Birthstones
Did you know?
The birthstone for June is often both Pearl and Alexandrite.
What makes jewelry so precious and meaningful?
Garnet is for January.
Garnet is the modern January birthstone and the gem designated for the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversary. Safety in travel, victory in battle, protection from snakebites and loyalty in love – these are just a few of the meanings attributed to January’s birthstone. While it doesn’t enjoy the same wealthy reputation as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, the garnet is one of the most richly detailed stones when it comes to legends and myths.
The name of the stone “garnet” comes from the Latin word for pomegranate, whose glistening, jewel-like seeds are the most common form garnet resembles. Because of that association, garnets acquired many of the qualities and myths associated with the seeded fruit. Like the pomegranate, the garnet is said to confer fertility and bring righteousness and healing – making it the perfect stone to be given as an engagement gift. In fact, long before diamonds took that title, garnets were a traditional engagement stone.
Amethyst is for February.
February’s birthstone, Amethyst, is said to impart clarity of thought to those who wear it. Its purple color makes it also a stone of royalty. Amethyst was believed to be sacred to Buddha, and Tibetan prayer beads are often made of amethyst for that reason. Of all the birthstones, amethyst is the one most revered for spiritual healing and mental cleansing.
The gift of Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the power to overcome difficulty. It is said to strengthen the bond in a love relationship, so it is an ideal anniversary or engagement gem. Whether or not Amethyst holds such power, its stunning beauty will certainly make anyone who wears it feel like royalty.
Aquamarine is for March.
Whether you are a sailor or not, March’s birthstone is an extraordinary choice for a gift! March’s birthstone is Aquamarine, a great member of the beryl gemstone family. It’s been used in jewelry manufacturing since the third century BC.
Because of its water like colors, it has been called for hundreds of years “The sailor’s stone”. It was thought that it protected sailors and travelers overseas.
This precious stone is tough, durable and takes an excellent polish. It can be worn in rings and bracelets with minimal risk if the settings are designed to protect the gems. A gift of Aquamarine symbolizes both safety and security, especially within long standing relationships. Some people even say that the Aquamarine reawakens love in a tired marriage, so if you want to bring back that spark in your partner’s eyes, you might consider this gem as an anniversary gift.
Diamond is for April.
April’s birthstone, the Diamond, has been lauded in song and movies as the promise of forever. A diamond can speak volumes. It can say “I love you”, “I’m proud of you” and “I’d marry you all over again”. It shouts, “Will you marry me?” and whispers “You’re enchanting and beautiful”. A diamond on the third finger of the left hand tells the world that your heart is taken. Diamonds can be worn by anyone. They are the classic symbol of achievement, of love and of promise.
April’s birthstone is remarkably simple in composition yet stunning in its unique ability to reflect and refract light into vivid flashes of brilliant color. The ancient Hindus called the Diamond “Vajra,” meaning lightening, both because of the sparks of light thrown off by this gem as well as its invincible strength. The Diamond is harder than any other substance on earth.
Emerald is for May.
Emerald is the birthstone for May and the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary. Emeralds are thought to enhance the clairvoyance of their wearers. Traditionally, emeralds are worn to promote healing and enhance love and contentment. The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem kingdom. Emerald’s precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron.
Unlike other beryl gemstones, emeralds usually contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects for emerald like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone.
June is for Alexandrite.
Alexandrite is the “magic” birthstone and an alternative for June. It changes color depending on the time of day or light source under which it is viewed. Daylight or fluorescent light shows its unique shade of emerald, green, and incandescent light or candlelight turns it a deep ruby red. A rare and costly gem, the alexandrite shares the month of June with other honorary birthstones pearl and moonstone.
July is for Ruby.
Ruby is the birthstone for July and the anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th years of marriage. The history of ruby mining dates back more than 2,500 years, and today the coveted gemstone is found in Burma, Thailand, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.
Called the “Lord of Gems” by ancient Hindus, rubies are one of the most highly prized gems throughout history. The fiery glow of rubies is said to come from the gemstone’s internal and eternal flame. For this reason, the gift of a ruby is a symbol of everlasting love. If worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the Ruby will bring good fortune. It is a perfect engagement ring gemstone and a popular alternative or addition to diamond engagement bands.
August is for Peridot.
Peridot is considered a tonic for the whole body and protects the wearer from negativity. It is associated with stress reduction and relaxation. Egyptians used peridot to clean and heal the heart. Powdered peridot has been used to cure asthma and a peridot placed under the tongue of someone in the grip of a fever is said to lessen his or her thirst. One legend says that drinking from a peridot goblet will increase the potency of medicines. Further research indicates that ancient Indo-Iranians, and Vedic and Persian cultures may have used cups carved from Peridot for their ritual drink of Soma.
The force of nature is alive within a Peridot, making a gift of this gemstone symbolic of vitality. It signifies strength, both individual
September is for Sapphire.
September’s birthstone is the beautiful blue stone Sapphire. It was first discovered in ancient India and over the millennia there were found numerous other deposits all over the world. These days, sapphire is the September birthstone, the fifth and 45th wedding anniversary stone, and the zodiac gem for Taurus.
The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person.
October is for
Pink Tourmaline.
Tourmaline is the birthstone for October. It can be found in a multitude of colors and is a very durable gem, perfect for everyday wear. Pink Tourmaline is the traditional gift to celebrate an 8th wedding anniversary.
Pink Tourmaline is associated with love and compassion, a very gentle and nourishing stone carrying a strong feminine yin vibration. Its soothing colour is calming and can aid meditation, promoting communication between the conscious and unconscious minds, restoring a sense of wholeness.
November is for Citrine.
November’s gemstone, Citrine, is as warm as a Van Gogh painting of sunflowers. The name Citrine comes from an old French word, “citrin”, meaning lemon. One of the rarer forms of quartz, this gemstone ranges in color from the palest yellow to a dark amber named Madeira because of its resemblance to the red wine.
A gift of Citrine is symbolic for hope and strength. With its sunny brightness, this gemstone is ideal for helping anyone to get through the tough times in life.
December is for Zircon.
Zircon is a beautiful and under-appreciated – a gemstone of many colors, made of the mineral zirconium silicate. Zircon varieties can be colorless, yellow, blue, green, red, orange, brown, and most rarely purple. With its wide range of colors, zircon has been used to fake or substitute for almost every precious gemstone.
According to Indian Hindu mythology, Zircon was one of the many gemstones of the ‘Kalpa Tree’. Green zircon was said to represent the lush green foliage of the tree.
Don’t be fooled-Zircon is not the same as Cubic Zirconia. Zircon is a natural stone, which only adds to its spectacular beauty.
