| The use of birthstones is very personal and has | | | | ranges from 7.5 to 8 on the Moths Scale. This |
| been used since the first century to ward off evil | | | | May birthstone is considered to be the traditional |
| and bring good luck on one's self. The twelve | | | | gift for the 55th wedding anniversary. They are |
| months of the years represent twelve different | | | | known to enhance clairvoyance and are worn to |
| gemstones, each having certain unique and | | | | promote healing, and enhance love and |
| exceptional qualities of their own. Since birthstones | | | | commitment. Emeralds are found in India, South |
| are symbolic of your personality and your | | | | Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and |
| attributes, they are also a fun way to share | | | | Zimbabwe. |
| something about yourself. Listed below are the | | | | June - Pearls |
| months of the year and the gemstone or | | | | Pearls are known as organic gems because they |
| birthstone that you are born under. | | | | are created by living creatures. The existence of |
| January - Garnet | | | | the pearl begins with a piece of grit or dirt |
| The garnet is the birthstone for people born in | | | | entering the shell of a mollusk, oysters and clams. |
| January. Garnets are beautiful gemstones known | | | | The organism in self-defence coats the particle |
| for their unadulterated beauty, variety of colours | | | | with layers of a substance called nacre, which |
| and their tremendous brilliance. Although the most | | | | eventually becomes thick enough to form a pearl. |
| frequently found garnets are deep, warm red, | | | | There are basically two types of pearls, natural |
| they are also found in several hues like green, | | | | and cultured. The process of the pearl coming to |
| intense yellow, fiery orange and earth tones. The | | | | life is the same in both, only in the latter, the |
| abundant supply and the large spectrum of | | | | irritant is placed within the mollusk through human |
| colours lend it much popularity in the realm of | | | | intervention. The pearl has been used to make |
| fashion and allow it to keep pace with the | | | | jewelry since ancient times and considered to be |
| changing styles of contemporary jewelry. Garnets | | | | a symbol of beauty, love, happiness and wealth. It |
| are much sought-after because of their classical | | | | has been one of the most coveted of gems due |
| gemstone colours red and green and rarities such | | | | to its luminous beauty, inner glow and priceless |
| as star garnets and stones whose colour changes | | | | nature. |
| depending on whether they are seen in daylight or | | | | July - Ruby |
| artificial light. Moreover, it has a good hardness of | | | | The color red is often associated with the |
| 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and its high refractive | | | | gemstone ruby, which is the birthstone for people |
| index gives the garnet a great brilliance. Today, | | | | born in July. Rubies belong to the corundum family |
| garnets mostly come from African countries as | | | | of minerals and have a hardness of 9 on the |
| well as India, Russia, Central and South America. | | | | Moh's scale. Ruby with its beautiful red color is a |
| February - Amethyst | | | | universal favourite signifying love, passion, blood |
| The right birthstone for people born in February is | | | | and romance. It is believed to have great |
| the amethyst. This beautiful violet gemstone is | | | | medicinal powers, protective powers and is said to |
| known for its unique and seductive beauty. It has | | | | bring peace and prosperity. |
| been attributed with a large number of miraculous | | | | August - Preidot |
| powers throughout the centuries by varied | | | | This bright green gemstone was called the |
| cultures. It is said to protect crops against | | | | evening emerald in the ancient times because it |
| tempests and locusts, bring good fortune in war | | | | resembled emeralds in the light of the burning |
| and in the hunt, drive out evil spirits and inspire | | | | lamps. Peridot is the gemstone variety of the |
| the intellect. Moreover, amethyst is supposed to | | | | mineral olivine formed during volcanic eruptions. |
| have medicinal powers, a sobering and cleansing | | | | Originally found in the ruins of ancient Greece, it is |
| effect and is considered a stone of friendship. The | | | | now prevalent in Red Dea island of St. Johns, |
| amethyst is known to change its colour on being | | | | Arizona, New Mexico, Burma, Pakistan and China. |
| heated. A temperature of 250 degrees | | | | Ground Peridot taken internally was once used to |
| transforms the smoky stone to a shining yellow | | | | treat asthma and was believed to be a symbol of |
| and brownish-red, whilst clear ones become yellow | | | | power and influence. People born in August believe |
| or colourless at 400 degrees. Some amethysts | | | | this coloured gemstone to be their birthstone. |
| pale almost to colourlessness in daylight. Although | | | | September - Sapphires |
| found all over the world, amethyst deposits are | | | | Though only the blue color is associated with |
| highest in various states in southern Brazil, | | | | sapphires, they exist in a rainbow of colours |
| Uruguay and Madagascar. | | | | except red. One of the hardest minerals, |
| March - Aquamarine | | | | sapphires are durable gemstones that have been |
| The hues of the gemstone Aquamarine range | | | | in demand since the ancient times. The hardness |
| from pale blues to light blues to yellowish blues | | | | of the sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale and |
| with hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. The | | | | cornflower blue is the most popular sapphire color. |
| more intense the color, the more expensive it is. | | | | Quality sapphires are found in Ceylon, Thailand, |
| Aquamarine has an imperfect cleavage and a | | | | Australia, India, Burma, Africa and Brazil. |
| vitreous luster and is a favorite gemstone of | | | | October - Opal |
| modern designers. Aquamarine was traditionally | | | | A precious gemstone, the opal may be light or |
| found in Madagascar, Russia, and Sri Lanka and is | | | | dark, translucent or transparent. The opals used in |
| now prevalent in Brazil, Colorado, and North | | | | making jewelry have a milky-white base with |
| Carolina. An exotically beautiful gemstone, it | | | | varying flashed of color. Good quality opals exhibit |
| arouses feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and | | | | rainbow like colours when viewed from different |
| friendship. The blue of the aquamarine is divine | | | | angles. Black opals are the rarest and most |
| and eternal reflecting the sky as well as life giving | | | | expensive opals with a body colour that ranges |
| as denoted by the deep blue seas. | | | | from dark grey to black with fiery flashes of |
| April - Diamond | | | | colour. Opal hardness generally ranges from 5.5 to |
| Diamonds are one of the world's most precious | | | | 6.5 on the Moths scale. Australia is a leading |
| gems and form the birthstone for people born in | | | | source of opals but several fire opals are found in |
| April. Throughout history the diamond has been | | | | Mexico. Other sources include Africa, USA and |
| revered as having an irresistibly seductive power | | | | Brazil. |
| of its own. It has earned its reputation due to its | | | | November - Topaz |
| brilliance, fiery luminescence and the fact that it is | | | | The colour in which topaz is most commonly |
| the rarest and most expensive stone and hence | | | | found is yellow, However, it also comes in a |
| most desirable. The most important | | | | spectrum of colours ranging from yellow, brown, |
| characteristics that control a diamonds appearance | | | | honey, flax, green, blue, light blue, red pink and |
| and durability are the 4Cs - Color, clarity, cut and | | | | even colourless. The topaz has been known for at |
| carat. Although diamonds are perceived a white or | | | | least 2000 years, and this gemstone forms the |
| colorless gem, they come in a spectrum of colors. | | | | foundation to the twelve gates to the Holy City |
| The colored diamonds are called fancies and are | | | | of New Jerusalem. It symbolizes beauty, |
| quite expensive. A diamond is seen as a true | | | | splendour and is intended as protection against |
| symbol of love and commitment and buying and | | | | enemies. |
| owning a perfect diamond is thus of crucial | | | | December -Turquoise |
| importance. | | | | Clear blue Persian turquoise is believed to be |
| May - Emerald | | | | among the finest turquoise in the world. Turquoise |
| Emeralds are green members of the beryl family | | | | has been a part of Native American tradition for |
| and holds fort as the birthstone for people whose | | | | thousands of years. The mines in India, China and |
| birthday falls in May. This gemstone has been a | | | | South-western US produce huge quantities of this |
| prized possession of royalty since ancient times | | | | gemstone. The hardness of turquoise used in |
| and a good quality emerald can be as or even | | | | jewelry varies from 5-6 on the Moths scale. The |
| more expensive than a fine diamond of the same | | | | colour of the turquoise changes ranges from blue |
| carat. The Columbian emeralds are the most | | | | to green and even yellow green. |
| beautiful with a rich green colour. The hardness | | | | |