February Birthstone: Amethyst — Color, Meaning & Jewelry Guide

By Tolga Kavut, founder of Glamour Jewelry House · Updated September 2026

The February birthstone is amethyst — violet-purple quartz, the stone of clear heads and steady nerves. For most of history it sat beside emerald and ruby in the royal treasuries of Europe; then enormous deposits were found in Brazil in the 1800s and amethyst became the rarest kind of gem: a genuinely regal stone almost anyone can afford.

Here’s the February birthstone as I explain it at the bench — its real color range, the odd drinking myth behind its name, why bishops wore it for centuries, and how to choose amethyst jewelry that keeps its color.

Shop February birthstone jewelrySee all 12 birthstones

February birthstone at a glance

What color is the February birthstone?

Every shade of purple, from the palest lavender — the tone the trade calls “Rose de France” — to a violet so deep it looks almost black until light hits it. The most prized February birthstone color is a rich, saturated purple with flashes of red and blue inside it, historically associated with Siberian mines and today found at its best in Zambia and Uruguay.

Purple is the color of rank. For centuries the dye alone cost fortunes, so purple cloth and purple stones marked emperors, cardinals and kings — and amethyst was the only purple gem that mattered. When a February baby wears amethyst, they are wearing the entire history of the color.

What does the February birthstone mean?

Amethyst’s meaning is written into its name. The Greek amethystos means “not drunken” — the ancients believed the stone kept a mind clear, and wine goblets carved from amethyst were supposed to let you drink all night without losing your wits. (It didn’t work, but the goblets were beautiful.)

Out of that grew everything amethyst still stands for: calm, level-headedness, clarity under pressure, freedom from excess. Medieval bishops wore amethyst rings as a pledge of spiritual clear-sightedness, and in crystal-healing tradition it remains the stone for quieting a busy mind and easing sleep — folklore, not medicine, but a hard message to beat as a gift.

A short history of amethyst

The Egyptians carved amethyst into amulets four thousand years ago; Greek and Roman signet rings used it constantly. Catherine the Great of Russia adored it and sent thousands of miners into the Urals after it, which is why the finest color grade still carries the nickname “Siberian.”

Then came the plot twist: in the early 19th century, vast deposits were found in Brazil and Uruguay — cathedral-sized geodes lined with purple crystals. Overnight, a gem of royalty became a gem for everyone. Amethyst is the rare stone whose story is about abundance rather than scarcity, and February babies are the beneficiaries.

How to buy a good amethyst

Buy color, not carats. Because amethyst is affordable even in large sizes, the whole game is color quality: look for even, saturated purple without visible zoning (stripes of pale and dark). Under warm evening light, the best stones flash red.

Eye-clean is the standard. There is no reason to accept visible inclusions in amethyst at jewelry sizes. Expect glassy clarity — unlike emerald, where inclusions are part of the deal.

Know the sun rule. Amethyst’s purple can slowly fade under months of direct sunlight. Worn normally it’s a non-issue.

Caring for amethyst jewelry

Warm soapy water and a soft brush. At 7 Mohs it resists scratching in daily wear, but store it apart from diamond and sapphire, which can scratch it.

Shop February birthstone jewelry

Every piece is made to order in 18K gold — choose amethyst at checkout for a February birthday, and add a name, initial or date if you’d like it engraved.

Natural Birthstone NecklaceFrom $57 Birthstone RingFrom $57 Teardrop Birthstone NecklaceFrom $58 Family Birthstone NecklaceFrom $59 Personalized Birthstone BraceletFrom $59 Custom Name Necklace with BirthstoneFrom $59

All birthstone jewelryBirthstone necklacesBirthstone rings

February birthstone jewelry: where to start

Amethyst is one of the most forgiving birthstones to wear — hard enough for any setting, striking in both silver and gold (purple against yellow gold is a quietly spectacular combination).

My first recommendation is the same every month, for the same practical reason: a bezel-set February birthstone necklace takes a fraction of the knocks a ring does and becomes an heirloom the moment you engrave a name or date. If you’d rather wear it on your hand, a low-set February birthstone ring handles daily life easily at amethyst’s hardness. And a February stone takes its place beautifully in a family birthstone necklace or a personalized birthstone bracelet.

February birthstone questions

What is February’s birthstone?

Amethyst — violet-purple quartz, the only official birthstone for February on the modern list.

What color is the February birthstone?

Purple, from pale lavender (“Rose de France”) to deep violet. The most valuable shade is saturated purple with red and blue flashes.

Is amethyst expensive?

No — large Brazilian finds in the 1800s made fine amethyst affordable, so February babies can wear genuinely royal color at friendly prices.

Is amethyst good for everyday jewelry?

Yes. At 7 Mohs it wears well in rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Its only quirk is avoiding months of direct sunlight, which can soften the color.

Why is amethyst associated with sobriety?

From its Greek name amethystos, “not drunken” — the ancient belief that the stone protected a clear mind.

Birthstones for every month

Each month has its own guide to its stone, color and meaning — or start with the complete birthstones by month chart.

• January birthstoneGarnet · Deep red
• February birthstoneAmethyst · Violet purple
• March birthstoneAquamarine · Sea blue
• April birthstoneDiamond · Colorless
• May birthstoneEmerald · Vivid green
• June birthstonePearl · Cream white
• July birthstoneRuby · Rich red
• August birthstonePeridot · Olive green
• September birthstoneSapphire · Royal blue
• October birthstoneOpal · Play-of-color
• November birthstoneTopaz · Golden yellow
• December birthstoneTurquoise · Robin’s-egg blue

You might also like

• January birthstone — the previous month’s garnet
• March birthstone — aquamarine, February’s cool-toned neighbor
• November birthstone — citrine, amethyst’s golden quartz sibling