Ametrine Gemstone Information
If you aren’t familiar with ametrine, you aren’t alone. The ametrine crystal is generally considered rare, and many people never see a piece of it in person, which is a shame.
Overall, the ametrine gemstone is potentially one of the most intriguing crystals on the planet. It features a unique coloring that isn’t found in nearly any other stone, causing it to stand out from the pack distinctly.
If you are curious about ametrine and its unique beauty, here’s what you need to know about this stone.
Ametrine Properties
First, it’s crucial to understand that ametrine isn’t a gemstone; it’s a silica mineral. It’s part of the broader quartz family, with its main separating characteristic being the impurities that give the stone its color.
Second, ametrine isn’t technically its own mineral. Instead, the stone occurs when amethyst and citrine – both quartz minerals – are found together in the same sample. The presence of both crystals together is what makes a stone ametrine.
Ametrine is usually transparent, easily allowing light to pass through and even making it possible to view something positioned behind the stone. If there is a lack of transparency, it’s usually due to an impurity or other stone being attached to the gem.
Raw or rough ametrine has a crystal-like shape, just as you’d expect to find in other quartz variants. For some, this version is highly desirable, as it allows the ametrine to maintain its natural look. However, ametrine also stands up well to cutting, faceting, tumbling, and polishing, so it’s very common to find pieces of ametrine that have been shaped in various ways.
Ametrine Stone Color
What makes ametrine intriguing is its color combination. Natural ametrine features both yellow and purple, hues that sit on opposite sides of the color wheel, creating a lovely sense of contrast.
When it comes to the strength of the color, that can vary. The most valuable pieces of ametrine have deep or jewel-toned purple and yellow portions, ensuring the contrast is dramatic. Ametrine gemstones with lighter shades of purple or yellow aren’t as highly sought, so they tend to be more affordable.
It is important to note that while there are natural ametrine crystals for sale, there are also color-treated stones. In some cases, a process is applied to make the hues brighter or deeper to make less desirable stones more intriguing to buyers. In others, the procedure allows a piece of amethyst to be altered, creating a gem that resembles ametrine even though the yellow portion didn’t occur naturally.
While some jewelry sellers offer green ametrine or other non-traditional color variants, none of those are natural ametrine stones. In some cases, these may be pieces of ametrine or another version of quartz that have undergone color treatments, while others are synthetic or lab-created stones.
The History of Ametrine
The history of ametrine is pretty straightforward. The stone gets its name by combining the names of the two other gems present, with the “ame-” coming from amethyst and the “-trine’ coming from citrine.
However, the stone may also go by other names, including “bolvianite” due to where it’s mined or “bicolored quartz” because it features two different quartz colors.
Generally, the ametrine gem is used for ornamental purposes, particularly jewelry. Part of the reason it grew in popularity as a jewelry gemstone was actually the broad interest in bicolor tourmaline. This led some stone cutters to begin faceting ametrine pieces that were half amethyst and half citrine, with the color boundary being straight and centered.
Where Is Ametrine Found?
Ametrine is only found in a specific part of eastern Bolivia. Essentially all of the commercial ametrine today comes from a single mine, the Anahi Mine, which isn’t far from the country’s border with Brazil. There, both citrine and amethyst naturally occur and, when a piece of crystal is removed that features a bit of each stone, it’s classified as an ametrine.
The world’s supply of ametrine is ultimately finite. As a result, high-quality specimens can be worth quite a bit. However, overall, the ametrine crystal is mainly affordable and often far less expensive than the bicolored tourmaline that inspired its use in jewelry.
Ametrine Jewelry
While you won’t likely find ametrine in chain jewelry stores, independent jewelry designers often enjoy featuring the stone. Its unique coloring is almost always striking, and many people appreciate the dramatic contrast, making the jewelry pieces featuring it fairly popular.
For anyone seeking out an ametrine pendant or a natural ametrine ring, you may find two options when it comes to the stone. Both faceted gems and cabochons are available, and you may even find some featuring raw or rough ametrine crystal featuring little if any shaping
If you’re looking for an ametrine bracelet, options featuring ametrine gemstone beads are reasonably available. You may also find beads in strand necklaces, as well as certain ametrine earrings.
However, it’s important to note that bead strands marketed as ametrine may actually feature a combination of amethyst and citrine beads without any beads featuring both stones together. Technically, a bead isn’t ametrine if it doesn’t contain both crystal types, so keep that in mind when you’re looking for jewelry.
Ametrine Meaning
As with nearly any crystal, the ametrine gemstone meaning does vary depending on a person’s belief system. Many people associate the stone with creativity since it features two strong colors together. For others, the ametrine stone meaning focuses on stress reduction, strength, compatibility, or acceptance.
At times, the ametrine meaning concentrates on balance and harmony. The presence of two contrasting colors that come together to create something beautiful is the foundation for that belief.
When it comes to ametrine healing properties, as with all stones, it’s essential never to use a gem as a substitute for medical care. While wearing, holding, or meditating on a gemstone likely won’t cause harm, there’s no scientific evidence that it can prevent or treat any medical condition, physical, mental, or otherwise. As a result, if you are experiencing a health issue, always work with a medical professional.
Stones Similar to Ametrine
Overall, there aren’t many strong substitutes for ametrine. Bicolored stones are rare, and you won’t have much luck finding alternatives that feature yellow and purple specifically.
The only exception may be certain pieces of bicolored tourmaline. While purple tourmaline isn’t usually found with yellow, certain yellow and pink bicolored tourmaline crystals look a bit like ametrine. The issue is, they tend to cost more than ametrine, which may not be ideal.
Otherwise, the only solid alternatives tend to be synthetic or lab-created. But with ametrine usually being reasonably affordable, it may make more sense to stick with the real deal if you want a stone featuring that particular look.