Sugilite and Amethyst Pendant FJP1985

SUGILITE Out of Africa comes the romantic deep purple stone from the Kalahari Desert. Sugilite is found only in South Africa, in places very deep inside the earth. Inlay artists love to work with the striking opaque stone, and it is also makes beautiful cabochons for finished jewelry. Sugilite in all forms is hard to mine and not available in huge quantities, but gemmy sugilite, or gel sugilite, is translucent, and very expensive. Less than .05% of the stone mined is found to be the dark grape colored ‘gel’ material. Let us all wear purple!

AMETHYST Once believed to prevent intoxication, today amethyst is the most valued quartz, and its purple hues are much favored in Southwestern style jewelry. Brazil is the leading amethyst producer in the world today.