Welcome, February, and your regal birthstone, the Amethyst.
In the past, amethysts were considered one of "The Cardinal Gemstones"—alongside diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Prior to the Nineteenth Century, amethysts had only been discovered in Russia and Austria, thus, they were very rare (and very expensive). And their deep purple hue—the color of royalty in the West—made them a favorite with Medieval monarchs. Even to this day, Anglican and some Roman Catholic bishops wear an amethyst in their episcopal rings.
According to Ancient Greek mythology, Dionysus—the god of wine—was in-pursuit of a beautiful virgin, Amethystos. Her prayers to remain chaste were answered: before Dionysus could catch her, she turned into a beautiful white stone. In his grief, Dionysus poured a flask of his wine upon the stone, turning it violet—the first amethyst. This story helped the Ancient Greeks come to believe that amethyst could prevent intoxication. Wine bowls, made of turned amethyst, were thought to counteract the effects of the alcohol drunk from them. And the name, "Amethyst," comes from the Ancient Greek root words meaning "to not" and "intoxicate." Before the Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Egyptians used the purple stone for carved amulets—often embellished with hand-engraving.
In recent centuries, the range of amethyst mining has increased dramatically. The rarity (and the price) of amethysts has plummeted. Huge deposits of the purple gem have been discovered in Brazil which is now the world's richest source. The stone also has been mined in South Korea, South India, Canada and across the United States (from Arizona and Texas through Pennsylvania). Though they are now much less precious, the amethyst remains handsome, sophisticated and as regal as ever.
The pair of Late Victorian gold-filled cufflinks, shown above, are formed in the face of an ancient "grotesque." In his mouth, he holds a faceted amethyst. Click on the photo above to learn more about these handsome—and unusual—cufflinks.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.