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 Amethyst Incident The "Amethyst" Incident, also known as the Yangtze Incident, was a historic event which involved the Royal Navy ship HMS "Amethyst" on the Yangtze River for three months during the Chinese Civil War in the summer of 1949. On 20 April 1949, HMS "Amethyst", commanded by Lieutenant Commander Bernard Skinner, was on her way from Shanghai to Nanking to replace , which was standing as guard ship for the British Embassy there during the Chinese Civil War between the nationalist Kuomintang led Republic of China and the Communist Party led People's Republic of China. According to the Royal