Traditional Birthstones

Garnet is the birthstone for January. The most common color of garnet is red; however, garnets come in a variety of colors including green, orange, pinkish oranges, purplish reds, and some are even blue.  

Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Amethyst is purple in color and can range from a light lilac to a deep intense purple. Amethysts are often considered a symbol of peace, love, and happiness and is believed to have healing and protective powers, by some. 

The traditional birthstone of March is Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, which comes from the Greek word, helios, "to turn to the sun."  Bloodstone is traditionally green and red and comes from India, Brazil, Australia, and the United States. 

The Diamond is the birthstone for April. A diamond lasts forever, literally. Known as the hardest material on earth, diamonds are 58 times harder than any other substance on earth. Durable, stunning, and brilliant, a diamond is infinity and beyond.

Emeralds are the birthstone for May. For centuries, emeralds have adorned Egyptian Pharaohs, emperors and royalty. The finest emeralds have been sourced from Columbia  for over 500 years, but are also found in Brazil and Zambia. 

The Pearl is the traditional birthstone for June. For centuries they have been admired for their beauty. Genuine pearls require you to take great care of them to keep their shine and luster. Although beautiful, this pearlescent beauty is not meant for body jewelry. 

The Ruby is the birthstone for July. The Ruby is a variety of corundum, which also includes sapphires. In Sanskrit, ruby means, "King of Gems." Beloved around the world, rubies are a excellent choice for your body jewelry. 

Sardonyx and Spinel are the two traditional birthstones for the month of August. Sardonyx is actually a combination of two types of chalcedony (sard and onyx). Sardonyx was popular amongst Romans for their seals and signet rings. Lastly, Sardonyx is often used in cameos and is very fragile so is not best suited for body jewelry. 

The Sapphire is the birthstone for August. Sapphires as well as rubies are from the mineral, corundum. Blue sapphires are the most common; however, "fancy sapphires" come in a variety of colors such as violet, green, pink, purple, yellow, or orange. 

Opal is the traditional birthstone for October. Opal is believed to bring luck to whomever wears it. The opal is a spectacular and fascinating gemstone that comes in various color arrays and types: 

• Boulder Opal
• Harlequin Opal
• Fire Opal
• Black Opal

The birthstone of November is Topaz. Although most people think of topaz as light blue, topaz comes in a variety of colors. Topaz can be pink, red, violet, purple and brown ("smoky quartz"). 

Turquoise and Zircon are the two traditional birthstones for December. The greatest deposit of turquoise is in New Mexico, but is also found in Arizona and China. Turquoise is also the gemstone for the 11th wedding anniversary. Lastly, in European tradition, the gift of turquoise means, "forget me not."