Some famous Pisceans are Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Daniel Craig, George Washington, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs, and Cindy Crawford.
Happy Birthday to all~
February
Amethyst
There are few gems that are both affordable and worthy of a queen’s desires. February’s birthstone has many qualities, including, as the legend goes, to prevent you from getting sloshed!
Amethyst is a purple quartz. Its color can range from a pink to deep purple. It is typical to see a light to dark effects in one stone. This is called color zoning. The most desired shade is known as “Deep Siberian” as it has a deep purple hue.
The History
The word amethyst is rooted in the ancient Greek ἀ a- (“not”) and méthystos (“intoxicated”). No wonder the stone is associated with the deep purple color of wine and the ability to stop intoxication!
Bacchus, the god of wine, would remain clear headed and withstand intoxication with an Amethyst in his pocket. It is said that Romans and Greeks made wine goblets from the purple quartz and amethyst glass. It was believed that drinking alcohol from an amethyst vessel would prevent drunkenness.
The Smithsonian has one of the most rare amethyst. It is a 96-carat heart shaped Amethyst Brooch. It was made around 1915. An amethyst necklace, with even more history is in the Natural History Museum of London. It is know as the Delhi Purple Sapphire (even though it’s an amethyst). The stone was once stolen from the Temple of Indra during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Anyone in the possession of this stone is bound to have terrible luck, which is why the owner gifted the gemstone to the museum thinking that this would save him.
Many Amethysts come from Brazil, the Rio Grande do Sul, Para and Bahia. Artigas and Uruguay, are also known for its amethyst mines. In the United States, amethyst is widely found in Arizona, Colorado and Texas. The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Ontario.