Ametrine The Bicolor Quartz

All photos are from Macy's unless otherwise noted. Find them here.

On THE SAVVY SHOPPER, we've discussed amethyst and citrine, both members of the quartz family of gemstones. Quartz is the chemical compound silicon dioxide, shortened to silica.

 

Mother Nature also makes a bicolor quartz that uniquely combines the purple of amethyst and the golden yellow of citrine. Called Ametrine, a mixture of amethyst and citrine, its defining feature is having both colors in a single stone. 

Like most quartz, ametrine has great clarity, meaning it is transparent with few inclusions. Color gives ametrine its value -- the more intense the purple and yellow are, the more desirable, plus there should be an even split between the 2 hues with a clear boundary. On Moh's Scale of Hardness, this eye-catching quartz rates a 7 just like its quartz siblings, making it suitable to fashion into jewelry.

The reason ametrine has 2 colors is due to different temperatures existing while the crystal was forming in the mine. A lower temperature left the iron within the crystal unoxidized to form amethyst while a higher temperature oxidized the iron within the same crystal to form citrine. {Bracelet linked here.} A gemologist would have to confirm what I envision ... a ray of sunshine hitting or more poetically, kissing the stone to make ametrine.

Nearly all commercially sold ametrine is mined in the Anahi mine in Bolivia, and for this reason, the gemstone is sometimes known as bolivianite. In fact, ametrine is the national stone of Bolivia.

Considering its beauty and rarity on earth, ametrine is surprisingly budget-friendly compared to similar gemstones. Unlike more common gemstones like diamonds that are in higher demand, not everybody knows to want ametrine. 

Often fashioned into emerald or Asscher cuts, the violet and golden gemstone looks lovely set in yellow or rose gold, as well as, complements every skin tone as it has dual cool and warm undertones.

Let's play a game: If you could only have one gemstone in a ring or necklace, would you want an amethyst, citrine, or ametrine?

Photo: Wikipedia to show you ametrine as found in nature.

You may also enjoy:

Tanzanite At Tiffany's

Yellow vs White vs Rose Gold

Which Diamond "C" Is The Most Important?

5 Tips For Buying A Tennis Bracelet On A Budget