Natural drop purple amethyst necklace, stainless steel, 40-3-3 cm

At the base of your neck, a purple drop that shows right away: this stainless steel necklace holds a drop-shaped natural amethyst.

The drop measures 4 x 6 mm. The necklace is 40 cm long and extends twice by 3 cm, with a spring ring clasp. Wear it with an open neckline so the drop stays in full view.

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.

Stainless steel owes its resistance to corrosion to the chromium it contains. Wash your jewelry in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft cloth, then dry it. After contact with seawater or chlorinated water, rinse it in clean water. Avoid abrasive products and chlorinated household products, which can damage its surface.

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. As steel is not a precious metal, it does not bear a fineness hallmark, in accordance with standard practice.

For you if you love clearly visible purple stones, or for a gift in natural amethyst. Stainless steel is hypoallergenic and REACH compliant: it suits most sensitive skin.