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

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.
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Peridot 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.
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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.
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Tourmalines are credited with the power to enhance one's understanding, increase 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.
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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.
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Citrine is known 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.
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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.

Turquoise 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.
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