Amethyst Engagement Rings
and
Your Guide to the Amethyst Gemstone

amethyst engagement rings

Amethyst engagement rings hold a ravishing gemstone that will last for years with minimal care, and this abundant gemstone is available in a wide variety of cuts, styles, sizes and prices.

To find a splendid purple or green amethyst for your engagement ring, use the info below including gemstone properties, amethyst meaning, enhancements, special care, price guides, popular styles and more. And if you have any questions about amethyst engagement rings, just use the handy comment box at the end of the page!

Amethyst Fast
Fun Facts!

February Birthstone

Durability: Good

Meaning: Protection and Clarity

Flash Factor: Good

Special Care: Some

Price $$: Affordable

Availability: High


Amethyst Properties

Purple amethyst is a type of crystalline quartz that is famous for the variety of rich purple hues and colors which are the trademark of a fine amethyst.

Durability = Good
Hardness = 7.0
Refractive Index = 1.544 - 1.533
Specific Gravity = 2.66

Green amethyst is also a type of quartz known as prasiolite. True natural prasiolite is quite rare, and most jewelry pieces made with green amethyst are crafted with quartz that has been heat treated and/or irradiated to produce the lovely sea green color that green amethyst is so well known for. 

The majority of amethyst gemstones used for jewelry purposes are from Austria, Brazil, India, South Korea, Russia, and Zambia.

Amethyst Meaning

The word amethyst comes from the Greek word “amethystos” which means “not intoxicated.” The Greeks and Romans believed that this gemstone would protect them from intoxication while drinking alcoholic beverages, and they created amethyst drinking cups specifically to ward off the effects of alcohol.

Throughout history, amethyst was regarded as a protective stone. Soldiers once wore the stone into battle for protection against death and injury, and legend has it that the amethyst will also keep the wearer safe from feelings of grief and anxiety, physical additions, and insomnia.

Amethyst rings are believed to have mentally calming effects that can enhance clarity of thought, and this gemstone is the classic and modern birthstone for the month of February.

Amethyst Enhancements

Amethyst is occasionally enhanced using heat treatments to improve the color and clarity of the stone. These heat treatments are quite stable and usually have only a minimum effect on the value of the gemstones.

The heat and irradiation treatments which are used to produce green amethyst are also quite stable.

Special Care for Amethyst Engagement Rings

Amethyst can fade overtime if it is repeatedly exposed to the sunlight. To preserve the color of amethyst engagement rings or wedding bands, turn the ring so the stone is on the inside of the finger while sunbathing - or if you are going to be in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

As a type of quartz, amethyst can be scratched by harder gemstones - like diamonds. If you need to store your amethyst wedding ring, it is a good idea to store it in a secure pouch away from other pieces of jewelry to prevent surface scratches.

Like most types of engagement and wedding rings, it is best to remove amethyst rings before going into chlorinated water.


Amethyst Price Guide

Amethyst was once a highly valued gemstone, but due to discoveries of large amethyst deposits the price of amethyst gemstones has declined.


The average cost of an amethyst stone per carat is approximately $8.00 - but that estimate can change dramatically based on the stone's color followed by clarity and to some extent carat size. 

The color of an amethyst has a huge impact on overall value, and stones that display extremely deep purple tones are valued more than lighter varieties of amethyst.

The best color characteristics for amethysts are a medium-saturated tone that is consistent throughout the entire gemstone.

Amethyst which has secondary blue and purple flashes is also valued much higher than amethyst gemstones with other types of secondary colors - and secondary colors including yellow, brown and orange can lower overall value.

Light purple amethysts are not as highly valued as the deeper purple stones, but some people prefer the softer purples as opposed to some of the more eye catching rich dark purples.

An eye-clean high clarity amethyst will also be valued higher than stones that have any blemishes or inclusions - and visible flaws will significantly lower the value of an amethyst gemstone.

Carat does not have a huge impact on the overall price of amethyst in most cases - but because extremely high clarity amethyst stones in large carat sizes are not as common, these types of stones can have a much higher value.

As with all gemstones, the quality of the cut will also impact value. Custom cut stones which bring out the best color and clarity qualities will greatly increase the stone's value compared to a generic machine cut.

The most highly valued amethysts are the rare deep Russian amethysts with an average cost of $50,000 for 1 carat!

Green amethysts which have been produced by heat treating quartz are comparable in price to purple amethysts. The most highly desirable green color is a consistent sea green tone with secondary white flashes - like purple amethysts, green amethysts are also valued highly on cut characteristics.

Amethyst Engagement Ring Styles

If your heart is set on an amethyst engagement ring, you're in luck! This is because amethyst gemstones look stunning in almost any cut - and with a number of metals.

The sterling silver amethyst ring is an excellent option for couples on a budget looking for an affordable engagement ring, and with a little TLC a silver ring will remain in excellent condition.

Palladium is also a fabulous metal for amethyst wedding rings. It is extremely durable and much more affordable than gold - and unlike white gold, palladium does not need to be rhodium plated.

For a little color, an 18k yellow or rose gold amethyst ring is a terrific option and 18k gold wears very well with time.

And for luxury amethyst engagement rings, platinum is definitely the best choice!

If you love green, a green amethyst ring will offer a soft luminous sea green color and this gemstone too is available in a wide variety of cuts and styles. Green amethyst is quite durable, but a green amethyst ring will need to be treated with the same special care considerations listed above to remain in top condition.

Whichever style of amethyst wedding ring you choose, make sure the gemstone is mounted in a secure setting - and if the gemstone is cut in any shape with sharp corners, choose a setting that protects all of these corners with strong prongs.

wedding ring shopping tips


Shopping Tips for Amethyst Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

Due to the large amount of amethyst gemstones on today’s market, including low quality gemstones, couples should take the time to make sure they are buying a wedding band or engagement ring made with a quality amethyst gemstone and high standards of workmanship.

Desirable amethyst properties include no inclusions or blemishes - i.e. eye clean gemstones - the color will be sharp and reflective (blue, purple and white flashes are highly desirable) and the cut and clarity should be good to excellent.

If you are unsure of the quality of the amethyst, a local certified gemologist can analyze the amethyst for you.

Synthetic amethysts are available for prices that are similar to real amethysts, but these synthetics do not have the flash and deep reflective qualities of a real amethyst. With the affordable prices and higher color quality and light reflective properties of a true amethyst, it doesn’t make sense to purchase a synthetic version of this gemstone - or a simulant amethyst, like purple cubic zirconia. 

When you purchase an amethyst, the seller should tell you if the amethyst has been heat treated or not - and by law, synthetic amethysts must be labeled as synthetics.

If you are interested in amethyst engagement rings or amethyst wedding rings, look for ring selections offered by reputable companies or designers - like Gemvara - who specialize in gemstone engagement rings crafted with ideal stones plus strong and secure settings.

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