Sixth Anniversary Stone: Amethyst
The sixth wedding anniversary stone is amethyst, hard-wearing purple quartz. Here's what it is, how it holds up to everyday wear, and how to turn it into a piece worth keeping.
Key takeaways
- The 6th anniversary stone is amethyst, the purple variety of quartz. Both traditional and modern anniversary lists agree on it, so you don't have to choose between two stones (see the IGS anniversary list).
- Amethyst sits at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is hard enough for everyday rings if you're reasonably careful (per the IGS durability guide).
- Colour runs from pale lilac to deep royal purple. Deeper, evenly saturated stones cost more, but even the lighter shades photograph beautifully.
- Amethyst is affordable for its size, so six years in you can give a genuinely large, eye-catching stone without a diamond budget.
- It's also February's birthstone, so a February partner gets a piece that marks both the anniversary and their birth month.
- At Vanhess we set amethyst by hand in our Coquitlam workshop, so you can pick the exact shade of purple you want rather than take whatever's in a case.
What is the 6th anniversary stone?
The 6th anniversary stone is amethyst. This is one of the easy years: the traditional list and the modern list both name the same stone, so there's no fork in the road to worry about. If you want to confirm it for yourself, the International Gem Society's anniversary list puts amethyst against year six. That agreement is genuinely helpful when you're shopping, because plenty of other years split into a traditional stone and a different modern one and leave you guessing which your partner would prefer.
What amethyst actually is
Amethyst is quartz that turned purple thanks to a trace of iron and a little natural radiation deep in the earth. The colour ranges from a soft, almost pink lilac up to a saturated grape purple, and the most sought-after material has a slight red or blue flash inside the purple. Because quartz forms in large clean crystals, you can find amethyst in big sizes with excellent clarity, which is a large part of why it's so reasonably priced.
On the amethyst page we go into the specific varieties, but the number that matters for a gift is its hardness. Amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs scale, confirmed in the IGS durability guide. A 7 is the rough dividing line for a stone that can live on a finger day to day. It will handle normal wear well, though it isn't a diamond, so a hard knock against a doorframe or granite counter can still chip an exposed corner. For a ring you'll wear constantly, a slightly protective setting is a smart move.
Why amethyst for the sixth year
Purple has been the colour of something worth keeping for a very long time. For centuries amethyst was priced alongside ruby and emerald, right up until huge deposits were found in Brazil in the 1800s and the price dropped. That history is part of the charm: you're giving a stone that royalty once guarded, at a price a normal couple can actually afford six years in. We'd rather tell you that honest story than sell you on folklore about mystical powers, which we'll leave to one side. What holds up is the simple symbolism people have attached to purple across cultures: steadiness, loyalty, a colour you commit to rather than a passing favourite.
Choosing a piece for your sixth anniversary
Here's the opinionated part. Because amethyst is so affordable per carat, six years is the year to go big on presence rather than spend on a small stone. A generous cushion or oval amethyst pendant on a fine chain is, in our view, the best value in the whole gift: it sits away from knocks, catches light against the collarbone, and the colour reads clearly from across a room. Earrings are the next-best choice for the same reason, since ears take almost no abuse.
If your partner has asked for a ring, go for it, but respect the hardness. We steer people toward a bezel or a half-bezel that tucks the girdle of the stone behind metal, and away from tall, exposed claw settings that leave corners sticking out. A slightly domed cabochon amethyst is another route that shrugs off daily wear better than a faceted one. For colour, don't automatically chase the darkest stone. Very dark amethyst can go inky and lifeless indoors, while a medium royal purple stays lively under both daylight and lamplight.
We design and set every piece by hand here in Coquitlam, so this is a stone we like working with. You can bring in a photo of a shade you love, and we'll source rough or cut material to match rather than hand you whatever happened to be in the tray. If you'd like to see how a sixth-anniversary amethyst fits alongside the other years, the anniversary stones guide lays out the full run, and our bespoke anniversary pieces page shows what a made-to-order commission looks like from sketch to finished ring. For a broader sense of how amethyst compares to other coloured stones on hardness and price, the gemstone guide is worth a read before you decide.
Turn your sixth anniversary stone into a piece you’ll wear
Bring the year, the stone and a rough budget. Our on-site goldsmith in Coquitlam will design it with you — reset a stone you already own, or build something new around the right gem.
Prefer to talk? Call our studio at (604) 653-6449.Frequently asked questions
What is the 6th wedding anniversary stone?
Amethyst, the purple form of quartz. Both the traditional and the modern anniversary lists name amethyst for year six, so there's no competing alternative to weigh up.
Is amethyst durable enough for an everyday ring?
Mostly, yes. Amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is the general threshold for a ring you wear daily. It resists scratching well but can still chip on a hard knock, so a bezel or protective setting is a good idea for a ring you never take off.
Why is amethyst so much cheaper than other purple gems?
Large, clean amethyst crystals are relatively common, especially from Brazil and Uruguay, so supply is healthy. That keeps prices low even for big stones. It was far more expensive historically, before those large deposits were discovered.
Does darker amethyst mean better quality?
Not automatically. The best amethyst is a medium-to-deep royal purple that stays lively in different light. Very dark stones can look almost black and lose their glow indoors, so judge the stone by how it looks in the light you'll actually wear it in.
What piece of amethyst jewellery makes the best sixth-anniversary gift?
A pendant or earrings give you the most stone for your money and keep the gem away from knocks. Rings are lovely too, but choose a protective setting because amethyst is softer than a sapphire or diamond.
Can Vanhess make a custom amethyst piece for my anniversary?
Yes. We design and set amethyst by hand in our Coquitlam workshop and can match a specific shade of purple you're after, rather than limiting you to stones already in stock. Bring in a reference image and we'll source material to suit.
Is amethyst also a birthstone?
Yes, amethyst is the birthstone for February. If your partner was born that month, a sixth-anniversary amethyst piece marks both the anniversary and their birth month at once.
How do I clean an amethyst ring at home?
Warm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft brush is all it needs. Avoid steam cleaners and prolonged strong sunlight, since heat and intense light can fade the purple over time. Dry it with a soft cloth and store it away from harder stones that could scratch it.