We all know that February is the month of love, but do you know that it s also related to the birth stone amethyst? 

Here are 6 things that you may find interesting about this very special stone, amethyst!

1. It belongs to the purple quartz family. 

2. The name comes from the Ancient Greek, derived from the word “methustos,” which means “intoxicated.” Ancient wearers believed the gemstone could protect them from drunkenness.

3. It is associated with qualities of peace, courage and stability.

4. It can be found in countries like United States, Canada Brazil and Zambia.

5. Colour and clarity are keys to choosing amethyst.

Colour---Look for an evenly coloured tone of purple; avoid stones that have "stripes", layers of colours or that carry any brownish tint. 

Clarity--- Most gemologists would value richly colored stone with some minor inclusions (not eye-visible), since the color of this gem is so highly prized. In lighter colored amethysts, visible inclusions will greatly reduce the value of the gemstone.

6. Finally, other than being the February birthstone, it is also used to celebrate the 6th and 17th year of marriage!

That's all for this month's musing! We hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as how our team did preparing it! 

Adapted from American Gem Society: https://www.americangemsociety.org/zh_hans/amethyst-overview