The unmistakable purple hue of February’s birthstone, the amethyst, recalls royalty, rich jewel tones and of course, Elizabeth Taylor’s famous eye color, but the gem is also an effortless way to bring that “wow” factor to any look through bold jewelry.
“The best thing about amethysts is they are easy to work with, in ready supply and not expensive so they are great for making something big and bold,” says Russell Fogarty, jewelry expert and founder of Beladora.
He cites the tassel necklaces from Van Cleef & Arpels made during the 1980s and 1990s with amethysts, turquoise and diamonds. “Those are beautiful and have become collectibles at this point.”
Photo: 18 Karat Gold, Coral, Amethyst, Turquoise and Diamond Necklace, vintage Van Cleef & Arpels, courtesy of Sotheby’s
The vivid purple color casts a striking contrast to turquoise as well as pretty much any other bold stone and pacts a head turning punch when used creatively.
“Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?” wrote L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables, illustrating just how vivid and deep the hue of an amethyst can be.
