BIRTHSTONES BY MONTH

“Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. Discover what’s make your birthstone a unique and powerful statement of your finest qualities and learn its natural properties and well as its fabled mystical benefits.

January

Garnet, the birthstone of January, come in a variety of colors and have many different varieties. However, the most widely-known color of Garnet gemstones is dark red. It is considered a great gift to symbolize friendship and trust. ©Image: GIA

February

Amethyst, the birthstone of February,is variety of quartz that shines a beautiful purple color that ranges from a blend of deep violet and red to a lighter lilac hue. This gemstone is said to represent peace, serenity, and royalty. Ancient Greeks believed that the stone protected the wearer from drunkenness and enabled them to keep a balanced mindset. ©Image: GIA

March

The aquamarine birthstone evokes the colors of the sea. From deep green-blue to light, slightly greenish blue hues, faceted aquamarines are often free from inclusions and as clear as water, symbolizing purity of spirit and soul.

April

Diamond, the birthstone of April, is the most coveted gemstone. A diamond is the hardest natural substance and is the only gemstone prized for its complete lack of color. While white diamonds are most common, fancy colored diamonds can be found in various colors including yellow, blue, pink and a variety of others as well. Due to its brilliance and fire has become the symbol of love. ©Image: GIA

May

Emerald, the May birthstone, is a rich green color that is reminiscent of mother nature and springtime. They are considered to be a symbol of rebirth and love. Emeralds are the rarest gemstones and are typically mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan and Zambia. ©Image: GIA

June

Pearl, alexandrite and moonstone are the three birthstones for June. Pearls are the only gemstones made by living creatures. Mollusks produce pearls by depositing layers of calcium carbonate around microscopic irritants that get lodged in their shells, usually not a grain of sand, as commonly believed. ©Image: GIA

July

Ruby, the king of precious gems represents passion, love and success. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, colored by the element chromium. All other colors of gem-quality corundum are called sapphire, which means color is key for this royal stone. Accordingly, the name "ruby" comes from rubeus, the Latin word for red.

August

Peridot, spinel and sardonyx are the three birthstones for August and they come in a variety of shapes and colors. The peridot birthstone is known for being formed under extreme conditions, as it can be found in the hardened lava that carried it from deep within Earth’s mantle as well as in meteorites that traveled from outer space. The spinel birthstone was underappreciated until recently, as today’s consumers look for an alternative to ruby, a gem with which red spinel was mistaken for centuries. Sardonyx is the original August birthstone, with a history that dates back more than 4,000 years. Learn more about these three August birthstones and discover the perfect gift for those born in the month of August.

September

Sapphire, the September birthstone comes in all the colors of the rainbow – except red. a precious gemstone of that, according to ancient lore, instilled wisdom, loyalty and nobility. When people say “sapphire,” they’re usually referring to the royal blue variety of this gem, although it can occur in all colors of the rainbow (except red, which is classified as ruby instead). ©Image: GIA

October

Opal and tourmaline are the two birthstones for October. Both of these gemstones are known for their endless color combinations and are believed to have been created from rainbows. ©Image: GIA

November

BIRTHSTONE OVERVIEW Topaz and citrine are the two birthstones for November. Both are fairly abundant making them affordably priced. These two November birthstones are known for their calming energies and can be found around the world. ©Image: GIA

December

Turquoise and tanzanite are the two birthstones for December. These gemstones range from the one of the first mined and used in jewellery (turquoise), to one of the most recently discovered (tanzanite). All of these stones are relatively inexpensive, but their beauty rivals even precious gemstones. Colorless zircon is a convincing replacement for diamond, tanzanite often substitutes sapphire, and turquoise is unmatched in its hue of robin’s egg blue. ©Image: GIA

images: GIA