February

TECHNICAL

Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for February and was worn by the ancient Romans as a talisman to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus. In a Greek legend, when the god Bacchus was having a bad day, he decided that the first person to meet him and his entourage of tigers would be devoured by the animals. That unfortunate individual turned out to be the maiden Amethyst.

The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem kingdom. Emerald's precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron. Unlike other beryls, emeralds often contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects for emerald like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone.

The hardness of Emerald is 7.5-8 on the mohs scale. It is suitable for all types of jewelry.