Historical Meaning of Amethyst During the Victorian Era

In Victorian times, February’s birthstone, the amethyst, carried rich moral and emotional symbolism rooted in the era’s love of encoded meaning. Long associated with temperance and sobriety, the amethyst was believed to protect its wearer from excess and intoxication—both literal and emotional—making it a fitting emblem of self-control and clear judgment. Victorians also linked the stone to sincerity, piety, and spiritual calm, valuing it as a symbol of inner peace and moral strength. Given its soft purple hue, the amethyst balanced humility with quiet dignity, reflecting the Victorian ideal that true virtue should be graceful, restrained, and deeply felt rather than loudly displayed.