The dynamic trend of fashion has paved the way for the popularity of violet gems. With their vibrant hue that has been historically symbolic of the imminence of regal power and religiosity, violet gem stones are sure to continue stirring the voracious demand for colorful and stunning accessories. Affirming these gems’ supremacy is the Japan Jewelry Association‘s bestowing of the Year Colour Stone of 2005 Award to purple gems.On top of this classy category is the amethyst, recognized as the queen of violet gems. Although this gem is commonly found as colorless pieces, it is the violet amethysts with sparkles of red or blue that are considered to be the most precious, and thus the most sought after. A unique feature of amethysts is that its color changes when a certain amount of heat is applied. This explains the onset of laboratory enhanced amethyst gems, the color and quality of which add to this gem’s kaleidoscopic color scheme. The amethyst is abundantly found in South America, in the nations of Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. The amethysts produced by these countries are valued for their significantly larger size, compared to the pieces found in Africa and Canada.
The East also possesses a supply of this precious gem, in India, Sri Lanka and Siberia. The amethysts in South Africa are known to exhibit the best purple hues with a deeply saturated color. Small samples of amethyst gems are also found in Australia.
Like other precious gems, the amethyst has the tendency to lose its color over the years. As such, caring for your amethyst gem entails careful cleaning without the use of harmful chemicals or extreme heat. A soft brush with a mild jewelry cleaner will do.
Among the treasured varieties of purple gems is the violet garnet. Like the amethyst, the fashionable factions of society have long recognized the splendor of this gem with its dramatic purple haze. Springing from the fertile class of garnet, this violet gem radiates the glassy luster of garnets although this type has chemical and physical properties that do not perfectly resemble that of most garnet varieties.
A specific example of a violet garnet is the spessartine with its violet bodies with reddish or brownish tints. Its rich purple varieties are called the Grape Garnet. This gem was newly discovered in India and its unique brilliance has captured the interest of many as it appears to be rare and thus expensive. A close variety of the spessartine is the Malaia Garnet.
Almandine garnet is one common garnet known for its opaque and violet façade. This notably dark gem should be commonly recognized as it is usually cut as a faceted gem that displays its violet hue and sparkling red accent.
Valued for its subtly changing veneer, the violet sapphire is another precious gem that exhibits a beautiful play of colors, from a soft blue in bright daylight to a garish violet as the milieu grows dimmer. It is abundant in Asia, in the plush nations of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Burma. North America boasts of its own supply of this gem in Montana and North Carolina in the United States. Other countries with violet gems are Australia, Brazil, Pakistan, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Competing with the amethyst’s charm, the purple tanzanite of the Meralani Hills north of Tanzania are gleaming gems whilst of a lesser durability. Exhibiting a captivating optical effect called trichroism, tanzanites glow with different hues, primarily violet then blue and dark green. A laboratory-enhanced variety of this gem is the tanzanique, the color and luster of which is boosted by other gems such as the cubic zirconia in a complex and highly modern process.
The recent decades have seen the ascent of several kinds of violet gems. The arduous contribution of technology has led the development of other purple gems in terms of color, clarity and overall quality.
Among these recently discovered and developed purple gems is the Violet Chalcedony. Found in Sumatra, Indonesia, this gem displays the gorgeous violet hue of the amethyst and the violet sapphire. This variety of the large family of the chalcedony is highly transparent, and its saturated color is said to be due to its iron content. Modern tests such as X-ray fluorescence analysis can be done to check the fine quality of its violet coloration that speaks for the quality of each sample of this gem.
Another is the stichtite, a metamorphic mineral that is classified among the serpentinite minerals of a rich magnesium and chromium content. This violet gem is among the rarest violet gems. It has a different crystal structure as well as a distinct chemical composition. A weakness of this gem is that it has a considerably low hardness.
The launching of the Violet turquoise had people intrigued as a new variety was added to the renowned beauty of the turquoise, the popularity of which is almost synonymous to its modish color. In 2005, the violet turquoise was heavily marketed as a chemically treated gem, originally found in Arizona. This gem’s color is said to be due to its manganese content although it was found out that external elements concerning its color does not exist in the gem’s composition.
The popularity of purple gems comes with a long history of mysticism as purple has long been linked to various metaphysical elements. The ancient Hindus of India associate purple with the sixth Chakra while the Greeks and the Romans attribute this to the esteem of their scholars, philosophers and leaders. Purple has been known to have emotional and spiritual powers, such that wearing of purple grants the wearer serenity. Purple gemstones in particular are believed to induce a clearer mindset, thus empowering the bearer’s ability to understand.
More than these gems vibrant purple hue, they are also valued for their intrinsic pacifying aura, as well as their ceremonial attribute that suggests sophistication and power. With what beauty that these gems offer, it’s high time you get into the trend yourself.
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January 17th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
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December 10th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
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