blocks, with a deep color and small grains, and is more suitable for being carved into amethyst ornaments. It is a common commodity in jewelry stores around the world. In recent years, the production of Uruguayan amethyst has been extremely low and has almost ceased, making it extremely rare. South Korea's amethyst has an enchanting blue-purple color, giving people a profound and noble temperament. However, in recent years, its production has been decreasing day by day, and coupled with export restrictions, its price has soared, and it is rarely seen on the market. The amethyst grains produced in Zambia are generally small, but the color is very good, with a bright red color and relatively high value. However, the production volume is not large. Madagascar is not mainly a producer of amethyst. The amethyst produced there has more impurities and the luster is not good enough. Its quality among amethysts is relatively poor, and it has a weak market recognition. In China, there are many amethyst producing areas, mainly including Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Henan, and Shandong. The amethyst in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province, is famous for its large pieces, deep color, and good transparency. The amethyst in Inner Mongolia is mainly produced in Xinghe County, and it is mainly smoky quartz, with a very small amount of amethyst. The amethyst producing areas in Xinjiang are mainly located on the edge of the Tarim platform and are mainly produced in granite pegmatites and hydrothermal quartz veins. The amethyst crystals in Yunnan are large and of good quality. The amethyst producing areas in Henan are mainly distributed in the Nanyang area. The main amethyst producing area in Shandong is Dashuichang in Mazhan Township, Yishui.
5. Color Characteristics Natural amethyst forms beautiful purple colors due to the presence of minerals such as iron and manganese. It has a variety of colors, ranging from light purple to deep purple and blue-purple, and can have different degrees of brown, red, and blue hues. Among them, deep purple and purple with a red tint are the best. The colors of amethyst produced in Brazil are mostly relatively rich, mainly in light purple and half-tones. Due to its relatively small crystal grains and relatively more internal impurities, the uniformity of the color may be affected. High-quality amethyst produced in Brazil shows a relatively deep purple color, and when observed from the top facet, a purplish-red flash can be seen. The purple of Uruguayan amethyst is very deep, and its main hue is somewhat biased towards blue-purple, like shining with a wine-red "flame", and it will shine with red and pink dazzling luster from the inside out. The color of South Korean amethyst is also very deep, and its main hue is somewhat biased towards blue-purple. The color of Zambian amethyst is rich and saturated, with a beautiful red hue in purple. The amethyst in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province, is famous for its large pieces, deep color, and good transparency. The amethyst in Yunnan Province has large crystals and good quality. The amethyst from different origins has its own color characteristics, adding rich color charm to amethyst.

III. Maintenance of Amethyst

Amethyst has a hardness of 7 and relatively good toughness and stability. However, during the maintenance process, there are still some matters that need attention to ensure that its beauty and value can be maintained for a long time.

Firstly, collisions and friction between amethyst and harder gemstones should be avoided. Although amethyst is relatively hard, it is prone to damage when it comes into contact with gemstones of higher hardness such as diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When wearing amethyst jewelry, it is best to wear it alone or match it with gemstones of similar hardness. Avoid wearing it together with gemstones of high hardness on the same part to prevent collisions and scratches.

Amethyst should not be exposed to high temperatures. Under certain high temperatures, amethyst will fade and turn into ametrine, which will affect its appearance and quality. Therefore, amethyst should be kept away from high-temperature objects, such as the heat from electric ovens, the steam from soup pots, the water vapor in bathrooms, and the sunlight during sunbathing. When engaging in relevant activities, amethyst jewelry should be taken off in advance and properly stored.

It is advisable not to wear amethyst when taking a bath, doing laundry, or cooking. The trace amounts of chlorine in tap water can easily corrode amethyst and cause it to lose its original color. Laundry detergents and other cleaning products may also damage amethyst.

Contact between amethyst and cosmetics should be avoided as much as possible. Cosmetics more or less contain mercury substances. Especially for amethyst jewelry with silver or gold edges, it is easy to have chemical reactions and develop spots when in contact with these substances.

If financial conditions permit, you can buy a crystal cluster or a crystal cave and place amethyst separately inside. This not only has a purifying effect but is also the best way to maintain crystals. Amethyst can be soaked in sea salt (i.e., coarse salt) with clean and pollution-free water overnight and then rinsed with clean water the next day. However, for amethyst jewelry with metal or ropes, this method should be used less frequently because salt can erode the metal or ropes. Clean water can be ordinary mineral water or distilled water.

Regardless of what jewelry you wear, it should be removed and properly stored after returning home and when taking a bath to extend the life of the jewelry and its good fortune energy. Keep it away from high temperatures or fire to prevent fading or cracking.

When wearing amethyst on a daily basis, it should be noted that direct sunlight should be avoided. Excessive exposure to sunlight will cause amethyst to fade and its magnetic field to weaken. The best way to purify crystals is to use amethyst caves and amethyst clusters to purify and recharge amethyst. If such conditions are not met, crushed white quartz and mineral water can also be used to purify amethyst.

The best way to maintain amethyst for daily wearing is to store it separately. This is because amethyst itself has a purifying effect. If multiple crystals are stored together, although amethyst will not have a repelling effect on other crystals, it will have a purifying effect on them, which will affect the magnetic field of amethyst itself and is not conducive to wearing.

In conclusion, the correct maintenance methods can make amethyst more beautiful and durable and bring more good fortune and beauty to the wearer.