The violet of the amethyst represents the deep purple shade of the heavens… – Charles Blanc, Art in Ornament and Dress, 1875, translated from French

If wisdom and diamonds grew on the same tree we could soon tell how much men loved wisdom. – Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays, 1911

As though pure white snow flashed and sparkled with the color of bright ruddy wine, and was overcome by this radiance. – Author unknown, about opal

All the luminous the coloured spectacles which the world in the immensity of space can offer us, nature has produced in miniature amongst precious stones. – Charles Blanc, Art in Ornament and Dress, 1875, translated from French