Amethyst
The word amethyst means “not drunken,” and it was thought to protect its wearer from drunkenness. It is also called the Bishop’s stone because each Bishop was given an amethyst ring to wear. The Hebrews believed that it had the power for inducing visions or dreams. Revelations 9-21 refers to Amethyst as the 12th layer of the temple, thought to refer to the Twelve Apostles. This 12th stone was believed to induce constant thoughts of heaven. Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (silicon dioxide), and it hardness is 7 on Moh’s scale. Large deposits are found in South America and Russia. Amethyst is February’s birthstone.

Use Amethyst For: With its rich, deep purple, amethyst is a fine choice for Advent, Lent, or any contemplative or penitential theme. It also carries a sense of royalty. Combine it with rose-colored stones for women's rosaries, but it also combines beautifully with bronze, gold, silver, and other amethysts. It comes in a variety of hues from deepest purple to pale pink/lavender.

Shown at Left: Deep purple amethysts and silver for Advent.

Citrine
It has long been believed to bring happiness and good cheer to the wearer, possibly because of its bright, cheerful yellow color. It has also been called the “Merchant’s Stone,” because having some around was thought to cause wealth to increase. Citrine is a transparent yellow variety of crystalline quartz (Silicon Dioxide). It's often mistaken for, or used in place of, its more valuable cousin the topaz. Almost all citrine is heat treated to give it a more vivid color. When shopping, you will find it strung on yellow or orange cord. Try to hold it up to natural light to see its true color. Its hardness on Moh’s scale is 7. The best natural citrine is mined in Brazil. It’s November’s birthstone.

Use Citrine For: Affordable citrine can add beauty and richness to your rosaries. It combines especially well with crystals, cubic zirconia, and other clear and/or faceted stones. Think of it around Pentecost and in the spring and autumn--but don't forget the joy of Christmas.

Shown at left: Citrine with garnet-colored cubic zirconia for Christmas.

Lapis Lazuli
This royal blue stone was highly prized throughout the ancient world. It was associated everywhere with motherhood, royalty, and deity. When crushed, the stone yielded the pigment known as “ultramarine.” Early Christians associated it with the Virgin Mary. The stone is always associated with Pyrite, which gives it small, sparkling gold flecks. Its chemical name is lazurite (sodium calcium aluminum silicilate), and its hardness on Moh’s scale is 5. Lapis Lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan for 6,000 years. It is easily imitated by dying other stones such as howlite, chalcedony, or sodalite, but true lapis will always have the gold flecks.

Use Lapis For: Use it any time you want to honor the Virgin Mary or to contemplate the Incarnation. Combine it with silver, gold, or bronze and with your best pearls and crystals. Don't forget that blue is often used now as an Advent color.

Shown at Left: Lapis lazuli in faceted rondelles with sterling silver. The center medal is a formal figural image of the Virgin.