Amethyst is the violet variety of quartz and the most famous and valued member of quartz that often used in jewelry. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek methustos which means (intoxicated) and that is because the Ancient Greeks and Romans had a belief that the stone protect its owners and prevent intoxication.
Amethyst can display a range of shades including deep purple, deep purplish-blue color, light lilac, very deeply colored with reddish and bluish tints, lavender and mauve.
Amethyst's hardness according to the Mohs scale is: 7. as it's known to form curve shaped fractures if banged too hard and because of that care should be taken with it. The best quality of amethyst is the one with a deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes.
