Not only are gemstones beautiful, but they can create a certain ambience or feeling when you look at them. They tend to add a vibrant glow, not only on the face of the wearer, but also throughout the room the person is in. Many gemstones just so happen to be available in warm, tranquil colors that magically reflect the aura…
Amethyst is a well-known and widely used gemstone, thanks to its beautiful color and its abundance in nature. As the February birthstone, a piece of amethyst jewelry can make a beautiful gift for the woman in your life with a February birthday. Amethyst is also the traditional 6th and 33rd wedding anniversary gift. A purple variety of quartz, amethyst is…
Happy Birthday, December! The December Birthstone is the Blue Topaz. The Blue Topaz gets its name from the Sanskrit word “tapas” meaning fire. In ancient times, Blue Topaz was thought to have cooling properties. Blue Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals. Pure topaz is colorless, but changes of element inclusions within the stone will lead to a range…
Happy Birthday, November! The November birthstone is citrine. Citrine gets its name from the old French word “citrin” which translates to “lemon.” Citrine is one of the most rare forms of quartz and can be found in colors ranging from pale yellow to a dark amber shade, commonly referred to as “Madeira,” as the color closely resembles the wine of…
Happy Birthday, October! The October birthstone is opal. The opal gets its name from the Latin word “opalus,” meaning “precious jewel,” and is prized for its unique ability to refract and reflect light into the shimmering rainbow of colors it is known for. Ancient legend says that opals fell from the heavens in a flash of fiery lightning, but, in…
Happy Birthday, September! The September Birthstone is the Blue Sapphire. Named for the Greek word “sapphirus,” meaning the color blue, Sapphires have long been a favorite. Ancient civilizations said that the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection. Sapphires are also prominent among the British Crown Jewels, and Prince Charles famously chose…
Happy Birthday, August! The August birthstone is peridot. Peridot get its name from the Arabic word “faridat,” meaning gem. In ancient Egypt, peridot was called “gem of the sun” for their dazzling brilliance. Peridot is a mineral known as olivine, and can be found in various shades of green ranging from a light yellow-green to a deep olive hue. The…
Happy Birthday, July! The July birthstone is ruby. The ruby gets its name from the Latin word “ruber” meaning red. Called the Rajnapura (King of Gems) by ancient Hindus, the ruby is among the most highly prized gems throughout history. The ruby is a variety of the mineral Corundum, which is found as crystals that form within metamorphic rock. Corundum…
Happy Birthday, June! The June birthstone is pearl. One of our most treasured gems, the pearl comes from one of the humblest of all life forms, the mollusk. The scientific formation of natural pearls is almost as mystical as folklore. When an irritant becomes lodged in the flesh of a mollusk (an oyster, mussel, or clam), the mollusk produces a…
Happy Birthday, May! The May birthstone is the emerald. Spring is traditionally a time of new growth and rebirth, and the stunningly intense green of the emerald evokes thoughts of spring. Emeralds often include tiny fractures, which the French call, jardin (garden), due to their resemblance to foliage. The emerald, like several other prized gemstones, is a member of the…
Happy Birthday, April! The April birthstone is the diamond. In general, diamonds are remarkably simple in their color, they appear to be clear or white, yet they are able to refract light in a way that produces vibrant flashes of brilliant color, making them sparkle and shine like no other. Diamonds are simply carbon that has been crystallized under intense…
Happy Birthday, March! The March birthstone is the aquamarine stone. The name for aquamarine comes from the Roman word “aqua” (meaning “water”) and “mare” (meaning “sea”). If you can picture the stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean, you can see how the aquamarine got its name, as this gorgeous blue gem does, indeed, resemble seawater! The aquamarine is a member…
