Amethyst
Once valued alongside ruby and emerald, amethyst is now one of the best values in fine jewelry — available clean, large, and in a purple nothing else quite matches.
About Amethyst
Amethyst is quartz colored purple by iron and natural irradiation. Until large Brazilian deposits were found in the nineteenth century it was genuinely rare and priced with the great gems; the new supply democratized it almost overnight. What did not change was the color.
The finest material, traditionally called Siberian regardless of where it was actually mined, shows a deep purple with flashes of red and blue. Zambian amethyst tends toward that saturation; Brazilian and Uruguayan material covers everything from pale rose de France to rich royal purple. Color zoning is common in the rough, and skilled cutting orients the stone so the color reads evenly.
At 7 on the Mohs scale and with no cleavage, amethyst is practical for everyday wear. Its one weakness is heat and strong sunlight over long periods, which can lighten the color, so it is worth keeping out of a sunny windowsill.
Why Sharon works with amethyst
Amethyst is where Sharon does some of her most interesting cutting work — hand-cut rectangles and carved crescents that would never justify the labour in a more expensive material. The stone is affordable enough to be adventurous with, and large enough to make a real statement.
Caring for amethyst
Warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight and high heat, which can fade the color over time. Ultrasonic cleaning is generally safe.
Common questions about amethyst
Why is amethyst so much cheaper than it used to be?
Because very large deposits were discovered in Brazil and Uruguay in the nineteenth century. Supply went from scarce to abundant, and the price followed — but the color and durability that made it prized are unchanged.
What is Siberian amethyst?
It is a color grade rather than a place of origin. The term describes the deepest purple material with red and blue secondary flashes, wherever it was mined.
Does amethyst fade?
It can lighten with prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or heat. Ordinary wear is fine; leaving it on a sunny sill for years is not.
Amethyst jewelry by Sharon Teaman
Each piece is one of a kind and made by hand in State College, Pennsylvania.
Ametrine statement Pendant
Amethyst$5,990
Pearl Abalone Pearl, Amethyst and Apatite Pendant
Pearl$2,995
14K Amethyst Pear Angled Ring
Amethyst$2,385
14K Amethyst Bar Set Ring
Amethyst$1,765
Hand Cut Amethyst Statement Ring
Amethyst$1,445
14K Pear Shape Amethyst Ring
Amethyst$1,395
Amethyst Custom Cut Pendant
Amethyst$1,270
Organic Amethyst Earrings
Amethyst$995
Drusy SS (Directional Color Change) and Amethyst Crescent - Necklace
Drusy$895
Amethyst Crystals in Sterling Silver
Amethyst$590
Freshwater Aubergine Pearl Earrings with Amethyst
Pearl$550
Iolite & Amethyst Crystals in Sterling Silver
Amethyst$535
Amethyst "V" Sterling Silver Ring accented with 2 round Moissanite Gems
Amethyst$435
Amethyst Wave Sterling Silver Ring
Amethyst$395
Amethyst Wrap Sterling Silver Ring Oval Cut .75 carat
Amethyst$395
Amethyst Horizontal Baguette Sterling Silver Ring with Moissanite Accents
Amethyst$395
Two-Tone Freshwater Aubergine and Amethyst Pendant
Pearl$260
Dainty Amethyst 4-Prong Ring
Amethyst$115
Amethyst pieces Sharon has made before
Sold, but a good indication of what is possible. Any of these can be a starting point for a commission.
Commission a amethyst piece
Tell Sharon the color, the shape or the budget you have in mind. She sources amethyst year round and will find the right stone before a single sketch is made.