Crystalline quartz with a purple hue is called amethyst, a stone traditionally worn as protection against drunkenness and to promote a sober and upright lifestyle. Amethyst exhibits dichroism, which means the stone has a blue-purple or reddish-purple hue when viewed from different angles. The purple color changes from light pink to dark violet in sunlight.

The name comes from ancient Greece. It's a contraction of "a," meaning "not," and "methustos," meaning "intoxicated."

Amethyst has characteristic inclusions that resemble zebra stripes, fingerprints, or feathers.

Amethyst has protective, purifying, and relaxing properties, bringing harmony and inner peace. This stone clears your mind, creating space for insight into your behavior and choices. This allows you to leave bad habits and/or addictions behind. Since the Middle Ages, the stone has been used throughout Europe as a protector against sorcery and witchcraft, and above all, it dispels drunkenness.

The amethyst is a royal birthstone. It was set in the crowns of kings and emperors. It was considered a miracle against evil magic. The amethyst is said to have helped the Romans and Greeks avoid getting too drunk. At that time, poor alcohol management was considered a sign of weakness. According to Greek mythology, a girl named Amethystus claimed to want to remain chaste. Artemis, the goddess of women, listened to her prayers and turned her into a white stone. Dionysus, the god of fertility, felt humiliated and poured wine over the white stone. The stone turned into purple crystals, and thus the amethyst was born. In ancient China, small gems were carved from amethyst, and there was a lively trade. It was believed that the amethyst could turn a legal dispute in the wearer's favor. It was even possible to rent the amethyst for this purpose. If the ruling was favorable, the stone's power was proven, and the rental price increased considerably. In the Middle Ages, the stone was especially prized in Europe. There, it was seen as a symbol of lovers, a protector against sorcery and witchcraft, and a dispeller of drunkenness.

Besides being the February birthstone, amethyst is also associated with the zodiac signs Aquarius and Pisces. You can also use it for zodiac jewelry if you're interested.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18: Garnet and Amethyst

Pisces February 19 - March 20: Amethyst and Aquamarine

So the Aquarius has the choice of the birthstone of January, the garnet, but also of the birthstone of the month of February, a beautiful amethyst.

The Pisces zodiac sign can also choose the February birthstone, or possibly look at the aquamarine gemstones.

In addition to jewelry featuring the February birthstone, we have a large collection of birthstone jewelry in stock in our shop. Browse our extensive collection of birthstone jewelry in the webshop or come try it on in our studio in Vlissingen. Would you like to design a unique piece of jewelry featuring the February birthstone? You can do so in our studio. One of our expert goldsmiths will work with you to explore the possibilities of incorporating the amethyst into a beautiful ring, pendant, or bracelet.

Gemstone jewelry is often unique and not available in different sizes. If you'd like to order a birthstone ring online, we'll custom-make it for you in our workshop. To find the right ring size, please see our instructions . Amethyst can also be incorporated into other jewelry. Below, you'll find a small selection of our birthstone jewelry featuring amethyst. View the full collection of birthstone jewelry here.