What Your Birthstone Says About You
January - Garnet
Garnet, the birthstone for January, signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend.
Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means “seed,” and is called so because of the gemstone's resemblance to a pomegranate seed. References to the gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used garnets as inlays jewelry.
Constancy, Loyalty. February - Amethyst
Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is believed by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off temptation, also is said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.
Throughout history, the gemstone has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous cultures. English regalia were even decorated with amethysts during the Middle Ages to symbolize royalty.
Serenity, Peace. March - Aquamarine
The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage.
The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes.
Courage, Health. April - Diamond
As the April birthstone, diamonds are the ideal gift for a loved one, with more choices now than ever.
These stones are strong, eternal, and came from time and extreme pressure.
Innocence, Love. May - Emerald
As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth.
Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C.
Happiness, fertility. June - Pearl, Alexandrite
For centuries, pearls have been used as an adornment., and were one of the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire. Later in Tudor England, the 1500s were known as the pearl age.
Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty.
Balance, Joy. July - Ruby
There’s no better way to demonstrate your love than by giving a ruby in celebration of a July birthday. Rubies arouse the senses, stir the imagination, and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love.
Nobility, Beauty. August - Peridot
Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and a wonderful year. As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.
Felicity, Protection. September - Sapphire
Sapphire, the September birthstone, has been popular since the Middle Ages and, according to folklore, will protect your loved ones from envy and harm. Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings.
Wisdom, Calmness. October - Opal, Tourmaline
The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)." Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue.
Balance, Endurance. November - Topaz
Topaz is a gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several thousands of years in antiquity, all yellow gems for a time were called topaz.
The most prized color of topaz is called Imperial topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s, and features a magnificent orange body color with pink undertones.
Friendship, strength. December - Turquoise, Zircon
The name turquoise, from the French expression Pierre tourques or Turkish stone, originated in the thirteenth century and describes one of the oldest known gemstones.
Wisdom, wealth. What is your birthstone!?
