AMETHYST AND DIAMOND EARRINGS
The earrings mirror each other in design and comprise of two pear-shaped rose-cut amethysts with a surround of diamonds and carved black onyx, suspending from a similarly-designed surmount of full-cut diamonds and carved black onyx, mounted in 18K white gold.
Diamond: 1.37 carats
Coloured stones: 40.10 carats
Gross weight: 24.80 grams
Length: 5 cms approximately
AMETHYST
A variety of the mineral quartz, amethyst occurs in a range of purple hues, from lilac to a royal deep
purple. The violet colour comes from irradiation and traces of iron. In the olden days, amethyst was
an expensive stone until the discovery of large deposits in Brazil in the 19th century. Its crystalline
form makes it perfect for setting in jewellery, and it was often the preferred stone in religious and
royal jewels in medieval Europe. It is rumoured that the amethyst stone was a personal favourite of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia (1729 1796).
In Greek legends, amethyst is associated with the Bacchus, the god of wine. From the Greek word amethystos, meaning sober, this gem was believed to prevent the wearer from intoxication. Other myths believed that the amethyst kept the wearer cool-headed and also had the powers to heal, leading medieval European soldiers to wear the stone in battle as protection. Once rivalling in value to rubies, emerald and sapphire, the amethyst stone is one of the emblems of the twelve apostles.