Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethustos" which means "not drunk. Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it. The gemstone still symbolizes sobriety. Amethyst was also considered an aid to the brave, it would protect soldiers and bring them victory, and help hunters capture wild beasts. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

Amethyst is beautiful, affordable and durable. A transparent purple quartz ranging from pale lilac "Rose de France" to very rich, dark royal hues of purple, amethyst is the most important quartz variety used in jewelry. It is occasionally heated to permanently purify its purple hue. If exposed to intense sunlight for long periods, the intensity of the amethyst color can fade.

The purple color of Amethyst has long been associated with passion, hope and royalty. It is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand during history. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty.

Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and bishops still often wear amethyst rings. In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.