February Birthstone

February Birthstone - Amethyst

Birthstones have been used for centuries as a way to make jewelry more personal and mark the month the wearer was born. February has had several birthstones associated with it, but in 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers came up with a standardized list of what gem birthstone goes with what month and amethyst was the stone given to the month of February. This is what we call the “modern" list of birthstones. Prior to this, other birthstones were associated with the birth month and these are referred to as “traditional" stones.

February, the second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar is also the shortest. The modern birthstone of February is Amethyst which has long been associated with this month along with the traditional stone of onyx. Amethyst is a violet or purple variety of quartz often used as an ornament. The name is generally said to be derived from the Greek a, "not," and methuskein, "to intoxicate," expressing the old belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. Amethyst birthstone jewelry is a great gift for anyone who has a birthday in February – check our amethyst showcase for beautiful handmade jewelry.

As a gemstone, the birthstone of February has been well used. It was popular with the ancient Egyptians and has been used often for intaglios. Beads of amethyst are found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England. This birthstone can be found in many place around the world including, Braxil, Russia, and even the US.

This birthstone for the month of February comes in varying shades of color and has several descriptive to describe it’s varying colors of amethyst. "Rose de France" is usually a pale pinkish lavender or lilac shade (usually the least sought color). The most prized color for the birthstone is an intense violet with red flashes and is called "Siberian", although gems of this color may occur from several locations other than Siberia.

Along with being the birthstone associated with February, amethyst is also associated with the constellations of Pisces, Aries (especially the violet and purple variety), Aquarius, and Sagittarius. It is a symbol of heavenly understanding, and of the pioneer in thought and action on the philosophical, religious, spiritual and material planes.

Wearing Feburary’s birthstone might help you feel calmer and protect you as it is thought that amethyst assists those who wear it in maintain their faithfulness, causing peace and calmness of mind. It was often carried by soldiers on the shafts of spears and on swords as a charm against death, being thought to bring calmness and victory in battle.

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