Every month of the year has its own special birthstone with a unique meaning. Although some birthstones are more expensive than others, all twelve gems are equally beautiful and precious. Just as a birthstone has its own qualities and characteristics, the individual who shares the month with that stone possesses those same attributes. Read below to learn more about your birthstone.
[January]
[February] [March] [April]
[May] [June] [July]
[August] [September] [October]
[November] [December]
All birthstone articles
were written by S. Thai Vo and published in "The Sound" of McLean.
To read more about S. Thai Vo and Baokha Fine Jewelry, please go to the About
Us section of our web site.
The
name garnet came from the Latin word "granatus" meaning "like
seeds" because many garnets are found seeded in rocks. Garnets come in
a variety of colors, but the most popular garnet color is the Bohemian rose-colored
garnet. Red garnets have been known to promote sincerity, to stop hemorrhaging,
cure inflammatory diseases, and guard the wearer from all perils in travel.
A person who wears a garnet or was born in the month of January is believed
to be devoted, independent, energetic, and loyal. Because of their toughness,
durability, and versatility in color, garnets are also thought to alleviate
bad dreams if placed under a pillow. Over and over again legends mention garnets
for their strong curative powers, particularly for curing mental depression.
Garnets are lucky stones for love, success, and health, which makes a garnet
quite a worthwhile stone.
Amethyst,
the name by which the purple variety of quartz is known (Silicon Dioxide), is
of ancient derivation. The color of amethyst is near to, but not quite reaching,
that of wine. Because of this, the name is said to have been derived from the
Greek word "amethustos" meaning "not drunken." During the
Middle Ages, it was believed that an amethyst would protect the wearer from
getting overly intoxicated. More importantly, if worn as an amulet, an amethyst
was believed to dispel sleep, sharpen the intellect, and if the circle of the
sun or moon was engraved on it; the stone was believed to be an antidote against
poison. In time of war, amethysts were thought to protect the wearer against
harm in battle. Today, the real amethyst is no longer reserved just for the
royal (there are two fine amethysts in the British Regalia) and the ecclesiastical
circles (amethysts have graced the fingers of popes and bishops for centuries).
Although an amethyst is the official birthstone of February, it is also worn
and enjoyed by many of us who cannot resist the various shades of its beautiful
purple color.
Aquamarine,
a name that means "Water of the Sea," belongs to the beryl group (Aluminum
Beryllium Silicate). The color of aquamarine ranges from a light blue to bluish
green to deep blue (the most desired color, and the most valuable). But even
in its darkest shades, rarely does an aquamarine reach the hue of a blue sapphire.
Because its shades are reminiscent of the calm sea, an aquamarine was a talisman
for sailors (in modern times, it is supposed to aid those who take frequent
cruises!). The sea water gem, possessing water as a purifier, is believed to
bring health to its wearer. The soothing blue color is a symbol of hope and
courage. The affinity toward heaven (clear sky-blue color of aquamarine) and
water, which is the essence of life, is perhaps the answer to why an aquamarine
is thought to maintain happy marriages and help reconcile differences. Legend
also has it that aquamarines possess power over the devil. The Water by the
Sea gem, a symbol of health, hope, courage, and harmony, blesses those born
in March. To dream of aquamarines signifies the appreciation of friendship;
to wear aquamarines brings an inner sense of tranquility.
In
Greek literature from a very early date, the word "adamas," which
gave the diamond its name, was often used in a sense very close to that of the
Hebrew word "yahalom" meaning invincibility and fearlessness. From
the famous "breastplate of Judgment" worn by the high priests of the
Hebrews (Exodus 28:18) to the uncut diamonds adorning the suits of armor of
the great knights, and from the crowns of kings and queens to the diamond octahedral
(octahedron is the most common and perfect form of a diamond crystal) worn by
the American Indians as talismans, diamonds have become the internationally
recognized symbol of love and betrothal. Diamonds have also been credited with
many magical powers. It was believed that the mere possession of a diamond would
endow the wearer with superior strength as well as drive away the devil and
all spirits of the night. Another benefit of diamonds dates back to an ancient
superstitions stating that if a house or piece of property was touched at each
corner with a diamond, then it would be protected from lightening and thunder
storms (in India, the diamond was consecrated to the god Indra, the incarnation
of lightening and thunder). Throughout history, the diamond has been a much
sought after gem; its inherent "magical powers" lie within the natural
paradox of its optical and physical properties. The history of the diamond is
one of pure passion, a unique combination of ecstasy, tragedy, adventure, glamor,
and romance. The experience of purchasing a diamond can be a magical one for
a gift of love that will last a lifetime. But before you purchase a diamond,
you must first know how to determine its value by using the 4 C's evaluation
system: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. In addition to these, a fifth C proves
to be the most important: Confidence, but this C comes only with knowledge and
experience.
To learn about Diamond Facts, Caring for Your Diamond, Certification of Diamonds, and Diamond Grading Reports, please click on one of the links to go directly to that section of the detailed Diamond Information web page.
To
wear an emerald signifies a commitment, a pledge of love. The name emerald derives
from the Greek word "smaragdos" meaning "green stone." In
ancient times, this word referred not only to emeralds, but also to most green
stones such as peridot or topaz.
A stone that was offered nearly 6,000 years ago in Babylon (the earliest known
gem market) emerald was dedicated by the ancients to the goddess Venus. Aside
from being the birthstone for May, emerald is steeped in superstition and lore.
It is the symbol of immortality and unchanging love, and if an emerald changed
its color it was believed to reveal to inconstancy of lovers. Emerald was historically
thought to bestow faithfulness on its wearer. In ancient Rome, an emerald was
valued for the cool, claming effect of its verdant green color. The infamous
Roman emperor Nero found the color so soothing that he reputedly wore emerald
glasses while watching the gladiators clashing the Coliseum. Through the ages,
emeralds have been one of the most coveted of all gems. Together with aquamarine,
the emerald belongs to the Beryl group and is the most precious of the group.
Just as the red of ruby and the blue of sapphire
cannot be matched by any other natural mineral, the pure emerald green is unequaled
by any other transparent natural gemstone. The most desired color and therefore
the most valuable, is a deep green, reminiscent to the color of fresh young
green grass. Even with inclusions, this color commands a higher price than a
pale and clean quality. Emerald owes its "couleur sauvage" (wild color)
to traces of chromium ions, although a trace of vanadium and iron may have some
influence on the shades of green. Flawless emeralds are rare The flaws have
come to serve almost as a gem fingerprint; thus, flawless emeralds, especially
those at "bargain prices," are immediately suspect.
June's
birthstone, the pearl, has been recognized since the earliest times as the symbol
of modesty, chastity, and purity. There is perhaps no other jewel that has evoked
such fascination and love as the pearl, which gave rise to legends of mystical
birth from the seas. There is, for example according to Pliny (a first century
Roman writer), the old eastern legend where oysters rose to the surface of the
sea beneath the moon's rays, opened their shells and pearls were formed by drops
of heavenly dew. Throughout history, the Arabs and Hindus have been the greatest
admirers of pearls, attributing to the pearl the power of bringing good luck.
To protect themselves, the Mogul Emperors of India and later the Rajahs wore
pearls in different ways: on rings and collars, threaded on gold and silver
wires for attachment to their clothes, on their headdresses, and on the richly
embroidered harnesses of their horses and elephants. The Greeks believed that
pearls came from lightening when it struck the sea. In Europe, pearls have been
coveted by emperors, kings and queens since time began. The value attached to
pearls by Semitic peoples is reflected in the Old Testament's frequent references
to them, especially in the Book of Job and the Proverbs of Solomon. According
to St. Matthew, Christ said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant
searching for beautiful pearls, who, finding one at a great cost, sells all
his possessions to but it." For St. Matthew, the pearl was the symbol of
wisdom. If we believe the poets, a pearl is the crystallized tear of a goddess,
or a drop of a moon beam. Given as presents to prove love and friendship, pearls
have played a magical role in history. Unlike gemstones, the pearl is created
by a living created, an oyster. Many gems need faceting (cutting) to bring out
their beauty. But fine pearls are beautiful the instant they emerge from the
oyster. No longer just trendy, pearls are versatile and valuable. They are a
classic! Born out of pain, but glowing with life, pearls are simply beautiful.
And like anything of intrinsic value, our appreciation of pearls grows with
time because their possibilities are endless.
The
word ruby derives from the Latin word "rubeus" meaning red. Its name
in Sanskrit, when translated, means ruby "King of Precious Stones."
It was not until about 1800 that the ruby, as well as the sapphire,
was recognized as belonging to the corundum group (aluminum oxide). Before that
date, red spinels and garnets were also designated as
rubies. The ruby has been claimed to be the most precious of the twelve stones
that God created, and according to The Bible this "Lord of Gems"
was placed on Aaron's neck by God's command. The Hindus believed the ruby burned
with its own fire from within, sometimes even able to boil water. The Greeks
believed that ruby, when carved and impressed on wax, could melt the wax. Ancient
Egyptians honored ruby for its beauty, love, physical protection, and good fortune.
In Eastern legends, the ruby always represented beauty of the soul. Ruby was
said to preserve the mental and physical health of the wearer, for it removed
evil thoughts. Although its rich red color was considered to be associated with
passion, the ruby was also thought to control amorous desires. Because its color
suggests that of blood, the ruby was thought to be a remedy for inflammatory
diseases. It takes nature millions of years to create a ruby, compared with
a few weeks to grow a synthetic one. Although synthetic rubies are produced
in abundance, the demand for "the real thing" is rising everyday.
After all, the "high-energy" ruby draws its magical powers from nature
and not from simulation.
As
a modern birthstone of August, the peridot was also a favorite of the ancients.
This lovely transparent yellowish green to deep chartreuse stone was believed
to free the mind of envious thoughts and consequently became the symbol of friendship.
Because of its rich yellow-green color, peridots were also believed to cure
diseases of the liver and dropsy. Peridots are popular today, probably more
for its depth of green than for its professed powers. Although peridots have
little brilliancy and no fire, its unusual "bottle" green color and
glassy luster produce a unique effect, different from the green of all other
gemstones. Peridots are the transparent gem of olivine, a magnesium iron silicate
mineral that occurs in basalt and peridotite rocks. The oily green of a peridot
is due to traces of iron, and the proportion of iron present determines the
shade and depth of color. It is suspected that a trace of nickel contributes
to the liveliness of the color. Many of the largest and best gems of peridot
have come from the mines of the Egyptian Island of Zebirget (Island of St. John)
in the Red Sea, but most gem peridots now come from Burma. The beautiful, deep
green, 310 carat, record-size peridot in the Smithsonian collection is from
Zebirget; the stone was known in ancient times as Topazos. This explains why
centuries ago, peridots were known by the name topaz.
Thus, it can be concluded that Peridots are the most misunderstood of all gemstones.
Attempts have been made to glamorize this gem by associating it with emeralds.
The truth is that the peridot can very well stand alone on its own merits. Unless
we appreciate it for what it is worth, the peridot will continue to be a misunderstood
gemstone. There must be a good reason why peridots were selected to be the symbol
of friendship.
Sapphire,
symbol of the heavens, bestower of innocence, truth, and good health, is reserved
in modern times as the birthstone of September. Sapphire is corundum, which
is an aluminum oxide compound that crystallizes in the ground for over millions
of years. Although a sapphire is most commonly thought to be blue, it actually
occurs in almost any color (except the red ruby, which is
also a corundum). Sapphire's hardness, brilliance, and availability in so many
beautiful colors make it probably the most versatile and important of all gemstones.
The ancients thought the sapphire was endowed with the power to influence spirits,
capable of making peace between foes and protecting its owner against captivity.
Legend has it that THE LAW given to Moses was engraved on tablets of sapphire,
but from Pliny's (a first century A.D. Roman writer) description the tablets
were most likely a stone we know today as lapis-lazuli. Sapphires can also be
confused with other stones such as benitoite, iolite, kyanite, spinel, tanzanite,
topaz, tourmaline, and zircon as well as blue glass.
Because corundum is easily manufactured, synthetic sapphires are made and used
extensively in jewelry. However, the synthetic stones can be distinguished from
the natural stones, but only by microscopic examination and a close study of
the inclusions. Appearances can be deceiving, but the "fingerprints of
God" are truly gemstones to be treasured.
Opals
were long considered to be one of the most precious of all gems. In the words
of Shakespeare, the opal is "a miracle . . . the Queen of Gems," but
the it apparently feel out of favor as a result of an unfavorable representation
in Sir Walter Scott's novel "Anne of Geierstein." Since then, opals
have suffered from an unfortunate reputation of being an evil stone and bearing
an ill omen. Superstitions surrounding this wonderful gem have never been merited.
Among the ancients, the opal was he symbol of fidelity, and in later history
it became strongly associated with religious emotion and prayer. It was believed
to have strong therapeutic value for the diseases of the eye, and when worn
as an amulet an opal would make the wearer immune from all such diseases. Many
also thought that the red color in an opal would stop bleeding and the emerald
green color in opal would cure kidney diseases. In particular, the black opal
was highly prized as the "luck stone" for anyone lucky enough to wear
one. There are a variety of opals; the most common are the white, fire, water,
and black opals. The name opal derives from the Greek word "opallios"
meaning "precious stone." It is quite appropriate that the opal is
the birthstone of October because the vibrant colors of an opal resemble those
of Autumn. Its unique inclusions offer an impressive show of its unsuspected
beauty and spectral rainbow colors. The opal is the reflection of nature's harmony
and man's aspiration to be perfect.
In
older days, all yellow stones were called topaz and all topaz was yellow. Even
in present day, much yellow quartz or citrine is sold under the misnomer "topaz"
or "quartz topaz." There are many misleading names to suggest that
a stone is topaz when it is not. For example, Rio topaz, Madeira Topaz, Spanish
Topaz, etc., none of which are actually topaz; they are all different kinds
of citrine. This confusion of names dates back to ancient times. The name topaz
should not be used in connection with any other stone other than what is popularly
known as Brazilian, Imperial, or Precious Topaz. This most desirable variety
of topaz is found only in Minas Geralis, Brazil. It exhibits a rich reddish
orange hue. True topaz is the symbol of love and affection. Topaz derives from
the old Sanskrit word "tapas" meaning fire, alluding to the orange
colored topaz. The Roman writer Pliny in the first century AD suggests that
the name topaz derived from the Greek word "topazos" meaning "to
seek." This birthstone of November also is considered to be the gemstone
of power. Because topaz becomes strongly electrified by either heat or friction
and retains this charge for several hours, the ancient Egyptians believed that
topaz was the energy gemstone. Topaz symbolized Ra, the sun god, giver of life
and fertility. Ancient lore claims great healing power for this golden stone.
It was thought that a topaz could cure asthma, insomnia, burns, and hemorrhaging.
Worn as a necklace, the topaz dispelled enchantment. If placed under the pillow
at to night, many believed the topaz was able to calm stress and restore physical
energy. Like the sun, the topaz generates its radiant energy from within, and
it is with the same energy and self reliance that one should wear the topaz
remembering to always mentally place it under one's pillow each and every night.
The name turquoise means "Turkish stone" not because the stone came
from Turkey, but because the Persian material from the Sinai Peninsula was first
introduced to Europe by way of Turkey. The Turquoise stone is highly prized
throughout Asia and Africa, not only for its particular hue of blue sky or robin's
egg blue, but more importantly for its therapeutic and magical qualities. Turquoise
has been used for ornamentation in remote antiquity. Turquoise is known to have
existed as early as 3,000 B.C. (possibly prior to the First Dynasty of Ancient
Egypt). It certainly was a prized gem of the lost civilization of ancient Mexico,
and today American Indians use this beautiful stone to complement their silver
jewelry. The Arabs consider turquoise a lucky stone, protecting the wearer from
and evil and misfortune, much the same way the Asians revere jade
as the "Stone of Heaven." By changing its color, turquoise was also
believed to be capable of warning the wearer of impending death. Also, if you
drank the water that has been touched by turquoise, superstition explains that
your would be cured from all bladder ailments. Buddhists revere the turquoise
because Buddha used turquoise to destroy a monster. Today, it is considered
a symbol of courage, success, and love. Turquoise is said to be a "complicated"
stone because it is so widely simulated by the most diverse materials. What
complicates matters even more is the fact that man creates the confusion himself
by simulating nature, not with the intention to improve and enhance the stone,
but by partial falsification with the intent to misrepresent and defraud such
a naturally beautiful, simple, blue stone.
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