Birthstones

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.

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.
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February - 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.
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March - Aquamarine

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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