The Second Wind of Amethyst Engagement Rings

When one thinks of the types of stones available in the engagement jewellery market, amethyst engagement rings are nowhere near the top of the list; in fact, they are most likely near the bottom. For some reason, this particular type of stone fell off the charts a good while ago and never enjoyed the same second wind that stones such as the emerald, the sapphire, or the ruby benefitted from.

Until now, that is.

In fact, one of the most surprising trends in the field of jewellery in recent years is the sudden apparent resurgence in popularity of amethyst engagement rings. Derided for years as the ‘poor cousin’ of semi-precious stones, this gem seems to be riding the interest sparked by a recent collection by designer Kara Ross, who used it once again to reach the dizzying heights of jewellery-market demand.

Extremely rare and valuable in the past, amethysts once sat side by side with the other greats of the gemstone world – sapphires, emeralds and rubies – garnering just as much respect as any of them. The Greeks, for example, believed this stone could prevent drunkenness; hence its name, which is a corruption of amethusos, meaning ‘sober’. Back then, the stone was also proudly displayed in jewellery worn by the richer castes of society.

That all changed, however, when new and abundant deposits of this mineral were discovered. Suddenly, amethysts were no longer the coveted, exclusive property they had once been, but rather the stuff of tacky souvenir-shop gifts and low-quality jewellery. From its once prime position near the top of the precious-gem heap, the stone had fallen to the bottom of the well, and was now considered cheap, nasty, and a far cry from its more illustrious cousins.

With this kind of situation, it should come as no surprise that amethyst engagement rings fell out of favour among their target demographic. Even taking the luxurious, expensive diamond out of the picture, who wanted a cheap, third-rate stone when they could have an emerald or a ruby? The future seemed grim for the once-proud amethyst, but fortunately for the stone, someone noteworthy happened to take notice of it.

The personality in question was, as mentioned, designer Kara Ross, who used amethysts as the basis for her latest collection and even designed some pieces for United States President Barack Obama and his First Lady from this material. A number of other designers quickly followed suit, including Britons Rodney Rayner, Duffy and Kiki McDonough. Thanks to the efforts of these notable names of the fashion jewellery industry, pieces such as amethyst engagement rings are slowly beginning to come back in fashion, and it just might be possible for the stone to enjoy a second season in the sun and become proof that nothing is ever impossible.

Frank L Orman is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From diamond to amethyst engagement rings from a princess cut to a platinum band, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.