July 8, 2016
Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift for someone special or looking for a piece to express your personality and individuality, birthstones are a great option. Some months have more than one recognized birthstone while others have fairly universally recognized stones. When searching for the perfect piece of birthstone jewelry, remember to consider her personal style – that way the gift is even more special!
February – Amethyst
The deep purple of Amethysts used to symbolize royalty in Middle Ages England and feature throughout Greek and Roman myths. A variation of quartz, Amethyst is a perfect gemstone for jewelry due to its relative durability.
March – Aquamarine/Bloodstone
March has two recognized birthstones – Aquamarine and Bloodstone, with the former being the most common. The pale greeny-blue stone is said to have protected sailors on long sea voyages and derives it’s name from the Latin words for “water” and “the sea”.
Bloodstone gets it’s name from the striking mix of red veining through green jasper.
April – Diamond
Universally known for their beauty and rarity, diamonds are an incredibly versatile stone ranging from colorless to a variety of fancy colors. Traditionally thought of as the stone for engagement rings, diamonds are considered very romantic.
May – Emerald
The vivid green color of the emerald symbolizes youth, rebirth, and good fortune – perfect for the Spring month of May. Emeralds can be found all over the world, but most come from Colombia. Compared to other gemstones used in jewelry, emeralds are relatively fragile and should be taken special care of.
June – Pearl/Moonstone/Alexandrite
Lucky June babies have three birthstone choices – Pearls, Moonstone, or Alexandrite. Pearls tend to be more popular due to their accessibility, affordability, and effortlessly classic look. The love of pearls goes as far back as the Romans, who unlike today, only had access to uncultured pearls (almost all pearls sold today are commercially cultured.)
Moonstone is also popular and beloved for its dreamy pearlescence. Alexandrite is relatively uncommon in most jewelry, but has a gorgeous chameleon-like ability to shift from green to red in different light.
July – Ruby
Rubies, with their rich red color, are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love. The color of the stone is the most important factor in determining the value of a ruby, with the most valuable appearing medium or medium-dark vivid red or slightly purplish red.
August – Peridot
Peridots come from deep within the earth, brought to the surface due to volcanic activity, making them associated with the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, Pele. These stones are said to bring to their wearer protection and a wonderful year.
September – Sapphire
The deep and mysterious blue color that is most popular in sapphire jewelry was regarded by the Medieval clergy as a symbol of heaven. Sapphires actually come in a variety of colors, from pink to orange and even red (red sapphires are actually rubies!)
October – Opal/Tourmaline
In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal.
Tourmaline, though not especially common in jewelry is prized for its ability to possess two or even three colors at a time. Watermelon tourmaline is named for it’s pink center and green edges!
November – Topaz/Citrine
Often confused due to their color similarity, Topaz and Citrine are actually two distinctly different minerals. Topaz is mentioned in the bible and was a favorite gem of Imperial Russia. Citrine is said to support vitality and health.
December – Tanzanite/Zircon/Turquoise
December babies have three blue-hued gemstones to choose from: Tanzanite, Zircon, or Turquoise.
Tanzanite is prized for it’s beautiful deep blue-purple color and is named after its country of discovery – Tanzania.
Zircon comes in many colors including blue, and is believed in folk wisdom to relieve pain and protect travelers.
Turquoise is a popular feature in the arts and crafts of the American Southwest and is one of the oldest known gemstones.
Whether one of these gemstones is your birthstone or simply your favorite color, each has its own unique story and history!
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