Irregular purple amethyst bracelet, PVD gold-plated stainless steel, 15.5-2-2 cm

A color that changes everything on a black or gray sweater: this PVD gold-plated stainless steel bracelet holds an irregular natural purple amethyst.

The stone is 2 mm. The bracelet measures 15.5 cm and extends in two 2 cm steps; it fastens with a spring ring clasp. Layer it with a gold bangle for more impact.

Amethyst is a purple quartz. It owes its color to traces of iron, transformed over time by the natural radioactivity of rocks, and it crystallizes notably in the geodes of ancient lava flows. The largest deposits are in Brazil and Uruguay, where geodes sometimes taller than a person are extracted, as well as in Zambia. Its color ranges from pale lilac to deep violet. Its name comes from the Greek amethystos, "not intoxicated": the Greeks believed it could protect against drunkenness. Long valued on a par with ruby and emerald, it has adorned bishops' rings and the British crown jewels. With a hardness of 7, it is well suited to everyday jewelry.

In lithotherapy, amethyst is the stone of serenity, temperance and wisdom. It is credited with a soothing effect that may help calm the mind, keep thoughts clear and encourage meditation. It may also help you get through anger, fear or worry. Tradition associates it with the Crown Chakra and the Third Eye, with the signs of Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aquarius, and makes it the birthstone for February. These virtues belong to the beliefs of lithotherapy: they have not been scientifically proven and are in no way a substitute for medical advice.

The steel of your jewelry can handle water: shower, rain or swimming. After the sea or the pool, simply rinse it in clean water and dry it, as repeated exposure to salt and chlorine can dull its shine over time. Clean it in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft cloth, and avoid abrasive products and rubbing against hard surfaces.

Amethyst is a hard stone that stands up well to everyday wear, but it is sensitive to heat and thermal shock, and its color can fade if it is exposed to bright light for long periods. Take off your jewelry before a very hot bath, in the sauna or near a source of heat, and do not leave it behind a window in direct sunlight. To clean it, wash the stone in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft brush, rinse, then dry with a soft cloth. In lithotherapy, it is purified under a trickle of fresh water and recharged in moonlight, ideally on a quartz cluster; avoid recharging it in the sun, which could alter its color.

Each piece of jewelry comes with its certificate of authenticity. Stainless steel does not darken and can handle contact with water: a piece of jewelry that goes everywhere with you, compliant with the European REACH regulations on nickel, lead and cadmium. Its gold color is obtained by PVD (physical vapor deposition), a coating applied under vacuum to the stainless steel. As steel is not a precious metal, it does not bear a fineness hallmark.

For you if you love purple set off by gold, or for a bright gift that suits any wrist. PVD gold-plated stainless steel is hypoallergenic and REACH compliant: it suits most sensitive skin.