Polished point — Grade A amethyst

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

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

In tradition. 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. Grade A amethyst.

In practice. 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.
• 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.