Birthstones

Birthstones
Do you know what your birthstone is?  Do you know the meaning behind each birthstone?  The wearing of ones birthstone is commonly thought to bring good luck or health.  Learn more about birthstones below.

Quick Reference

Birthstone Details

January - Garnet
Garnet signifies eternal friendship and trust.
		Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone's resemblance to a pomegranate seed. Egyptians used garnets as inlays jewelry as early as 3100 B.C. Garnet actually comes in a rainbow of colors, with the most popular being the deep red of the pyrope garnet and the vibrant green of tsavorite garnet. Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.
Februrary - Amethyst
Amethyst is said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.
		Ancient Greeks and Romans believed the stone to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus. Throughout history, the gemstone has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous cultures. Historically, the finest amethyst featured in royal European jewelry. Amethyst is purple quartz and comes in various blends of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth. Today, while Brazil is the primary source of this gemstone, amethyst can be found elsewhere, especially in Zambia.
March - Aquamarine
Allows the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded.
		Aquamarine's serene color is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green with more intense color usually found in larger stones. This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but also is also found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique.
April - Diamond
Diamond has been associated with invulnerability and protection.
		Diamond comes from the Greek adamao, transliterated as "adamao," "I tame" or "I subdue." The adjective adamas was used to describe the hardest substance known, and eventually became synonymous with diamond. It is difficult to determine at what point in history the hardest known substance become diamond. The first diamonds were found in ancient times in India but now most of the world's diamonds come from South Africa and Israel.
May - Emerald
Emeralds are thought to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth.
		Emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, and was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world's emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Zambia.
June - Pearl, Alexandrite
Pearls symbolize innocence and a pure heart.
		Pearls have been used as an adornment for centuries. They were one of the favorite gems of the Roman Empire and are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900s, the first successful commercial culturing of round saltwater pearls began. Since the 1920s, cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.
Alexandrite is said to enhance communication, mental clarity, memory, and perception.
		A relatively modern gem, Alexandrite was first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of Czar Alexander II and is an extremely rare chrysoberyl with chameleon-like qualities. Its color is a lovely green in both daylight and fluorescent light; it changes color to a purplish red in incandescent light.
July - Ruby
Rubies arouse the senses, stir the imagination, and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love.
		Ruby is a variety of the gems species corundum. It is harder than any natural gemstone except diamond, which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday wear. Fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and the color of the gem is most important to its value. Light red, purple and orange rubies are actually called a fancy-color sapphires. Rubies are found in many parts of Asia, in several countries in Africa, and in Greenland.
August - Peridot
Perodot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year.
		As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes and in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Peridot ranges from yellowish green to brown, but the most popular shades are the bright lime and olive greens. Today, most of the peridot supply comes from Arizona; other sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
September - Sapphire
Sapphire is said to protect your loved ones from envy and harm.
		Medieval clergy wore sapphires in the Middle Ages to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. Sapphire is a variety of the gem species corundum and occurs in all colors of the rainbow: Pink, purple, green, orange, or yellow and blue corundum are known by their color (pink sapphire, green sapphire). Ruby is the deep red variety of corundum. Sapphires are found in many parts of Asia, in several countries in Africa, and in Greenland.
October - Tourmaline, Opal
Tourmalines are crdited with the power to enhance one's understanding, increases self-confidence, and aid in concentration and communication.
		The name tourmaline comes from a Singhalese word, touramalli, meaning "mixed colored stones" and was originally applied to an assortment of colored stones consisting mainly of zircons. Tourmaline is available in a wide variety of colors, often displayed in the same gemstone. These bi-color or tri-color gems are formed in many combinations; gemstones with clear color distinctions are highly prized. Tourmaline is found in many localities including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa, and the USA.
Opal is believed to give to the wearer the power of foresight and protection from disease.
		The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)." Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background. Opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices in the sedimentary strata and hardened over time. The opal is composed of particles packed together in a regular pattern, creating a three-dimensional array of spaces that give opal its radiance. Most of today's opal is mined in Australia.
November - Citrine
Citrine is know as the healing quartz and is said to support vitality and health while encouraging hope and energy within the wearer.
		Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones and is plentiful in nature. It is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.
December - Blue Zircon, Tanzanite
Zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its owner.
		Natural zircon today suffers for the similarity of its name to cubic zirconia, the laboratory-grown diamond imitation. Some don't realize that there is a beautiful natural gemstone called zircon. Zircon occurs in a wide range of colors but for many years, the most popular was the colorless variety which looks more like a diamond than any other natural stone due to its brilliance and dispersion. Today the most popular color is blue zircon. Most blue zircon, which is considered an alternate birthstone for December, is a pastel blue, but some exceptional gems have a bright blue color. Zircon is also available in green, dark red, yellow, brown, and orange.
Tanzanite was widely thought to prevent injury and was a representation of happiness.
		Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, and found exclusively in this tiny area of the world. It was introduced to the jewelry industry by Tiffany & co. Colors range from blue to purple and emit several hues at once. As tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire, it often was purchased as an alternative.