Gemstone point — African amethyst · 6 cm

Cut to a faceted point and then polished along its full height, it stands the material upright.

A purple quartz whose shade runs from pale mauve to deep violet, often stronger at the tip of the crystal than at its base.

What tradition says. The stone of temperance for the Greeks — its name means "not intoxicated" — it has been credited since antiquity with calming the mind and clearing judgment. Crystal healing associates it with the third eye chakra.

The piece. African amethyst.

Use & care. On a console, a desk or an altar tray, it structures the space and draws the eye. Many set it point upward, but nothing requires an orientation. A soft dry cloth is enough; avoid household products on the polished faces.

• Its color comes from traces of iron in the quartz, revealed by the natural radioactivity of the surrounding rock.
• Indicative size: 6 cm
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.