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One of the oldest and perhaps most interesting talismanic pieces of jewelry is known as the Naoratna or Nararatna, the nine-gem
jewelry. According to the old Hindu Ratnacastras, or treatise on gems, the Naratna was designed to combine all the powerful
astrological influences.
A fine specimen of the Naoratna was shown in the Indian Court of The Paris Exposition of 1878. It was mounted with the following
gems: coral, topaz, sapphire, ruby, flat diamond, cut diamond, emerald, amethyst and carbuncle. In this early masterpiece
of jewelry, the amethyst is associated with the Moon. This association must be the reason pearl and amethyst combine so well
in jewelry.
In another era, Amethyst has been described as the ninth stone of the High Priest's Breastplate in the
Book of Exodus. By contrast, the Book of Revelations has it that the twelfth stone of the High Priest's Breastplate was an
Amethyst.
Rabanus Maurus, Archbishop of Mainz (786-856), referred to the significance of the twelfth Apocalyptic gems by writing "in
the amethyst,[ is] the constant thought of the heavenly kingdom in humble souls."
Andreas, Bishop of Caiesaria, probably from the last half of the tenth century, wrote "By the amethyst, which shows
to the onlooker a fiery aspect, is signified Matthias, who in the gift of tongues was so filled with celestial fire and with
fervent zeal to serve and please God, who had chosen him, that he was found worthy to take the place of the apostate Judas."
Amethyst, with its message of piety, was the ornamentation of the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. In particular
it was the gemstone for bishops. (Including St. Valentine.) In fact bishops often wear amethyst rings today.
Catherine the Great loved to collect Amethyst and is said to have sent thousands of workers to the Ural mines to find
the most beautiful of the lovely gemstones. Her great collection of Amethysts and Emeralds were sold by the Russian Government
in 1906. Despite this sale, a portion of the collection has been preserved and is now in the Russian Collection.
As well, Amethyst is a part of the Coronation Regalia of England. The Orb, a golden globe six inches in diameter, contains
one gloriously-colored Amethyst which stands one and one half inches high. The King's scepter, coronet of the Prince of Wales,
has a beautiful circlet of pearls and Amethysts.
Now, during this twenty-first century, many value the Amethyst gemstone Whether they know its history, A lot of people
seek to learn of its lore. Others value its special purplish violet hue.
Please click here to return to the main Amethyst page.
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