It’s amethyst season! When most people think about February’s birthstone they think of gorgeous shades of purple, and with good reason. I love purple amethyst! I’ve also written about it quite a bit. (Check out last year’s amethyst blog here.) So this time around, I want to do something different and focus on green amethyst. Green amethyst jewelry has become very popular in recent months. One of my green amethyst Ripple Rings was even featured in the January 2024 catalog of Artful Home!
So what is green amethyst and what is all the fuss about?
Green Amethyst Origins
Amethyst is considered the most prized variety of quartz. (Yes, yet another quartz variety!) In nature, most amethyst is purple. However, under rare circumstances and extreme heat, they will turn a minty green color known as Prasiolite. This green stone is extremely rare and incredibly expensive. Fortunately, this same effect can be achieved by heat-treating purple amethyst, creating the green amethyst we know and love.
(Side note: If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, but lab-grown or treated gems are real gemstones, not costume jewelry. They are chemically identical to what is found in nature.)
Why We Love Green Amethyst
If you love neutral tones but still want to include a hint of color and sparkle, Green amethyst is the gemstone for you. The translucent minty green manages to be both earthy and striking.
Amethyst is also popular for people looking for a large gemstone that has clarity without being colorless. (Large colorless gemstones tend to look fake or low quality…because they often are.) Green amethyst is attainable enough that you can use it in big, chunky jewelry while still getting a high-quality gem. Another way to think about this is that any piece of jewelry that would work well in aquamarine would probably work well in green amethyst!
Kristen Baird and Green Amethyst
Browsing through my site, you will see that almost all my pieces are available in green amethyst, a testament to just how versatile this stone is. However, I most frequently use it in cuff bracelets and large Ripple Rings.
Here are a few of my favorite green amethyst designs!
Splash Gem Cuff
Green amethyst has always been a popular choice for the Splash Gem Cuff. The light green works perfectly with the flowing water aesthetic. From this image, you can see how green amethyst is more subtle than other green shades and lets in more light.
Sunlit Path and Golden Hour
The Sunlit Path is one of my latest Ripple Ring designs and has been selling like Savannah hotcakes at the Grand Bohemian galleries. The asymmetric band and the faceted east-west oval gemstone all flow together perfectly, really showcasing the stone’s great properties. I can’t stress that earthy vibe enough!
As an alternative, the Golden Hour features a north-south oval with a thicker asymmetrical band.
Sunkissed Snowflake
When talking about big chunky Ripple Rings, the Sunkissed Snowflake takes the trophy. This version features an emerald-cut stone and highlights why green amethyst is such a great option for large rings. It’s elegant and entrancing, without the color becoming overwhelming.
Sunbeam Ring
In the stacking ring category, we have the Sunbeam Ring. You’ll notice that the green amethyst looks almost like a clear stone, but with just a hint of hue. This makes it a perfect option for pairing with other shades of green to complement them and bring out the color in both stones.
Sparkling Shore
Do you ever use green amethyst in gold jewelry? So glad you asked!!
Upon first glance, you might assume that this Sparkling Shore ring has a large, emerald-cut diamond. But you would be wrong! Take a closer look, and you will see hints of that lovely mint color. Yes, this is a green amethyst! (Unsurprisingly, I also do a version of this piece in aquamarine.)
While diamonds certainly can be emerald-cut, other cuts are sometimes more suited to showing off a diamond’s fire, while an emerald cut is a great option if you want to showcase both color and sparkle, which is what I did here. (If you want a deep dive into gem cuts, check out my Understanding Stone Cuts blog.)
Green amethyst is versatile enough that it can be used in everything from the most subtle and refined jewelry to fun, chunky pieces. That’s one of the many reasons I love it!
Have questions about green amethyst? Reach out to me!
