For most of recorded history amethyst kept company with ruby and emerald in royal and church treasuries; the purple of bishops and monarchs was this stone. It is quartz, colored by traces of iron, and when large Brazilian deposits surfaced in the nineteenth century it went from princely to attainable without losing any of its color. February claims it as a birthstone, and our amethyst guide tells the longer story.
Amethyst covers more range than its reputation suggests: the deep, red-flashing tone the trade once called Siberian, the pale lilac known as Rose de France, and everything between. Here that translates to vintage and estate pieces alongside modern rings, earrings, and pendants, with the stone doing its best work in generous sizes.
Quartz measures 7 on the Mohs scale, hard enough for everyday earrings and pendants and for rings worn with a little awareness. One habit worth keeping: store amethyst away from long stretches of direct sun, which can soften the color over years. Our care guide covers the rest.
For other months, start with our birthstone jewelry guide.
