A member of the silica family, amethyst is a violet-colored quartz. The stone exists naturally in a wide range of hues, from extremely light violet to intense purple.
The Maison looks for luminous, homogeneous amethysts with few inclusions. For example, Van Cleef & Arpels does not accept amethysts with zoning or zebra-striped liquid inclusions. The Maison also pays close attention to the quality of the cut. It must be precise and symmetrical to guarantee optimal light reflection.
