When I was a teenager, I remember one of the biggest selling points in watches were the ones with quartz crystals.  It was something new, and of course a big deal.  

Quartz is also refined to yield silicon, which is used in computers and other modern technology.  

25 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Purple quartz is known by another name, amethyst.

Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and due to its purple color it is often associated with royalty.  Remember, in the U.S. Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan all had February birthdates.