The amethyst is one of the most famous gemstones in the quartz group. Due to its violet to red-violet colour, the amethyst is the most widely used quartz variety for jewellery. The stone gets its violet colour from the colouring matter iron.

The most important deposits are located in Brazil, Madagascar and Zambia. In addition, there are amethyst deposits on almost every continent. Even in Idar-Oberstein, the amethyst was prominently represented at the beginning of the gemstone trade.