In this article
Written by Sameer
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Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
February's birthstone is amethyst, the purple variety of quartz. In Urdu we call it jamunia, after the dark purple jamun fruit. Of all the birthstones, it probably gives you the most stone to look at for your money. It does have one weakness that every owner should know before buying, and that is strong sunlight.
The one thing to know first: sun fades it
Leave amethyst in direct sun or heat for long enough and the purple starts to fade. A deep stone worn through year after year of bright summers can slowly turn a greyish lilac, and once that happens the colour does not come back. Avoiding it is easy. Do not leave the stone on a sunny windowsill or dressing table, take it off for long days outdoors, and keep it in a pouch when you are not wearing it. For the same reason, keep it away from steam cleaning and other heat.
What separates a good amethyst from an ordinary one
- How deep the purple is. The stones people pay for are a rich purple that flashes red or rose as you tilt them; dealers still call this the "Siberian" look. Pale lilac is everywhere and should cost a small part as much.
- How even the colour is. Amethyst grows in bands, and a careless cutter can leave one end almost colourless. Turn the stone and look through it from the side. The purple should fill the face.
- Clarity. Good amethyst is clean to the eye. In this stone, visible inclusions are simply a fault.
- Size. Quartz forms large, clean crystals, so a big amethyst is not rare the way a big sapphire is. Weight still raises the price, just not as steeply as with scarcer gems.
Two stones of the same weight can be very different in colour, so compare the per-carat rate, not just the final price.
Heat treatment
Plenty of commercial amethyst is heated to deepen or shift its colour. Heat it further and it turns yellow, which is where much of the world's citrine comes from. The treatment is stable and accepted, but it should be disclosed. We state treatments whenever we know them; ask us about any stone you are thinking of buying.
Synthetics and glass
Lab-grown amethyst exists and is chemically identical to natural quartz. That is why a big, perfectly saturated, spotless stone at a very low price deserves a question. Purple glass is the cheaper imitation: it may show gas bubbles under a loupe, feels less cool on the skin, and scratches more easily. If you want independent confirmation, a gem lab can test the stone.
Wearing it day to day
Amethyst sits at 7 on the Mohs scale, which is fine for a ring as long as you avoid hard knocks. Clean it in lukewarm soapy water with a soft brush and dry it with a cloth.
Amethyst as a February gift
Purple looks lovely in silver, and amethyst lets you give a large, eye-catching stone without stretching the budget: a bold cocktail ring, a pendant or a pair of studs. Tuck in a note about keeping it out of strong sun and the gift will look just as good years from now.
February and Vedic practice
The February pairing comes from the Western list. Astrologers in Pakistan more often follow the Vedic system, where the stone is chosen by the chart rather than the birth month, and some traditions use amethyst as a substitute stone linked to Saturn. The chart and the month frequently disagree; see gemstones by rashi, and our birthstone guide for how the monthly list came about.
Picking your amethyst at Authentic Gems
Every stone in our amethyst collection is listed on its own, photographed as it is and priced individually. We ship across Pakistan from Karachi by insured courier with Cash on Delivery: Karachi orders usually arrive in 1 to 2 working days, other major cities in 2 to 4. You check the stone before paying, and returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery. If you need help matching a stone size to a ring, message us on WhatsApp.
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