Hand-carved amethyst heart suspended on a sterling silver cable chain

The most valuable and precious stone of the quartz family, Amethyst was known as “Gem of Fire” to the Ancients. Once as valuable as diamonds themselves, Amethyst has been revered by Kings, priests and pagans alike. Gemologists will tell you Amethyt’s color is produced by the presence of iron and/or manganese in clear, colorless Quartz, whereas poets and students of mythology hold that wine from the Goblet of Bacchus or Dionysus was responsible for Amethyst’s deep purple hue.