February’s Birthstone: Amethyst
By Anna Samsonova, CGA, Ben Bridge Jewelers Amethyst, ranging from a light to dark purple has been in popular use for centuries. Purple is often associated with royalty; notice how many people of power enjoy that deep, purple tone! Amethyst was Catherine the Great’s favorite stone and can be found among the British Crown Jewels. Amethyst is the purple variety of the Quartz species. It often has no imperfections, so it is very easy and appealing to make into large statement jewelry. Amethyst grows in an amazing rock called a geode. Amethyst geodes come in many shapes