Long before I ever made a piece of jewelry, and long before I knew gemstone collecting was even something people did, I was picking up amethyst in Mount Shasta when I lived in Northern California, carrying pieces home because I simply couldn't leave them behind. Purple and lavender have always been my favorite colors, and quartz in any variety has always pulled me in, so over the years I quietly built a little collection of amethyst specimens without ever really planning to. All these years later, amethyst is still one of my favorite stones to buy, partly because it's such a beautiful color that looks good on just about everyone, and partly because it connects me back to that version of myself in Mount Shasta who had no idea where all of this was going to lead.
What I look for in a quality amethyst strand
When I'm sorting through amethyst, color is usually the first thing that catches my eye, but color alone isn't enough for me. I pass on strands that look dull or cloudy, and I pass on anything that looks dyed, because what I'm really looking for is a stone that feels vibrant and alive. What I love most is when light can pass through the stone, and when you hold this strand up to a window you can see the whole tonal range of purples moving through each bead, that natural variation that comes from the way crystals grow. It isn't one flat purple, it's layers of it, and that's what gives this strand its rich, juicy, deep grape color.
Why the cutting matters as much as the color
This time, though, the thing that stopped me wasn't only the color, it was the cutting. These are smooth rondelles, plump and generous, graduating from about 6.5 millimeters up to 8 millimeters, and you can tell they were cut with care. When stones are rushed through the cutting process, you can see it in the finished strand in beads that are uneven, drill holes that run crooked, and sometimes even a bead with more than one drill hole because the cutter started in the wrong place and had to try again. This strand has none of that. The graduation is smooth and flows beautifully from the clasp to the center, and every bead looks like someone took their time with it.
Finding this strand in Jaipur
This amethyst came to me through one of my vendors in Jaipur, and I love that she's a woman, because supporting the women I work with in this industry means so much to me. When she showed me this strand, the plumpness of the beads and that deep grape color caught my eye right away, and I knew it was one I wanted to bring home and finish myself.
How I finished it
I knotted this strand on matching purple silk so the color stays seamless all the way around, with just a little space between each bead so light can pass through and the necklace has that soft, fluid drape. I wanted the stones to be the star, so everything else is there to support them. It's finished with my full signature set in solid 14k gold, with hand coiled French wire, the heavyweight gold bead near the clasp that has become my signature, a lobster clasp, an infinity link, and my engraved heart tag, so you'll always know it's mine.
How it wears: a 17.5 inch necklace that sits just right
At 17.5 inches, this necklace sits in that sweet spot just shy of 18 inches, so it isn't as close as a collar and it isn't so long that it disappears into your neckline. With a tailored shirt or a blouse, it rests right above the neckline instead of hanging over it or competing with it, which makes it so easy to wear every single day. I picture it on someone heading into the office, keeping a busy practice running, walking in to lead a meeting, or jumping on a Zoom call from home, and feeling that little lift when they put it on. That's exactly how I feel when I wear my jewelry, a little more put together, a little more confident, standing just a bit taller, and in my experience someone always asks about it.
A few questions I hear about amethyst necklaces
How can you tell if an amethyst necklace is good quality?
I look at three things: color, clarity, and cutting. The amethyst I love is vibrant rather than dull, lets light pass through, and shows a natural range of purples instead of one flat, uniform color, and the beads are evenly cut with clean, straight drill holes.
Is 17.5 inches a good necklace length?
It's a lovely in between length if you don't want something as snug as a collar but don't want it hanging low either. It sits nicely above the neckline of a blouse or button down, which is why I find it so easy to wear every day.
Why are gemstone necklaces knotted on silk?
A knot between each bead keeps the stones from rubbing against each other, gives the strand its beautiful drape, and means that if a strand ever breaks, you lose a single bead rather than watching the whole necklace scatter across the floor.
Is this amethyst necklace one of a kind?
Yes, this strand was a one off, so there is only this one. If you're dreaming of amethyst in a different size or length, I'm always happy to talk about sourcing something custom for you.
Bring it home
This juicy grape purple amethyst necklace is $1,545, hand knotted on silk and finished in solid 14k gold, and you can find it here in the shop. If you have any questions or would love to see more of it, just send me a message, I'd love to hear from you.
Brittany
