Amethyst is not primarily defined by carat weight; this is different to most gemstones where the carat weight exponentially increases the value of the stone. The biggest factor in the value of amethyst is the color displayed. The highest grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore, when one is found, its value is dependent on the demand of collectors. It is, however, still orders of magnitude lower than the highest grade sapphires or rubies (padparadscha sapphire or "pigeon's blood" ruby). Amethyst Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek ἀμέθυστος "amethystos" from
Amethyst Incident state had wrongly invaded Chinese national waters and had fired upon the PLA first. Because the communists (and later the People's Republic of China) did not acknowledge any treaties between the previous Chinese government and the British, they insisted that it was illegal for "Amethyst" to cruise in the Yangtze river. On 30 July 1949 "Amethyst" slipped her chain and headed downriver in the dark, beginning a dash for freedom running the gauntlet of guns on both banks of the river. She followed the passenger ship "Kiang Ling Liberation" in the hope that the observers ashore would be confused and