Shades of Purple

By Cynthia Unninayar

Purple holds a special place in Nature. The soft tones of the orchid, lilac, lavender, and violet flowers are delicate and precious, as are the shades of purple found Nature’s gemstones, including amethyst, opalite, purple sapphire, jasper, spinel, agate, jade, and rhodolite. Purple is a mysterious color, associated with both spirituality and nobility. Legend has it that it was the favorite color of Cleopatra, and robes made of this noble color have historically been worn by royalty. Purple is derived from mixing a warm color, red, with a cool color, blue, so that it has both properties. Deep or bright purples suggest wealth, while lighter shades evoke romance and delicateness. No matter the shade, purple is used alone and in combination with other gemstones to create some of today’s most beautiful and fashionable jewelry.