Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is popular gemstone. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken." This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like colour of some stones that they may encountered. Its colour unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its colour and beauty. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades. Amethyst is not the same everywhere. Different localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine.