About AmethystGuarantees SuccessFolklore says that amethysts guarantee success in war, sports, business and other competitive ventures - including love. Today, amethyst is popular because its many shades of purple or green — ranging from deep purple to soft, pale lilac and from yellow-green to light green – – are complementary to such a wide range of skin tones and fashions. Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Color and pedigreeAmethysts range from light lavender to dark purple; green amethysts have a yellow–green or light green color. A special kind of amethyst known as Rose de France has a pale lilac hue. Most amethysts come from Brazil, Uruguay and parts of Africa. Taking it homeAmethysts rate a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Be aware that amethysts have a moderate scratch resistance and can fracture if they receive a sharp blow. Clean amethyst jewelry with liquid jewelry cleaners, or a mild soapy detergent and water. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe, unless there are noticeable inclusions. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on amethysts. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
