As an aspect of horoscopes based on astrology, birthstones have a pretty fascinating story, going back at least to the Middle Ages when people wore them for good luck, for prophetic powers, and even for spell casting.
They might even go back to biblical times when something akin to birthstones was discussed by 1st-century historian, Josephus. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century that birthstones were assigned months. Later, in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers defined the list of birthstones we know today.
But more than their storied history, people love birthstones because they’re fun to wear as well as are associated with good luck and good health.
Birthstone and Horoscope Chart
January’s birthstone is the garnet, which comes in an array of rich, shimmering colors..
The Glamor of Garnet Jewelry
Garnets are often associated with the heart, love, and inner fire. They can be found in almost any color including yellow, orange, brown, pink, green, red, and purple, have exceptional fire, and are mined on just about every continent on the planet. Even though they come in a range of colors, garnets are most widely known as being a rich, dark red and are sometimes confused with rubies, although they are very different in composition.
Regardless of which color garnet you choose to represent yourself, however, each radiant hue is beautiful in any type of jewelry. Take, for example, the gorgeous rose gold engagement ring and yellow garnet below.
Loose Red and Yellow Garnet Gemstones
Anecdotally, garnets have long been valued for their healing qualities. They are believed to help with heart disease, protect against injury, help fight depression and even guard against evil spirits.
But, wait… there’s more!
Garnets are also associated with faithfulness, friendship, purity, and truth. And the garnet is traditionally given as a 2nd year wedding anniversary gift. If you are a January baby, there are a lot of good reasons to design your next piece of jewelry with a garnet in mind! Read more about garnets in our Gemstones section.
‘The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear.’
(author unknown)
Its History
Amethysts have a long and rich history and have been used in religious jewelry and royal crown jewels for ages. The amethyst is even one of the emblems of the 12 apostles, and bishops as well as British royalty often wear this beautiful gemstone.
Loose Amethyst Gemstones
A New-Age Stone
Amethyst doesn’t just have a connection to the past, however, it’s also recognized in spiritual communities as an important healing stone. It is thought to attract spiritual energies and to activate spiritual awareness as well as bring peace of mind and relieve stress. Amethyst is also believed to dispel anger and fear, balance our moods and open up our intuitive capabilities.
Facts about Amethysts
- The word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word, ‘amethystos’, which means ‘sober’. The ancient Greeks believed that the amethyst protected them from becoming drunk. In fact, the practice of drinking wine from cups made from amethyst originated from that belief.
- The amethyst is a quartz stone of the purple variety and is the most valued member of the quartz family. Amethysts must be purple, but they can come in a variety of shades of purple, including lavender, lilac, and mauve. Their properties and textures change with the locations from where they are mined. The highest quality amethyst is a deep, medium purple with some rose coloring.
- Amethysts can be found in many regions in the world, but most of these stones come from Brazil and Uruguay. Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, and the USA are also sources of amethysts.
- In 1993, a nine-foot cavern was found in Maine containing more than a ton of amethyst crystal.
- On the Mohs scale of hardness, the amethyst is a seven.
Custom Logo Pendant set with Light Amethyst Gemstones
Read more about amethysts in our Gemstones section.
‘A March born shall always be
Soothed by Aqua, gem of sea,
This mermaid’s treasure stone you wear,
Will bring happiness, love, affection and care.’
– Gregorian Birthstone Poem
The beautiful March birthstone, aquamarine, is named after the color of the sea and belongs to the blue-green beryl family of gemstones. Ancient Greek and Roman sailors believed the aquamarine stone would help protect them on their journeys. Its color is light blue or sea-green, hence its Latin-based name, which means ‘sea water’.
Loose Aquamarine Gemstones
One of the most famous aquamarine jewelry pieces belongs to Duchess of Sussex Megan Markle. She received the ring from her husband during the wedding. This striking piece of jewelry features a large emerald-cut, pale blue aquamarine gem set in 24-carat yellow-gold and surrounded by over 30 smaller diamonds. But you don’t have to be a member of the royal family to wear and enjoy stunning aquamarine jewelry. Read more about aquamarine.
The other traditional March birthstone is the bloodstone, which is an opaque, dark green stone with flecks of red. This unique stone is a member of the chalcedony family, and its hardness makes it very suitable for carving and placing in jewelry.
‘Who in this world of ours their eyes
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone to their grave.’
– Gregorian Birthstone Poem
Loose Bloodstone Gemstones
‘She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow.’
– Gregorian Birthstone Poem
Apri’s birthstone, the diamond, is also one of the most popular gemstones of all time – for both men and women. The diamond is popular not only because of its intrinsic beauty and glamour, but also because of its rarity, which increases its value. One of the most famous diamonds in the world is the ‘ Great Star of Africa’ diamond.
Loose Diamonds
Of course, you don’t have to go that big or that famous to enjoy the beauty of a diamond or diamond jewelry. There are many stunning diamonds out there and a myriad of designs to complement them and heighten their beauty. But it is wise to learn a little about diamonds before buying them. Check out our diamond section to learn about the different factors that determine the grade and price of a diamond. Naturally, after you’ve done your research, you’ll want to browse our database of gorgeous designs until you find the perfect design for your diamond!
Custom Diamond Engagement Ring
C Letter Pendant Set with Diamonds
Dimaond Starfish Earrings
Read more about diamonds in our Diamonds section.
One of the most sought after and revered gemstones in the world, the striking and richly beautiful emerald is May’s birthstone. Along with rubies, sapphires, pearls and diamonds, emeralds are one of the five recognized precious gemstones. However, while we usually think of diamonds as the rarest of the precious stones, emeralds are actually rarer and often more expensive by weight than diamonds.
Emeralds are also a more fragile stone and are harder to cut, so they should be cut strategically to ensure that their natural fissures don’t surface or appear at the emerald’s corners. Additionally, emeralds are usually oiled to fill in their fractures and to enhance their appearance, but the oiling in no way affects their value.
Emerald Coloring
Emeralds are a type of beryl which get their striking green coloring from chromium (and sometimes vanadium), and unlike diamonds, usually have inclusions. In fact, if you find an emerald without inclusions, it’s most likely a synthetic emerald. The name ‘emerald’ comes from the Greek word ‘smaragdus’, which means green, although emeralds don’t just come in one shade of green; they come in a striking array of green hues from deep, darkish green to bluish green, soft green, grass green, and light green.
Loose Emerald Gemstones
Emerald Durability
Even though they are durable, emeralds chip and crack more easily than diamonds, so setting them adds to the expense of emerald jewelry. Despite this, many consider it the ultimate luxury jewelry. Indeed from emerald engagement rings to emerald pendants, earrings and more, emerald jewelry is breathtaking. Take a look at a few of our favorites below and you’ll see what we mean. Read more about emeralds.
Actually, there are two June birthstones, although the pearl is the more popular of the two. The other birthstone is Alexandrite, which is a very rare and beautiful gemstone that changes its color according to the light. Compared to the pearl, Alexandrite is a relatively modern gem, as it was first discovered in Russia in the 1830s. As you might have guessed, it takes its name from the Russian Czar at that time, Czar Alexander II. Read more about alexandrite.
Loose Alexandrite Gemstones
The pearl, on the other hand, has a long history, as it has been used for centuries and was a favorite gem of the Roman Empire. The pearl is unique because it is the only gem that comes from a living sea creature and that requires no faceting or polishing. Their lustrous beauty comes with a caveat; pearls can be damaged by cleaning products or lotions, and need to be stored in an environment that isn’t too dry. A pearl contains 10-20% water and can crack if it dries out. A delicate, rare beauty, the pearl. Read more about pearls.
Loose Pearls
Every birthstone has its own meaning. July’s birthstone, the radiant ruby, is associated with love, passion, life and heat. It is fitting that it goes with July, the peak summer month. This stunning gem is one of the four precious gemstones and would look superb as a princess cut ring, in a bezel setting, as a marquise-cut ring, in a pave setting and in so many other delightful, alluring designs.
Loose Ruby Gemstones
There is a lot more to this extraordinary gemstone than just its remarkable beauty, though. Let’s take a look at these fascinating facts about the ‘King of Gemstones’, the ruby.
- Ruby means red: The word ‘ruby’ comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’, which means red.
- Like a sapphire: The same mineral that makes up sapphires, corundum, makes up the ruby. The only real difference between them is their color. Rubies, of course, have that deep, rich, luxurious red for which they are famous. Sapphires, while mostly known for their royal blue color, also come in a variety of other colors.
- The ruby’s amazing color: Those famous luxurious ruby reds come in a range of shades, from rich darkish red to pigeon blood red and pinkish red.
- The big 40: Ruby is the official stone for the 40th wedding anniversary. Start saving!
- Glow on: Rubies fluoresce, which means they glow under UV light.
Read more about rubies in our Gemstones section.
‘Wear a peridot or for thee,
No conjugal fidelity,
The August born without this stone,
‘Tis said must live unloved, alone’
It may surprise you to learn that August has three birthstones: sardonyx, spinel, and peridot. Sardonyx is the original August birthstone with peridot and spinel added later. Spinel didn’t become an August birthstone until 2016! Yet, perhaps because of its vivid and distinct green color or because it is so rare to find on the Earth’s surface, or simply because it maintains its color so well, peridot has become August’s primary gemstone.
Loose Peridot Gemstones
How to buy peridot
If you’re looking for August birthstone jewelry and have decided on the peridot, or simply love its beautiful lime-green hue, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. The finest peridots have no inclusions visible to the naked eye (although you might see some dark spots if viewed through a microscope).
2. The highest-quality peridots are a lime-green color without any traces of brown or yellow.
3. Smaller peridot sizes are relatively affordable, but larger stones get expensive.
Peridot has a very high double refraction (refraction is the bending of light as it passes in or out of a gem; the higher the refractive index, the higher the stone’s brilliance), so a good way to check if it is real is to hold it against a light. If there is no double refraction, it is most likely fake.
4. Peridots look best with yellow or rose gold metals rather than white metals like white gold.
9 fun facts about peridot. See if you already know some of them!
1. Peridots typically come in a lime green color, but the highest quality peridot is a sparkling lime green color without any brownish or olive cast.
2. Peridots are one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color.
3. The word peridot is derived from the Greek word ‘faridat’, which means ‘gem’.
4. The peridot has been the official birthstone for August since 1912.
5. Peridots are found in Myanmar, China and the US and even in some meteorites!
6. Peridots have been popular in Egypt for centuries, used in jewelry there since ancient Egypt, and is even its national gem!
7. The depth of the green in peridots depends on how much iron they have in their crystal structure.
8. Sometimes peridots are mistaken for emeralds, giving them the name ‘the poor man’s emerald’.
9. Peridots are one of two gems formed in the earth’s mantle rather than its crust (the other one, of course, is the diamond).
Read more about peridot in our Gemstones section.
‘A maiden born when autumn leaves
Are rustling in September’s breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind;
To bring her joy and peace of mind.’
~ Gregorian Birthstone Poems
September’s birthstone is the sublime sapphire, one of the ‘big three’ of colored gemstones (the other two are rubies and emeralds), and one of the five precious gemstones overall (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires and pearl). Sapphires make excellent jewelry not only because of their rarity and beauty, but also because of their extreme durability, a quality shared with diamonds.
Sapphires can be found in several countries including Australia, Burma, Cambodia, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the US. There are transparent sapphires, and other types as well, e.g. the star sapphire, with a star-like appearance due to its optical property, asterism. Another rare type of star sapphire is one that shows ‘chatoyancy’, a cat’s eye effect. These are seen with sapphires that are cut in a cabochon style. Another rare variety of sapphire is the color-changing sapphire. This type of sapphire exhibits different colors under different light.
Loose Blue Sapphire Gemstones
Interesting fact: Did you know? The sapphire is a variety of the corundum mineral, just like rubies. Rubies, however, are of the red variety of corundum, whereas sapphires are of the non-red variety. Blue is by far the most popular color for sapphires, but they can actually come in a number of colors. You can read more about sapphires in the Gemstones section.
‘October’s child is born for woe,
And life’s vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.’
Opal is the traditional birthstone for October, and is often referred to as ‘opulent opal’ for its gorgeous range of colors. Over 90% of the world’s opals come from Australia making it very fitting that the country’s national gemstone is the opal. While opal’s come in a variety of colors, they do share one defining characteristic: they shine and sparkle in a continuously changing play of color.
Loose Opal Gemstones
If you’re an October baby, then you’re really in luck because jewelry with opals is truly captivating. Opals are beautiful set in gold or silver, with or without accent stones, and in different shapes, sizes, and settings. Just imagine an opal in any of the designs found in our design catalog to see for yourself how truly versatile and beautiful this gem is. You can read more about opals in our Gemstones section.
November has two beautiful birthstones: Topaz and Citrine. Both come in a range of colors, with citrine coming in orange, yellow, and greenish and brownish yellows, and topaz coming in an even greater variety of colors from brown, blue, green, and yellow to orange, red, pink, and purple. Both stones are so beautiful, it’ll probably be hard to choose which one you want, so why not have one of each? Keep one in your jewelry box while you wear the other or wear them both at the same time!
An Intro to Topaz
Topaz comes in a magnificent range of colors that includes blue, brown, gold, orange, pink, red, yellow and clear. These colors are caused by impurities or defects in the stone’s crystal structure rather than its chemical composition, with the exception of blue topaz. While occasionally but rarely occurring naturally, blue topaz is usually just clear topaz that has been treated in a laboratory. The most prized topaz color is imperial topaz. Imperial topaz has a brilliant, lustrous orange color with pink undertones. Topaz is a relatively hard stone and is pretty resistant to scratching, but it can be chipped or cracked, so when you wear this beautiful stone, take care to protect its edges. Read more about topaz in our Gemstones section.
Loose Yellow Topaz Gemstones
And Citrine Too
Citrine comes in beautiful yellow, orange and reddish tones. Stones with the most intense colors are the most valuable. While it resembles yellow topaz, citrine is from the quartz family of gems, which is much more common than topaz. When citrine crystals form together with amethyst or smoky quartz a bi-colored quartz called ametrine is formed. Citrines are gorgeous in earrings, pendants, rings, and in any type of November birthstone jewelry. Although topaz has a greater hardness than citrine, it can be easily chipped, making citrine the more practical stone for jewelry. Citrine is also slightly less expensive than topaz. Read more about citrine in our Gemstones section.
Loose Citrine Gemstones
December is a special month for many reasons – beautiful holidays spent with family and friends, the last days of the year, and lovely and varied birthstones and zodiac signs. Indeed, the fact that December has two zodiac signs and three birthstones makes December a special month for birthstone or zodiac jewelry.
December birthstones
December babies are lucky because they can choose from three birthstones: tanzanite, turquoise, and zircon. Remarkably, each of the December birthstones has a unique blue tone (the exception is zircon which can be found in other colors). In addition to being beautiful, December birthstones are also relatively inexpensive.
Tanzanite – Mined in Tanzania, Africa, in an area measuring only four square kilometers wide, this blue-purple stone is actually rarer than diamonds. It looks particularly eye-catching when set in yellow gold. Read more about tanzanite.
Loose Tanzanite Gemstones
Turquoise – This opaque gem comes in an array of colors from green to greenish blue and sky blue shades, sometimes with rivulets of other minerals that give it texture and intrigue. It is most valuable when its color is uniform throughout, but we also think turquoise is stunning when it shows a matrix of lines running across, and indeed, this feature marks the second most valuable type of turquoise. Read more about turquoise.
Loose Turquoise Gemstones
Zircon – Not to be confused with the synthetic diamond alternative cubic zirconia, zircon is an exquisite and naturally occurring gemstone that comes in a variety of colors, with blue being the most popular color for December. Read more about zircon.
Loose Blue Zircon Gemstones
