February's birthstone

The regal Amethyst is the birthstone for those born in February.

Amethyst is famously believed to protect the wearer from drunkenness.

A member of the large quartz family, Amethyst measures 7 on the Mohs' scale of hardness.

Crystals that are part Amethyst and part Citrine are known as Ametrine and can occasionally be found in pieces of jewellery.

Amethyst can be heat treated to change the colour to yellow, producing Citrine. Most Citrine on the market today is heat treated Amethyst.

The palest shade of Amethyst is known as "Rose de France".

If you were born under the Zodiac sign of Aquarius (20 January - 19 February), the stone historically associated with your sign is the Garnet.

If you were born under the Zodiac sign of Pisces (20 February - 20 March), the stone historically associated with your sign is the Amethyst.

The custom of wearing birthstone jewellery gained momentum in 18th Century Poland and is thought to stem from an interest in the significance of the original twelve stones in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest, as highlighted by St Jerome in the 5th Century.

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