Amethyst is the birthstone for February. It is the world’s most popular purple gem – and that enhances its status as a birthstone. The purple color of amethyst can be so light that it is barely perceptible, or so dark that a faceted gem can be nearly opaque. The color of amethyst spans a range from violetish purple, to purple, to reddish purple. The gem shown here is a beautiful reddish purple amethyst from the Four Peaks Mine in Maricopa County, Arizona. Four Peaks is the most important amethyst mine in the United States.