Understanding This Piece
About Amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz, ranging from pale lavender to deep royal purple. Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia produce the highest-quality stones. Amethyst is hard enough for daily wear (7 on Mohs) and has been prized since antiquity — Greek and Roman tradition held that amethyst protected against intoxication, and it was historically reserved for royalty and clergy. Amethyst is the February birthstone and the 6th-anniversary gem, and offers the most vivid purple in fine jewelry at a relatively accessible price point.
About the Halo Setting
A halo setting frames the center diamond with a ring of small pavé diamonds — typically adding 20–30% to the perceived size of the center stone at typical viewing distance. A 1.0ct halo center reads visually closer to a 1.5ct solitaire. Halos amplify both sparkle and presence on the hand and are particularly popular for oval, cushion, and round center stones. The trade-off is more small stones to maintain — annual prong inspection is recommended (included free with every halo ring purchased at our Atlanta atelier).