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The Anahi Mine in Bolivia is the major world
producer of ametrine. The mine first became famous
in the seventeenth century when a Spanish
conquistador received it as a dowry on marrying a
princess named Anahi from the Ayoreos tribe.
Ametrine was introduced to Europe through the
conquistador's gifts to the Spanish queen.
Ametrine is most typically faceted in a
rectangular shape with a 50/50 pairing of amethyst
and citrine. Sometimes a checkerboard pattern of
facets is added to the top to increase light
reflection. Ametrine can also be cut to blend the
two colours so that the result is a mixture of
yellow, purple, and peach tones throughout the
stone. Ametrine is also popular among artistic
cutters and carvers, who play with the colours,
creating landscapes in the stone.
Ametrine is a very durable gemstone suited to a variety
of jewellery uses. Most sizes and shapes are available
but the colour contrast is most pronounced in sizes of
over seven carats. |
