Its colour is as unique as it is seductive, though in fact this gemstone of all gemstones is said to protect its wearer against seduction. The amethyst is extravagance in violet. For many thousands of years, the most striking representative of the quartz family has been a jewel coveted by princes both ecclesiastical and secular. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest of the Jews, and the Russian Empress Catherine the Great sent thousands of miners into the Urals to look for it. In popular belief, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness - for the Greek words 'amethystos' mean 'not intoxicated' in translation. A more apt stone for the month of February, particularly if there is to be plenty going on in the way of carnival celebrations, could thus hardly be wished for.
COLOUR SHIFT
Gem Type: Amethyst
Quantity: 1
Weight (cts):13.76
Facet: Oval
Size(mm): 20.3 x 13.6
Depth(mm): 8
Colour: Bright Purple
Clarity: IF
Origin: Uruguay
Moh's Hardness: 7
Enhancement: Unheated*
GIA CLARITY SCALE FOR COLOURED GEMS IS USED
Guarantee: Descriptions are as provided by our suppliers. If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason whatsoever, you may return it within 15 days of close of auction for a 100% refund of your winning bid.
*All gems sold by top drawer are listed as described by our suppliers, who we have no reason to doubt, however as the majority of gem stones have undergone some form of enhancement, one should always assume treatments. For some varieties there is little difference between the values of enhanced, treated and natural gems. Exceptions such as ruby, sapphire and emerald,command high prices when untreated and are extremely rare. ( Be sceptical of claims that any of the above are untreated, especially on the internet. )
Buyers should also be aware that many of the quartz family of gems such as amethyst, citrine and ametrine are probably hydrothermal and/or have been subjected to heat or irradiation. This applies to topaz as well, which in addition is sometimes coated. In this, the lower end of the market, these treatments and processes do not markedly affect the value, look or durability of the gem, therefore the high cost of lab certification can not be warranted. However, if you are purchasing high end gems for investment purposes, you should have your gem certified by an internationally recognised laboratory. Certificates provided by the seller are generally not worth the paper they are written on and should be regarded with suspicion.
It should also be noted that sellers on bid or buy often utilise the same same sources for acquiring their gems, extravagant claims for their particular gems, such as in-house faceting and guarantees of authenticity therefore do not hold water. Remember, without laboratory analysis, nobody can positively authenticate any gem!
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