Those born in February have a wonderful birthday month. It’s a short month filled with Valentine’s hearts, pancakes, snowflakes and an extra day every four years. But the best part of being a February baby is the birthstone.

Amethyst, the birthstone of February, is a kind of quartz that comes in a remarkable shade of purple – varying from deep violet and rich indigo to a pale blend of lilac. Ancient Greeks and Romans used Amethysts in beads and amulets and viewed the stone as extremely valuable and luxurious. It was often featured in royal garments such as crowns, tiaras and sceptres – and purple is, of course, still a royal colour to this day.

Amethyst can be found all across the globe, with some of the most precious stones being found in Greece, Italy, the Middle East, and the north of Africa. It can also be grown in laboratories, like most quartz crystals. If you’d prefer an amethyst from a specific place, due to personal preference, you can avoid the laboratory-grown ones. Otherwise, the characteristics are exactly the same.

There are many legends about the powers of amethyst and it holds a very special place in crystal lore and mythical beliefs.

The word ‘Amethyst’ translates to ‘not drunken’ in Greece. In ancient times they thought that the stone protected the wearer from drunkenness and provided a stable mind. This rather odd belief stems from a myth surrounding Dionysus the Greek God of wine who was wronged by a human and, in a fit of rage, vowed to set tigers on the next mortal to cross his path. Amethystas passed him on her way to the shrine of Artemis but before the tigers could attack, Artemis turned her into a statue of pure crystal to save her life. When Dionysus saw the quartz statue he felt regret for his actions and wept tears of wine over her, which gave the stone its purple colouring. Thus, ancient Greeks believed all Amethyst to have originated from the statue of Amethystas and claimed it would maintain sobriety when worn.

In the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, however, amethyst means wealth and if placed in the ‘wealth corner’ is said to increase the riches that will flow into the home. So if you’re into your chakras, it’s probably time to find your wealth corner and fill it with these gorgeous purple stones! It is also said that amethyst has many healing properties so is often linked with meditation and therefore, relieving stress. So if yoga and chamomile teas are not your forte – amethysts might help you out if you’re feeling stressed or anxious.

Amethyst is a durable stone and its exquisite colouring is a result of iron, aluminium and other minerals as well as natural irradiation – they also may contain minor hues of red and blue. And with a great array of intensities, the colour of an amethyst is usually laid out in streaks equivalent to the ultimate faces of the crystal. The shade of an amethyst can be changed over time – it can fade if overexposed to light sources or darkened with a sufficient amount of radiation.

So if you’re a February baby, it might be time to explore the amethyst jewels we have on offer here at William May. From dainty stud earrings, to glitzy amethyst and diamond dress rings to elegant pendant necklaces, we have something to suit every style. And, since it’s your birthday month, it’s the perfect excuse to request some beautiful jewellery. Or just get it for yourself as a birthday treat!

If you weren’t born in February, but you quite like the legend of Dionysus, or if purple is your favourite colour – why not treat yourself to an amethyst too. After all, if we’re to believe in Feng Shui – it might benefit your wealth and your mind, not just your jewellery collection.

You can shop all of our amethyst jewellery here