Grape Amethyst™
Amethyst is one of the most popular and mystical gemstones: worn by the ancient Romans as a talisman; written about by Leonardo da Vinci who said the gem had the power to protect against evil thoughts and sharpen intelligence; and to this day, amethysts are featured in the Tibetan rosary as the Buddhists believe the gem enhances the peace and tranquility of meditation.
Amethysts come in a variety of shades and colors, from pink to the deepest royal purple which is the sweet flavor of Le Vian®'s Candy Colors® Amethyst. Brazil and Zambia are the major producers of gem quality amethyst.
Very large sizes of rich, deep color amethyst are very rare. An amethyst which weighs more than 1,000 carats can be seen The Smithsonian Institution, whose gem gallery is home to some of the most famous Amethyst gems in the world dating back to the early 1900's. Other famous amethysts housed at The Smithsonian include: the 96-carat heart-shaped Morris Amethyst brooch; a 56-carat square, cushion-cut amethyst necklace that displays a deep purple color with flashes of red.
Pomegranate GarnetTM
Garnet Family | Mohs Scale: 7.5-8 | January Birthstone | 2nd Anniversary Gemstone
"Pomegranate Garnet offers January babies a garnet with warmer chocolate undertones that are perfectly complemented by Chocolate Diamonds®."
The history of garnets can be traced back to 3100 B.C., the original red garnet gem adorning the necklaces of Egypt’s pharaohs and the signet rings of ancient Rome. Garnets were named by the ancient Greeks for its color which resembled pomegranate seed - granatum. In legend, the garnet was believed to light up the night, thus protecting the wearer from nightmares. Garnets are all natural, brilliant and durable making them a favorite for jewelry and favored in rings.
Le Vian® selected a unique hue for its Pomegranate Garnet™, those gems with a rich red tone with a slight umber undertone.