AN ANCIENT ROMAN EMPIRE AMETHYST CRYSTAL SCULPTED INTO A FACETED SHAPED BEAD. A RARE DESIGN AND IT IS A BEAUTY. THE ROMAN NOBILITY HAD CRAVINGS FOR ORNAMENTS WITH THE NOBLE PURPLE COLOR. [ GO ONLINE TO STUDY MUREX DYE FOR THE EMPEROR'S CAPE- TYRIAN PURPLE ]. FROM A PRIVATELY HELD COLLECTION AND RECENTLY OUT OF STORAGE AFTER 25 YEARS. THIS REGION [ EXPANSIVE ROMAN EMPIRE REGION ] HAS AN OUTSTANDING ANCIENT BEAD HISTORY WITH MANY CULTURES OCCUPYING THE SAME OR NEIGHBORING AREAS THROUGH OUT THE LAST 2500 YEARS OR MORE. I WILL BE GOING INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT CULTURES AND TIME PERIODS DURING THIS YEAR. AFTER YOU WEAR THIS BEAD IT MAY BECOMES MORE TRANSLUSCENT. SEE BELOW FOR ***  IMPORTANT DETAILS OF THIS AUCTION. THE SELLER [ PUMTEKMAN ] WILL SEND AN INVOICE DETAILING THE POSTAGE FEES AND THE THE TRACKING EXPENSES WHERE REQUIRED [ ASIA, AUSTRALIA  AND OTHER REGIONS] REQUIRE USPS EXPRESS MAIL WITH TRACKING DUE TO DELIVERY DIFFICULTIES ].. SO I LOVE TO COMBINE POST FEES !!!. ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL RATES PRIOR TO BIDDING, I WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO $AVE. THIS IS A GREAT NECKLACE BEAD. ZERO [0] FEEDBACK EBAY MEMBERS  NEED MY EMAIL PERMISSION PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT IN ANY OF MY AUCTIONS. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WITH SALES OF 300 $ OR MORE [ PER MAILING ] AND DOMESTIC BUYERS WITH SALES OF 100 $ OR MORE [ PER MAILING ] PAY NO POSTAL OR TRACKING FEES AT ALL !!! SIZE IS LISTED ABOVE. THIS ANCIENT AMETHYST BEAD IS OVER 1800 YEAR OLD OR MORE. MAKING A BEAD LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE TAKEN ALOT OF TIME AND EVEN MORE SKILL. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THESE BEADS MAY HAVE BEEN MADE IN SOUTHERN INDIA FOR THE ROMAN TRADE APPRX. 2000 YEARS AGO. [ LAPIDARY JOURNAL  MARCH 1986 VOL. 39 NUMBER 12 ]. I CONSIDER THIS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE  OLD JOURNALS FOR ANCIENT BEAD COLLECTORS.