A birthstone is the gemstone that corresponds with the month you were born. The gemstones were originally linked to the Zodiac, but over time were tied into the calendar. The wearer was believed to gain luck or power by wearing the birthstone of a given month.
The Differences in Gemstones
A wide variety of gemstones occur naturally or are created and it’s important to be able to tell the difference in order to make sure the cost is justified.
Natural gemstones are those found in nature, while synthetic gemstones are created in a laboratory. Gemstones are often treated to improve their color or clarity. While there are potential benefits to using simulated stones, don’t get tricked into buying fake gemstones.
Shopping for Birthstone Jewelry
A wide variety of birthstone jewelry is available in today’s marketplace. The name of a given stone can be just as important as the stone itself, because some names can be misleading. For instance, Australian jade is actually treated quartz. On some expensive pieces, jewelers or even customers will use a jeweler’s loupe to verify the quality of a gemstone. Birthstone jewelry is a popular Mother’s Day gift with charm bracelets or pendants. Birthstone rings also come in a variety of price ranges and options.
The Birthstones For Each Month
A birthstone is tied to each month of the year. If a particular stone is expensive or precious, alternative birthstones have been substituted over time.
- January: Garnet. Usually deep red, there are stones in nearly every color. Garnets are found across the United States. These gemstones were considered good protection against snake bites and food poisoning.
- February: Amethyst. A type of quartz, amethysts range in color from pale lilac to dark purple. A symbol of peace, amethyst was thought to stop the wearer from becoming intoxicated.
- March: Aquamarine. A stone found in nature in all shades of blue. Clear blue stones with fewer inclusions, or flaws, are the most expensive. A form of beryl, aquamarine is in the same mineral family as emeralds. Aquamarine was thought to protect sailors and land lubbers alike from seasickness.
- April: Diamond. The hardest gemstone and the one traditionally associated with engagements and weddings. Although most diamonds are colorless, colored stones are also available. The quality is usually judged according to the Four C’s: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Diamonds are seen as representations of love.
- May: Emerald. A light to dark green stone believed to grant psychic powers to the wearer. Emeralds are members of the beryl family
- June: Pearls. A pearl is created when a mollusk, an oyster or clam, slowly coats a foreign substance inside its shell with layers of a substance called nacre. Cultured pearls come in a variety of colors, while most natural pearls are white or slightly pink in color. Pearl necklaces and alexandrite, a cost efficient alternative, pendants are popular birthday gifts. Pearls have been suggested to give courage or be a sign of modesty.
- July: Ruby. Rubies come in a variety of red hues and some have a slight purple undertone. Many of the most expensive rubies are mined in Burma. Those who wore rubies were thought to be wise.
- August: Peridot. A lime green stone with brown or olive tinges. The Peridot is a variety of the mineral olivine formed during volcanic eruptions, referred to as the “evening emerald,” in Roman times. A symbol of the sun, the peridot was seen as a protection against nightmares.
- September: Sapphire. Although the most popular color is cornflower blue, sapphires are available in every color but red, which are called rubies. Sapphires are part of the corundum family of minerals- one of the hardest and most durable minerals. Sapphires were thought to grant the ability to see the future. People mine their own native sapphires and rubies in Franklin, North Carolina.
- October: Opal. Precious opals show flashes of colors in different lights because of silica streaks within the stone. Black opals are the rarest and most expensive. Opals are a symbol of chastity and purity. Tourists in Australia often buy opals as souvenirs.
- November: Topaz. The stone is primarily yellow in color, but can be found in red, pink, and greenish hues. The colors of Topaz were believed to have a calming effect. Citrine, a translucent quartz, is an affordable alternative.
- December: Turquoise. A naturally occurring deposit in rocks, Turquoise is a soft stone that can be sky blue to vivid green in color. It is believed to have provided happiness according to Native American folklore. Blue Topaz is also used as a birthstone for December.
Related Birthstones Resources
About.com Go Australia Opals [1] About.com Jewelry North Carolina Ruby Mining [2] About.com Jewelry Opal [3] About.com Jewelry Pearl Necklaces [4] About.com Jewelry Peridot [5] About.com Jewelry Peridot FAQ [6] About.com Jewelry Precious Opals [7] About.com Jewelry Ruby [8] About.com Jewelry Sapphire [9] About.com Jewelry Sapphire Composition [10] About.com Jewelry Topaz [11] About.com Jewelry Turquoise [12] About.com Jewelry Turquoise Facts [13] About.com Jewelry: Amethyst [14] About.com Jewelry: Aquamarine [15] About.com Jewelry: Aquamarine [16] About.com Jewelry: Beryl [17] About.com Jewelry Pearl [18] About.com Jewelry: Birthstone Rings [19] About.com Jewelry: Charm Bracelets [20] About.com Jewelry: Diamond [21] About.com Jewelry: Emerald [22] About.com Jewelry: Faux Gemstones [23] About.com Jewelry: Four C’s [24] About.com Jewelry: Garnet [25] U.S. Geologic Survey: Garnet [26] About.com Jewelry: Gem Treatments [27] About.com Jewelry: Inclusions [28] About.com Jewelry: Jeweler’s Loupe jeweler’s About.com Jewelry: Making Simulated Stones [29] About.com Jewelry: Misleading Names [30] About.com Jewelry: Synthetic Gemstones [31] About.com Pregnancy: Birthstone [32] Birthstones: History of Birthstones [33] Burmese Rubies [34] International Colored Gemstone Association: Amethyst Gemstone [35] Topaz [36]