Amethysts Gem Stones; Part One

A three part series on the Amethyst Gem Stones

What is an amethyst gem stone? Amethyst is a violet or purpose variety of quartz. The name comes from the Greek and essentially means, "not drunk".

It was believed that the stone protected it's owner from the intoxicating effects of alcohol and Dionysius, who was the god of intoxication, was angered when he was insulted by a mortal and in a moment of pique vowed to enact revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path. He created tigers to carry out his wish and when a beautiful girl called Amethyst came among the path on her way to pay tribute to the Goddess Diana, Diana quickly changed the tigers into statutes of pure crystal quartz. Filled with remorse for his actions Dionysius wept tears which stained the quarts purple creating the amethysts we know today.

Amethysts can be found in many locations including various areas of the US such as Delaware county, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas and Yellowstone national Park for example.

Amethyst is also found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, as well as in Zambia, Namibia and other African countries.

Amethyst from South America tend to be available in larger sizes than the African amethyst but, on the other hand, amethyst from Africa have the reputation for having a better, more saturated color in smaller sizes. Very dark amethysts, mostly in small sizes, are also mined in Australia.

As purple has always been considered a royal color it comes as no surprise that the amethyst gem stone has been so much in demand by royalty throughout history. You can see amethysts featured in the British Crown Jewels. They were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Amethyst, transparent purple quartz, is probably the most important quartz variety used in jewelry.

Leonardo Da Vinci once wrote that the amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

Because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. It was, in particular, considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear amethyst rings.

And in Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha with rosaries often fashioned from it.

End of part one of a three part series on Amethysts Gem Stones. part two may be read at http://allaboutamethysts.org

Permission to use this article is granted provided the link to All About Amethysts is included.

The varieties of a Diamond Pendant!

 

A diamond pendant is a beautiful accessory that hangs on a piece of jewelry. Most definitely a diamond pendant is not limited to everyday apparel, but with such a great value of beauty and rarity, you'll probably want to savor wearing your pendant for a special occasion.

Here are some options of a variety of styles and occasions that a diamond pendant can be worn.

Diamond pendant necklace - The formal wear of those memorable occasions -- your high school prom, an evening at the ball, your wedding day -- must be accommodated with glamorous jewelry, including a diamond pendant necklace. With a formal evening gown, you'll want to make sure that this necklace is as alluring and fitting as the entire apparel.

Diamond pendant earrings - Earrings are a radiant choice to hold your diamond pendants. There are a variety of styles that can be selected when choosing to wear diamond pendant earring; loops that hold the pendant, earrings with the diamond pendant used as dangling decorations or simply diamond pendant studded earrings. For a formal evening, wear your hair up, so that people can pay particular attention to your diamond pendant earrings.

Diamond pendant locket - A diamond pendant locket symbolizes a sentimental treasure. Perhaps you are putting a baby picture of yourself in the locket, or that of a significant other. The pendant could contain a heart figurine or small diamond securely held inside, but exhibited for display when the locket is opened.

Diamond pendants are not just limited to these styles or occasions; they are versatile in wear. The most common uses of pendants include: wearing them on a necklace, on earrings, or even on a bracelet or anklet. Be certain that nothing will stand out more than displaying a diamond pendant on the necklace or earrings.

There are many other styles in which a diamond pendant may be worn, these were just a few. Your personal preference of diamond pendant (worn on a necklace or as earrings) may just be the most important thing you can wear, so go out and find that perfect diamond pendant for yourself!

Stephanie Tuia is a Client Account Specialist for 10X Marketing - More visitors, More Buyers, More revenue. For more information about diamond pendants, visit Harris Michael Jewelry

Turning Your Home On to Pendant Lights

Sure, pendant lights are a great way to light up your living room or kitchen, but did you ever consider styling your living space around them? Sounds absurd, but hear me out. If your place lacks furniture, the proper amount of lighting will turn your pad into a livable social haven perfect for celebrity style soirees. (However, if you have an overabundance of furniture, no amount of lighting will save you, but that's another story we'll work on later).

Consider the following scenarios: let's say you live in a place that happens to have cathedral ceilings (lucky you!) and you're looking to add some vibrant but not overly dramatic lighting into your home. Stick with contemporary styles that work in a variety of rooms and homes, preferably something with scavo vintage glass or with marblesque glass diffusers and finished in either a chrome or non-patina bronzes. Stay away from narrow, coniferous-shaped, and boxy shades unless you're looking to give your home a mod, Frank Lloyd Wright prairie-inspired ambiance.

If you live in a smaller space like a high-rise loft in the city or a studio apartment, and you're looking to jazz up your place with an urban-contemporary/artsy edge, I suggest going for anything with bold color and unusual shapes. Glass, PVC, silk shades in a variety of styles will truly transform your home. A word of advice if you're taking this route - less is more. Granted, there's a lot more versatility when it comes to choosing the perfect pendant light for your place, but don't go too over-the-top, honey; there's a fine line between edgy and kitsch, and trust me, you don't want to go kitsch!

What's great about pendant lights is that if you hang them in corner spaces or skewed from the absolute center of any room, your space automatically turns into a living art exhibit. Group about three or four ceiling pendants together, or line them up in a curvilinear fashion and, bam! Glorious light in your life (and home, of course)!

For a variety of stylish pendant lights and wall sconce visit Eco-lights.com.