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Amethyst: A Regal Gemstone

February is the month of amethyst.

Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac, or mauve is called amethyst. The word comes from the Greek amethustos meaning "without drunkenness" and was traditionally worn to guard against intoxication and to instill a sober mind. Ancient Egyptians used the amethyst to guard against fearful feelings and self-deception. Today, amethysts are often worn by healers, as it has the power to focus energy as well as bring pleasant dreams or relieve headaches.

Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and appears as quartz.

Care: Because it is relatively high on the Mohs scale, amethyst can be cleaned in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or with warm, soapy water and soft bristle brush. However, it will become paler if kept out in the sun too long.

Make that special someone in your life feel like a princess this year with a beautiful amethyst piece.

Garnet: A Spectrum of Color

It's the new year, and it's the month of the Garnet.

Garnet is a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. The name "garnet" comes from the Latin "granatus", possibly a reference to the "malum granatum," or "pomegranate," a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. While garnets are most often seen as red, they are available in a wide variety of color including orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, and black. Discovered in the late 1990s in Madagascar, the blue garnet is the rarest of the colors.

Care: Because the chemical composition of garnet varies, the atomic bonds in some varieties are stronger than in others. As a result, the mineral shows a range of hardness on the Mohs Scale from about 6.5 to 7.5. Because of this, the stone is susceptible to nicks and cracks caused by impact. To clean your garnet, use warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic cleaning is safe for most types of garnet, but avoid using a steam cleaner.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!