Birthstones

January Birthstone

Garnet

Friendships can be perceived as an array of colors to symbolize love, laughter, joy, healing and pain. Garnet, the birthstone of January holds these treasures true. Just as friendships are ever changing, garnet is the perfect birthday gift for a friend to signify eternal friendship and trust.

Garnet, derived from the word "granatum" means seed, because of the gem's resemblance to a pomegranate seed. They date back to 3100 B.C., when Egyptians would inlay them in jewelry. In the late 19th century, over half of the merchandise displayed in jewelry stores consisted of various types of garnet.

Garnet is the name of a group of minerals that comes in a virtual rainbow of colors, from the deep red of the pyrope to the vibrant green of tsavorites. Each type of garnet varies in composition, hardness and mineralogical classifications. Today, these gems are mined in Tanzania, Sri Lanka and India and are said to be the gemstone of the future.

February Birthstone

Amethyst

In celebration of a February birthday one may chose to have a few drinks with friends. The perfect accompaniment to a cocktail is the gemstone amethyst, known by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, the God of Wine. The gemstone, acknowledged in the past to prevent drunkenness, is also said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.

Clergymen wore amethyst with the belief that it brought emotional balance, while British regalia were decorated with amethyst during the Middle Ages as a symbol of royalty. It has been associated with many myths, legends, religion and numerous cultures.

Amethyst is a purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth. Historically, the finest amethyst originated in Russia, which were consequently featured in much royal European jewelry, however today Africa is considered the prized source.

Whether you want be protected from the effects of alcohol, or give a gift of historical value, amethyst is the perfect choice.

March Birthstone

Aquamarine

The birthstone of March is aquamarine. Named by the Romans about 2,000 years ago, its name is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning "water," and marina, meaning "sea". This stone was known to protect sailors, as well as guarantee a safe voyage.

The serene color of aquamarine is known to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Its color suggests coolness and often is worn in spring and summer. Colors range from greenish blue to blue-green in light tones. The color is usually more intense in larger stones.

Aquamarine's sales have been weakest in the United States due to the use of blue topaz as a lower priced substitute. It is found mainly in Brazil, and also in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique. Elsewhere in the world, the demand for this stone has not faltered. In countries abroad, consumers are looking for lasting value and long-term appreciation. Aquamarine has held its value throughout decades, making it a wise investment and a strong asset.

April Birthstone

Diamond

Observe a woman's eyes as they sparkle and dance at the sight of a diamond. As the April birthstone, diamonds are the ideal gift for a loved one, but now you can make a shift from the traditional diamond. Get creative and give the ultimate gift of beauty: a fancy-colored diamond.

Fancy-colored diamonds are a natural, rare and truly exotic gem of the Earth. Colors range in intensity from faint to vivid in yellow, red, pink, blue and green. The more saturated the color, the higher the value. In fact, a diamond sparkling with intense color is so rare that it can be valued higher than a colorless diamond. It is estimated that only one out of every 10,000 natural diamonds is fancy-colored.

When purchasing a fancy-colored diamond, shoppers should ask if any enhancements or treatments were used to improve its color and/or clarity.

Whatever your preference: vibrant, eccentric, or classic, we have the diamond to brighten your loved one's birthday.

May Birthstone

Emerald

Vibrantly colored emeralds often have the ability to lift one's spirit on sight. As the birthstone of May, emerald is believed to empower the owner with foresight into the future, good fortune, youth and rebirth. Make this quintessential green gem the birthday gift to treasure.

Emerald, derived from the word "smaragdus," meaning green in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC. Today, most of the world's emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia.

The availability of high-quality emerald is limited. Consequently, treatments to improve clarity are regularly performed.

In caring for emeralds, clean with warm, soapy water and avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Visit your AGS jeweler often to be assured your gemstones are secure in their settings.

June Birthstones

Pearl

Pearl was among the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire. In Tudor England, the 1500s were known as "the pearl age". On his 3rd voyage to the Americas, Columbus kept his discovery of Pearls in the New World a secret, and he fell out of favor with the King of Spain. In the Orient pearl powders are sold as an aphrodisiac. For medicinal use Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate, an essential supplement for promoting strong bones and teeth, as well as the prime ingredient in stomach antacids. Pearls are unique in that they are the only gem of the sea from living creatures requiring no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty. In the early 1900s the first successful commercial culturing of round pearls began. Since the 1920s cultured pearls have almost completely replaced natural pearls in the market.

Alexandrite

As days pass into years, change is the only constant facet. Change can be anticipated, sometimes hopeful, and sometimes feared. In regards to alexandrite, the birthstone of June, change is beautiful. This gemstones' color transforms from a deep green to a lavish red in different lighting. Make change exciting, let alexandrite jewelry reflect the beauty of years to come.

Alexandrite is an extremely rare chrysoberyl with chameleon-like qualities and as a result, most jewelers stock synthetic versions of this enchanting gem. Its color is a lovely green in daylight and fluorescent light and changes to a purplish red in candlelight. Synthetic gems are man-made alternatives possessing the same chemical composition and crystal structure as the actual gemstone.

A relatively young modern gem, alexandrite was first founded in Russia in 1830, during the reign of Czar Alexander II. Coincidentally, the red and green colors of the alexandrite mirrored the Imperial Russian flag and the gem was named after him.

Now you can give your loved one a reason to celebrate the beauty of the past and the excitement of the future.

July Birthstone

Ruby

Fire engine red equates passion and love. And there's no better way to demonstrate your love than by giving a ruby to your loved one in celebration of a July birthday. Rubies scintillate the senses, stir the imagination and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love. Heat up this July by bestowing a brilliant ruby.

Ruby is a variety of the gem species, corundum. It is harder than any natural gem 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 finest 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 merely be called a fancy-color sapphire.

Rubies have commanded the highest prices for a colored gem, but if red is your color and you are budget-minded, you have numerous alternatives. Spinel, tourmaline, almandite, pyrope or rhodolite garnets, all have fascinating hues to illuminate fire and passion.

August Birthstone

Peridot

Let peridot, known as "the gem of the sun," shed light on your dearly loved one's birthday. As the birthstone of August, peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties. Give the gift that shines with enthusiasm and is said to bring the wearer power, influence and a wonderful year.

Peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of the volcano. Peridot is often used in healing ceremonies by Hawaiian Kahunas.

Today, the majority of the peridot supply comes from Arizona, yet it is also mined in 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, is often used in beaded necklaces and bracelets.

September Birthstone

Sapphire

Adorn your loved one with the September birthstone, sapphire, which according to lore will protect her from envy and harm.

Sapphires have had a powerful affect since the Middle Ages. The clergy wore sapphires to symbolize Heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings. Blue sapphires range from very light to very dark greenish or violet blue, as well as various shades of pure blue. The most prized colors would be a medium to medium dark blue or slightly violet blue.

Sapphire is a variety of the gem species, corundum, and not only occurs in blue, but in all colors of the rainbow. Pink, purple, green, orange or yellow sapphires are known as fancy-colored sapphires. But, when they are red, they are known as rubies. For the customer that wants something out of the ordinary, a fancy-color sapphire creates excitement in every color.

October Birthstones

Tourmaline

Tourmaline has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designers, and gem collectors the world over. Since it is available in a wide variety of color shades, it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. Tourmaline has also been used in science, as it possesses unique properties of Piezoelectricity (can develop an electrical vibration) and Pyroelectric (will develop an electrical charge when heated) The Dutch called Tourmaline "ashentrekers" for they used the gem crystals to draw ashes from their pipes. Comes from the Singhalese word "Turmali" meaning mixed precious stones of many colors.

Tourmaline comes in the widest array of colors of any colored gemstone. The most valuable shades include the vibrant "Paraiba" in greenish Blue hues, to deep rich greens reminiscent of Emerald, to Pink, Purple, Orange, and Yellow, with many shades in between. Tourmaline is also known for displaying several colors in the same gem such as "bi-color" or "tri-color" gems, and even what is called "watermelon" with green and pink hues in combination, cut into thin slices. Tourmaline is found in many localities namely Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa and the USA.

Opal

The name opal was derived from the Greek, "Opallos," meaning to see a change (of color). The opal captures images within the depths of its sparkling brilliance. The mystical prism of colors intrigues many and some believe that the mysteries of love can be exchanged through this enchanting gem.

Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background. The opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel. This gel seeped into crevices in the sedimentary strata. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into the form of opals. The opal is composed of particles closely packed in spherical arrangements. When packed together in a regular pattern, a three-dimensional array of spaces are created that give the radiance of the opal.

White opal can best be described as a translucent to semi translucent gemstone that displays an array of colors against a white or light gray body color. The main source of white opal is found in Australia and Brazil. Black opal can be described as a translucent to opaque gemstone that displays a variety of colors against a black or other dark color. The main source of black opal is found in Australia. Fire opal is transparent to translucent gemstone that displays brown, yellow, orange or red color. This gemstone does not show an array of colors within it. It is often referred to as Mexican opal, gold opal or sun opal. The main source of fire opal is found in Mexico.

November Birthstones

Topaz

Topaz is a gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several thousand years, all yellow gems in antiquity were called Topaz. This material has been associated with religious teachings representing one of the gems in the breastplate of the high-priest of Israel, and one of the foundation stones of Jerusalem. This lead much later to the present birthstone list we know today. The name may have come from the ancient isle of "Topazios" in the Red Sea, or from the Sanskrit word meaning "Fire". Often confused with the Quartz Varieties: Citrine (Yellow) and Smoky (Brown). Quartz and Topaz are not related species.

The most valuable Topaz is called "Imperial", after the Russian Czars of the 1800's, and features a magnificent Orange body color, with pinkish Red undertones. Topaz also comes in Yellow, Pink, Purple, Orange, and the popular Blue hues.

Citrine

Citrine, the birthstone of November is recognized as the healing quartz. This golden gemstone supports vitality and health, encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer. While citrine supports warmth of the soul, it can also brighten and heat up your wardrobe this fall season.

The name citrine is derived from the French word "citron," meaning lemon. Most citrine available was at one time amethyst. In forming citrine, the gemstone is heated, changing its color to a brilliant gold. Citrine should be kept out of strong light or heat to preserve its color to last many generations.

Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to orange. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones and plentiful in nature. Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia and Spain. In ancient times, citrine was carried as protection against snakes and evil spirits and thoughts.

December Birthstones

Tanzanite

From the awe-inspiring grandeur of Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, Africa comes the discovery of a century, a gem so precious, so rare that it is found exclusively in a tiny area - tanzanite. Discovered in the late 1960s, tanzanite is the official December birthstone of the AGS.

Tanzanite, exhibits a rich, violet-blue color, which the stone is treasured. Tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire and is often purchased as an alternative. Today, tanzanite's increase in popularity has created its own market and is appreciated for its beauty and brilliance. Although, there have been wide fluctuations in the gem's supply and price level, due mostly to Tanzania's volatile political, economic and social conditions.

Tanzanite is heat-treated to achieve its color. It is carefully mined to avoid damage to the precious limited supply available. Colors range from blue to purple. One of the most highly valuable tanzanite is medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation and slightly violet-blue.

Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the world's oldest gemstones dating back as early as 5500 BC when Egyptian royalty adorned themselves in this regal gem. Turquoise has long been considered a stone that guarantees health, good fortune and protection from evil.

The name turquoise comes from the French expression Pierre tourques, or "Turkish stone," that originated in the thirteenth century when the gem most likely first arrived in Europe from Turkish sources. The color of the gem is robin's egg blue, but this color actually varies from greenish blue to sky blue shades. It can also be translucent to opaque.

Turquoise is plentiful and available in a wide range of sizes. It's most often used for beads, cabochons, carvings and inlays. Although its popularity fluctuates in fashion, the biggest market for turquoise in the American Southwest.