46
What Is Your Birth Stone?
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
Amethyst
Aquamarine
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. Garnet is the name of a group
of minerals that comes in a rainbow of
colors, from the deep red of the pyrope
garnet to the vibrant green of tsavorites.
Today, the most important sources for
garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.
Amethyst, the gemstone believed by
ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off
the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, 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. It has been associated with many
myths, legends, religions, and numerous
cultures. Amethyst is purple quartz, a
beautiful blend of violet and red that can
be found in every corner of the earth.
Historically, the finest amethyst were
found in Russia and were featured in
much royal European jewelry. Today,
while Brazil is the primary source of this
gemstone, fine material can be found
elsewhere, especially in Zambia.
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. Aquamarine is
most often light in tone and ranges from
greenish blue to blue-green; the color
usually is more intense in larger stones.
This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil,
but also is found in Nigeria, Madagascar,
Zambia, Pakistan, and Mozambique.
JU
JULY
JULY
AUGUST
AUGUST
U
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
PTEMBE
TEMB
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. Ruby is a
variety of the gems species corundum.
It is harder than any natural gemstone
except diamond, which means a ruby
is durable enough for everyday wear.
Fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and
the color of the gem is most important
to its value. The most prized color is a
medium or medium dark vivid red or
slightly purplish red. If the gem is too light
or has too much purple or orange, it will
be called a fancy-color sapphire.
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. Today, most of
the peridot supply comes from Arizona;
other sources are China, Myanmar,
and Pakistan. This gemstone comes in
several color variations ranging from
yellowish green to brown, but most
consumers are attracted to the bright
lime greens and olive greens. Peridot,
in smaller sizes, often is used in beaded
necklaces and bracelets.
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. Blue sapphires range from
very light to ve ry dark greenish or
violetish blue, as well as various shades of
pure blue. The most prized colors are a
medium to medium dark blue or slightly
violetish blue. Sapphire is a variety of the
gem species corundum and occurs in
all colors of the rainbow. Pink, purple,
green, orange, or yellow corundum are
known by their color (pink sapphire,
green sapphire). Ruby is the red variety
of corundum.
Garnet
Ruby
Perdot
MARC
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
C
Sapphire