Birthstones
January
Garnet
The name "Garnet"is derived from the Latin term “granatum”, meaning “pomegranate”, as the crystals resemble the red colour and shape of this fruit. Red Garnets are most common, but come in a variety of colours such as black, green, clear, and numerous shades of red. Green Garnets are the most rare, and are therefore highly sought after. Other than being January’s birthstone, they are also the official stone to be given on second wedding anniversaries. Garnets are often used as power stones, and are symbolic of consistency, perseverance, and good health.
February
Amethyst
Amethyst comes in a varity of shades of purple and violet, and is associated with peace, sincerity and inner strength. In its purest form, Amethysts are colourless – colour is caused by the selective absorption by the gemstone of certain wavelengths of light, known as the body colour. History of the Amethyst dates back to when it was first worn by Saint Valentine, engraved with the figure of Cupid. Thus, Valentine’s Day is still held in February, with Amethyst being the birthstone of Aquarius.
March
Aquamarine
Legend claims that the Aquamarine was blessed by the god of the sea. Thereafter it was used by sailors on their voyages as they believed it would protect them and keep them safe. It is light blue or aqua in colour, derived from trace amounts of iron impurities found in the Beryl structure. The darker the blue, the more prized it becomes. The Aquamarine is closely related to the Emerald, derived from the Beryl family. It is also considered to be an appropriate gift for a 19th wedding anniversary.
April
Diamond
The diamond is the most prized of all crystals and is a gift symbolic of everlasting love. It is found in the widest range of colours and is known to be the “ultimate” gemstone. Diamonds are the hardest substances found in nature, composed of carbon which has been pressurized under the Earth’s surface for thousands of years. They are therefore renowned for their durability and strength, and their unique ability to reflect and refract light into stunning colours. South Africa has become famous for its coastal diamond mines.
May
Emerald
The Gemstone Emerald is the green variety of the mineral Beryl.The wonderful green color of emerald is unparalleled in the gem kingdom. Emerald’s precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron. Unlike other beryls, emeralds usually contain inclusions and other flaws. These flaws are not looked on as negative aspects for emerald like they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these flaws are considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the purchaser of a natural stone.
June
Pearl
Pearl jewely is given as a symbol of love. Everyone seems to love the beauty of a strand of pearls. Pearl necklaces are classic pieces of jewelry that are treasured.
Though pearls are often thought to be only white, pink and black pearls are extremely stylish. Pearl is often considered a gemstone, although it is not a mineral. Rather, pearl is a composite of the mineral Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate) and the organic compound conchiolin (a protein). The combination is called nacre, or mother-of-pearl. In pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels, nacre forms the inner lining of the shell and the layered nature of the structure contributes to the luster of the pearl. At one time, pearls were very rare and expensive, because more than a thousand oysters might be harvested to find a single pearl, and that one may have been small or misshapen. However, raising oysters or freshwater pearl mussels is relatively easy, and the process of inserting “seeds” has been perfected, such that cultured pearls are now harvested by the ton. Still, only a fraction of the harvest will be of high-quality pearls.
July
Ruby
Which colour would you spontaneously associate with love and vivacity, passion and power? It’s obvious, isn’t it? Red. Red is the colour of love. It radiates warmth and a strong sense of vitality. And red is also the colour of the ruby, the king of the gemstones. In the fascinating world of gemstones, the ruby is the undisputed ruler. A Ruby has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities. For a long time India was regarded as the ruby’s classical country of origin.Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth, of which the sapphire is also a variety. Pure corundum is colourless.
August
Peridot
Peridot is a gem variety from the olivine mineral group. The bottle green color is called peridot. Yellowish green is chrysolite. Olive green is olivine. A tiny island known as Zabargard (owned by Egypt) is documented as the first source of peridot, dating back as far as four thousand years. Early Crusaders who visited St. John’s Island (now called Zabargard) introduced this gem to Europe upon return from battle. Peridot is mentioned in many ancient references as chrysolite. It is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred. Today still, Catholic Bishops traditionally wear a ring of peridot and amethyst as a symbol of purity and morality. The peridot was believed to be a stone of springtime by ancients who considered it a gift from Mother Nature. Napoleon once made a gift of peridot to Josephine as a symbol of undying love and admiration. In ancient times, it was said that a dream about peridot foretold impending danger.
September
Sapphire
Sapphire is the blue sister of Ruby as is of the same mineral corundum and the second hardest gemstone next to the diamond. Through history, sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness in relationships, and to bring peace, joy and wisdom to the wearer and owner. In the past, the sapphire was also believed to be a talisman that would protect you against evil spirits and other unsavory creatures of the night. The ancients regarded star sapphires as a powerful talisman protecting travelers and seekers. They were so powerful, they would continue protecting the wearer even after being passed on to another person. While blue is the classic sapphire color, sapphire is actually found in a wide range of colors, including yellow, pink and green.
October
Opal
It is no wonder why early cultures from around the world have attributed magical properties to the opal. The mysterious patches of color that appear and disappear with every movement give opals a life of their own. Opals have been collected for thousands of years. The oldest opal artifact, estimated to have been collected at around 4000 B.C., was found in a cave in Kenya.
November
Yellow Topaz
Topaz comes in many colors such as blue, yellow, pink, brown, green and clear. Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities. Yellow Topaz is said to symbolize sobriety, clemency, faithfullnes, and gentleness.
Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type and is a fluorine aluminum silicate cystal.
December
Blue Topaz
Topaz comes in many colors such as blue, yellow, pink, brown, green and clear. Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities.
Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type and is a fluorine aluminum silicate cystal.
