Amethyst rings are noted for their luscious violet hues and dazzling radiance. Since ancient times, people with good aesthetic sense have chosen amethyst rings because of their exquisite looks and brilliance. The vibrant colors of a flawless amethyst have traditionally been seen to symbolize royalty, class, and good health. An amethyst ring makes an exceptional gift for nearly any occasion. They are the traditional birthstone ring of February and are often chosen for Valentine’s Day gifts as well. Due to their vivid colors and cheerful countenance, amethyst rings are among the most popular semi-precious jewelry in the world.
Green Amethyst Rings
Green amethyst rings are typically made by applying a heat treatment to naturally occurring amethysts to obtain an elegance light green color. Click on the picture of the green amethyst ring to learn more about this variety of ring and see our current selection.
Amethyst Rings – Beautiful Violet Quartz
Amethysts have long been seen as a royal gem and are used in many crowns and other pieces of regal jewelry around the world. However, they aren’t just for kings and queens anymore. Choosing an amethyst ring is a great way of standing out from the crowd by having a ring that is a bit different while at the same time traditional and beautiful. The other great thing about buying an amethyst ring is that you are can get a wide range of different colors and shades so you won’t lack choice when trying to find a ring that matches your outfit perfectly. Whether you want a light or deep purple there will be an amethyst available for you.
What is an amethyst?
First of all, it helps to know a bit about what an amethyst actually is and where it comes from. An amethyst is a violet or purple colored type of quartz. Traditionally the amethyst was used as a jewel to try and stop people from getting drunk and this dates back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Most people would describe an amethyst ring as having a purple coloring but it can also include a secondary hue of either blue or red. The choice that you make regarding the exact color of the ring really comes down to your own personal taste and what kind of outfit you’ll be wearing it with, but more on that in the next section.
One potentially good thing about the amethyst is that it has lost a lot of value in recent times due to the large amount available on the market today. While this might be an advantage of getting an amethyst ring for most people if you are going for a more exclusive look then an amethyst may not be right for you.
Choosing an amethyst ring
The first thing you need to think about when buying amethyst rings is what kind of metal you want it to be. While the amethyst is a purple jewel it looks great on most types of metal. For example, you could get an amethyst gold ring or a silver amethyst ring.
Next, you need to think about what you’re getting the ring for. For example, if you’re buying an amethyst engagement ring you’ll need to think not only about your tastes but the tastes of your partner and what they will like the best.
When you buy any sort of jewel you need to know what to look for and what makes a specific jewel more attractive than another of the same material. The best way to make sure you choose a high-quality amethyst is to only buy from reputable companies and shops that have knowledgeable staff. They will be able to help you choose the right jewel for you and give you advice on which ones are the best. If you buy online or second hand then you need to be much more careful about making sure you buy the amethyst for a fair price.
Once you have some idea of what to look for in an amethyst as well as what price they are you should then ask specific questions such as whether the jewel has been treated and whether it has perfect clarity. Some of the common treatments include using a substance to enhance the gem by dyeing it or coating it in some way. In some cases, this will actually reduce the value of the gem and hence the ring so you need to ask about it first.
An important part of deciding on the quality of the amethyst is to look at the color. In general the darker the gem the more valuable it is because they are rarer. Also, if the stone has a red hue to it then this also increases its value. While you should always buy the amethyst ring that you like the best rather than looking for the most valuable it helps to know what affects the value of the stone so you can be sure you’re getting the right deal.
The final thing you need to consider is how the gem has been cut. Make sure that there are no obvious scratches on the stone although they can be hard to see. Also, make sure that the stone doesn’t scatter light in lots of different directions but instead reflects it in an even manner. If the light is being scattered unevenly then this is a sure sign that the stone has been cut poorly and you should avoid this ring if possible.
When buying an amethyst ring you need to think carefully about the budget you have available before you start looking. There is a wide range of different prices depending on various factors so it helps to know what you can afford to narrow down your options immediately.
All About Amethyst Rings
When you wear your amethyst rings, what do you think of? I think of richness, of strength, and of beauty, most of all. The gorgeous violet-purple colored stones were named after a Greek mythological maiden named Amethystos, who was being pursued by the god Dionysus, the god of intoxication. Amethystos prayed that she would remain chaste, and so was turned into a white stone. Dionysus then poured wine over the stone, turning the crystals purple.
Amethyst stones are actually a type of quartz. Iron and aluminum give the stones their purple color. The ideal color for amethyst is a deep purple, known as “Deep Siberian”, but amethyst rings often come in various shades of purple which vary from light pinky-purple to the deep purple described above. You may even find a green amethyst ring made of what is actually green quartz. Green amethyst may also be known as vermarine or lime citrine. Long ago amethyst was part of the “cardinal gemstone” list. The cardinal gemstones are the most valuable ones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. A large deposit of amethyst was found in Brazil, however, and so amethyst was taken off the cardinal list and is now known as semi-precious gemstones. Since they rate a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, amethysts are very suitable for use in jewelry because they are very durable and won’t crack easily.
Most amethyst rings today are made of transparent stones, which let the most light into the center and thus are brighter. Translucent stones are not as valuable and will cost less. Round and oval brilliant cuts are often used for amethyst rings because the amount of light is maximized and the colors within the stone are better distributed, thus showing off the stone’s beautiful purple color to a better advantage. An amethyst gold ring should always be set in 10K or 14k gold, or sterling silver, so the setting will be secure enough to hold the stone safely. Recently, amethyst engagement rings have become very popular, and are commonly set in 14K gold. Good quality amethyst rings are very affordable and can be found for $25 and up with sterling silver settings. An amethyst gold ring will be a bit more, but I have found gorgeous ones for $189 online. I consider that a small price to pay for something so beautiful what about you?
Take your time, shop in quality jewelry stores, and stick with 10K, 14K or sterling silver settings when you look for an amethyst ring, or any other good quality rings, like cubic zirconia rings and emerald rings. Just keep these few things in mind when you do head out to shop in order to ensure that you will end up with a beautiful, affordable, and durable ring that will last for years.
Choices of Amethyst Rings
Amethyst is a semi-precious quartz stone that is usually violet in color, though there are often mixtures of pink and deep purple hues in the stones. If it is exposed to heat, however, it can turn a yellow color and as such is often referred to as burnt amethyst. Green quartz is also sometimes referred to as green amethyst, although it is more commonly referred to as Vermarine or Prasiolite. With a hardness of seven, the amethyst is perfect for setting in jewelry. It is set in either silver, white gold or gold metal bands and is used for amethyst rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets. Most of the amethyst today is mined in Brazil, although significant amounts are also found in South Korea and Austria. It is also mined in Kenya, the United States, India, and Uruguay. Frequently the amethyst is named according to the location it is mined from, or according to the quality of the stone.
While it was once considered to be amongst the most precious of stones, the finding of large stores of it in Brazil has brought the price down greatly and has seen it reclassified as a semi-precious stone. Ancient civilizations greatly valued it and it was often seen adorning the priests and royalty. Deep Russian or Deep Siberian Amethyst is the most sought after. These stones have a deep purple hue with blue and sometimes red hues present. When determining the value of an amethyst, jewelers and collectors look for depth of color and secondary hues, with red being the most expensive. A poor quality amethyst will be very pale in color. A top quality amethyst will have a very deep, rich purple hue, which is so deep that you will not be able to look through the gem all the way to its base. An amethyst with red hues is extremely rare and thus very valuable.
Synthetic amethyst is very common and it is often made to such high quality that it is difficult for most to differentiate between it and real amethysts unless the stone undergoes extensive and expensive testing. This is another reason for the price of amethysts, and thus amethyst jewelry dropping significantly in more recent years. To the average eye, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a genuine and a synthetic stone.
The violet hue of the amethyst stone makes it perfect for setting in either Sterling silver or white gold, as that brings out and complements the hue of the stone. If amethyst is set in a gold band, it is often surrounded by small diamonds in an effort to give some sort of consistency to the overall appearance of the amethyst gold ring. A gold amethyst ring set with diamonds is not inexpensive. Depending on the cut of the amethyst and the size of the diamonds, you could expect to pay anywhere up to $1,500 to $2,000 for a ring. White gold amethyst rings are also often set with diamonds around the amethyst. Of the two types of gold, the white gold rings are usually less expensive however again this depends on the karat of the gold and the amount and size of the surrounding diamonds. A Sterling silver amethyst ring is usually the least expensive.
A green amethyst ring set in white gold looks absolutely stunning as the subtle hues in the green amethyst set off the white gold in a way that the contrasting violet colors of the amethyst cannot. You will more often find green amethyst rings set in either silver or white gold than in 14-carat gold. Amethyst engagement rings are usually set in white gold bands, with the amethyst surrounded by diamonds. Usually, the violet amethyst is used and the stone is often finely cut and fairly large. Due to the fact that the hues in amethyst can be rather patchy, usually, the gem is cut as a brilliant round cut as this maximizes the hue and color of the stone and thus its brilliance. A well-cut amethyst ring will sparkle in the sunlight and will also reflect a lot of light, similar to how a well-cut diamond will do. Facets should be clean cut, with no scratches or unevenness and they will be well polished. The better the cut of the amethyst, the more expensive it is, thus often amethysts set in engagement rings are well cut with the facets well proportioned.
While amethyst is no longer considered to be a precious stone, even though its quality ranks with other precious stones, amethyst rings are still a very popular piece of jewelry. Prices range according to the actual cut and worth of the amethyst itself, as well as the setting of the ring. White gold is a popular choice as a band with the amethysts frequently set with diamonds on either side of the gem.
Featured Amethyst Rings
The products below represent some of the more exceptional amethyst rings available on the market today.
The Gorgeous Amethyst Ring
So you’ve decided you want an amethyst ring, and now it is time to shop. Lucky you! There is nothing that is more exciting than shopping for a new piece of jewelry, in my humble opinion. The first thing I wonder is this: have you done your research? There are some important facts you should be aware of about amethyst rings before you head for the jewelry store.
The amethyst ring of your dreams can take many forms. Maybe you want a white gold amethyst ring or a yellow gold amethyst ring. Another popular choice would be a silver amethyst ring, especially if you are on a tight budget. You could have a large stone as the focal point, or many smaller amethyst stones put together in a pave style. Some women prefer a diamond amethyst ring which will have small diamond accents – a great choice! Another very beautiful choice is the green amethyst ring, although they may be slightly pricier because green amethyst is a rare form of this wonderful gemstone.
A gold amethyst ring will cost you the most, as gold is always a more expensive metal to design jewelry with. Generally, larger gemstones cost more than smaller gemstones of the same quality, because it is much harder to find large, high-quality gemstones. That means if you want a gold amethyst ring with a large stone, say 10 carats or more, be prepared to spend $1000 or more for it.
A beautiful white gold diamond amethyst ring with a 1-carat amethyst stone and diamond accent stones like the one pictured to the left will run you about $250 if you shop around.
A sterling silver amethyst ring may be your best choice if you want a ring that will look great but not send your bank balance plummeting. I recently saw a beautiful, sleek and modern silver amethyst ring with an oval cut 1.5 carat stone for 19.99! Now that’s a bargain!
Amethyst is a form of quartz and has a rating of 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. That means that your amethyst ring will be able to take normal wear and tear with no problem. Amethyst is also very easy to care for. All you need to do is clean it with a good commercial jewelry cleaner or just mild soap and water whenever it gets dull-looking. A sterling silver amethyst ring that is worn quite often will not develop tarnish as quickly as one that is sitting in a jewelry box, so when you are storing your ring, always keep it in an airtight bag, or possibly a velvet bag to keep the air and moisture exposure as low as possible. Of course, the same goes for your silver locket, your sterling silver hoop earrings, and all of your sterling silver jewelry!
An amethyst ring can give you so much pleasure, and with the many different types and styles available, I think everyone should own more than one, don’t you? Find a high-quality jewelry dealer, shop around, and you will be rewarded with a lovely addition to your collection! You can find out more about amethyst rings right here at Amazon.com!
Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings