Birthstones
Traditionally, a special stone, a birthstone, has been
selected to celebrate each month of the calendar year. Please click on the months below to view
information on each of the months' birthstones. The birthstones described here are for the
stones most commonly accepted in the United States as the birthstone of the month.
If you are interested in purchasing a gem, feel free to e-mail
us or call us on our toll free
number, 800-659-4367. We will gladly describe and quote price on a specific
gemstone. Our sales staff and goldsmiths can assist you in designing and constructing
a custom piece, and turn your gem into a treasured family heirloom.
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A M E T H Y S T |::| Mohs' Hardness 7
Of all the various colors of quartz gemstones, the purple color of amethyst is the most highly prized. Folklore holds that amethyst
helps in overcoming homesickness, and when worn, helps in preventing drunkenness.
At the turn of the 20th century, and up through the 1920's, the shade of amethyst most favored in jewelry was a pale lavender shade
known as rose of France. In recent times the fashion trend has been to use a deep purple colored gem.
The purple color saturation can, however, become so dense as to make the stone overly dark, causing the stone to lose
brilliance. Amethyst is a hard stone, suitable for use in everyday jewelry, and its moderate price adds to its consumer
appeal. In the United States the finer stones are mined in Arizona, with better quality foreign sources in Brazil, Africa and Russia.
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