The birthstone of March is a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity.
Aquamarine captures the beauty of the sea. Aquamarines are found in a range of blue shades, from the palest pastel to greenish-blue to a deep blue. While the choice of colour is largely a matter of taste, the deeper blue gems are more rare. Remember that Aquamarine is a pastel gemstone and while the color can be quite intense in larger gemstones, the smaller Aquamarines are often less vivid. In the 19th century, sea-green varieties were the most popular but the blues are more valued today.
Aquamarines are mined in a number of exotic places including Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Pakistan and Mozambique, but most of the gemstones available today come from Brazil.
Large crystals of Aquamarine are relatively common. In 1910, one was found in Brazil weighing 110.5kg(243lbs), twice the size of a woman!
Amethyst/Citrine/Ametrine
Amethyst, the traditional February Birthstone was worn by the Roman gods as a talisman to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus.
Citrine, the ancients honoured it as a gift of the sun and a powerful antidote to the viper’s venom.
Quartz, in its abundance, is found in every corner of the earth. In its purest form, it is colourless but is most prized for its purple and golden varieties. As a purple gemstone, it is known as Amethyst and in its golden form it is known as Citrine.
Amethyst, the traditional birthstone for the month of February, is available in small or large sizes, although as with all gemstones, very large sizes in rich, deep colours have always been rare. Designers celebrate Amethyst as the ideal choice for jewellery because of its regal colour, variety of shapes and sizes, affordability and wide tonal range, from light to dark purple.
Citrine, derived from the French word lemon, in all of its glorious golden and yellow colours, is the most affordable of all the earth-toned gemstones and is the alternate birthstone for November.
Occasionally, Mother Nature combines the colours of Amethyst and Citrine into a single, exciting gemstone we call Ametrine.
While Brazil is the primary source of these three gemstones, both Amethyst and Citrine are found in other locales, Zambia being a significant source for Amethyst.
Chalcedony
Agates, Jaspers, Bloodstone, Carnelian and Black Onyx, all make up the Chalcedony gemstones. A form of quartz, the Romans prized them as seals, and the Victorians carved them into an endless array of cameos and intaglios. To this day, the elegant appeal of Black Onyx makes it the choice of those who prefer basic black. Chalcedony is an ornamental stone with Jade, Lapis Lazuli Turquoise.
Cultured Pearl
A traditional gift for brides, June birthdays and the third and thirtieth wedding anniversary.
Pearl is unique in the world of coloured gemstones as it is the only gemstone formed within a living creature. It is a treasured gift of the sea revered for its colour, shape and lustre. American-Indians found Pearls in the molluscs of the Mississippi River and strung them onto necklaces, adorned their headdresses and set them into copper ornaments.
Pearls were so cherished by man that as the source of natural Pearls became exhausted; he learned to cultivate them by implanting an irritant into an oyster.
Today, cultured pearls are grown and harvested in many parts of the world including the fresh waters of the Tennessee River. The majority of cultured Pearls come from Japan, China, Australia and the South Pacific.
Cultured Pearls come in many beautiful colours, from palest cream and white to rose, lilac, green, gold, grey and the dramatic Tahitian Black. Cultured Pearls come in many shapes and sizes and can be acquired in both graduated and uniform strands. They can be purchased singly or in pairs for rings, pendants and earrings. June birthdays and third and thirtieth anniversaries are celebrated with the gift of Pearls.
Garnet
The birthstone for January, Garnet is the suggested gift for the second anniversary. Associated with the astrological signs of Aquarius and Leo.
Garnet was so called by the ancient Greeks because its colour reminded them of the ‘granatum’ or pomegranate seed. Garnet traces its roots as a gemstone to the Nile Delta in 3100BC; where Egyptian artisans would craft it into beads or inlay into hand-wrought jewellery.
The versatile Garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colours, from the deep red Bohemian Garnet to the vibrant greens of the Russian Demantoid and African Tsavorite. The oranges and browns of Spessartite and Hessonite hail from Namibia and Sri Lanka and the subtle pinks and purples of the Rhodolite, named after the rhododendron flower are also available.
Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January, however, red need not be your choice of colour if you are born in this month. Rich orange and golden hues, striking greens, petal soft colours of violet and lavender, all await your selection.
Jade
Jade, stone of heaven, is not just one gemstone but two. One, called Nephrite, has been found throughout the world but was especially prized by the ancient Chinese who called it Yu, which means “precious stone of great beauty”. Th other Jade, a relative newcomer when compared to Nephrite, is called Jadeite. It has been mined in Myanmar (Burma) since the late 18th century and is highly sought after for its intense green colour although, like Nephrite, comes in a range of colours.
Jade is an ornamental stone with Lapis Lazuli, Chalcedony and Turquoise.
Iolite
The name Iolite comes from the Greek “los” meaning violet.
Iolite, mined in India, Sri Lanka, Africa and Brazil, can be obtained in sizes up to 4 to 5 carats reasonably easy, although much larger gems have been found. It is commonly cut into traditional shapes and its most desirable colour is a rich violet-blue.
While it is not as well known as its blue counterparts Sapphire and Tanzanite, this pleasing blue gemstone is gaining widespread popularity for its beauty and its attractive affordability.
Lapis Lazuli (Blue Lapis)
Lapis Lazuli or Blue Lapis with its deep azure blue often flecked with golden pyrite inclusions. Persian legend says that the heavens owed their blue colour to a massive slab of Lapis upon which the earth rested. Lapis Lazuli is an ornamental stone with Jade, Chalcedony and Turquoise.
Opal
The birthstone for October and the suggested gift for the fourteenth anniversary.
Opal has ignited man’s imagination for more than 2,000 years with the flashes of fire that magically burn within its depths. Its multicoloured flame makes it unique in the world of gemstones, giving it more variety of colours and versatility of wear than perhaps any other gemstone.
Opals were mined in what is now Czech Republic and Slovakia, and in Hungary. Today’s’ supplies of Opal come primarily from Australia, Mexico and the United States. Most Opals are not faceted but cut into rounded or free-form cabochons that enhance their play of colour.
Opal is found in several different colours including black Opal, whose blue-gray or black body colour enhances the play of fire; white Opal with a lightish or white body colour and crystal Opal, a transparent version with bright colour flashes. Boulder Opal has colour flashes intertwined with rock matrix. Different in appearance is Fire Opal, a transparent gemstone of brilliant yellow, orange or red, often cut with facets.
Peridot
The birthstone for August, Peridot is also the suggested gemstone gift for the sixteenth wedding anniversary.
Peridot has been adored since ancient times, and rivals the green of a new spring day. It traces its history back more than 3,500 years when it was prized by the ancient Egyptians.
Much of today’s Peridot comes from Arizona. Some are also mined in China, Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan. Peridot is readily available in most sizes and a variety of shapes.
Like many of the world’s popular coloured gemstones, Peridot has been credited with a host of magical powers and healing properties, such as protection against nightmares and possessing the power to ward off evil.
Topaz
The birthstone of November, Topaz is a talisman for the sign of Sagittarius and is the suggested gift for the 23rd anniversary.
Topaz is the colours of the sunset and of the seas. It is an enduring symbol of love and affection. Wear Topaz and it will bring you friendship and ensure the fidelity of the one you love. The name Topaz is thought to come from the Sanskrit “tapas”, meaning fire.
Topaz is found in Brazil, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Africa and China. It occurs in an array of colours from red, orange, peach, pink, gold and yellow. Although blue Topaz does occur naturally, it is quite rare in nature. It can also be created by heat treating a colourless variety and when enhanced to this lovely blue colour, it is in great demand due to its affordability and availability in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Pink Topaz is usually an irradiated form of the more common yellow.
Early discoveries from Brazil in rich reddish cognac colours to vivid pinks were used to grace the jewellery of the 18th and 19th Century Russian Czarinas, hence earning the moniker of "Imperial Topaz".
Tourmaline
The birthstone for October.
Tourmaline comes in every colour of the rainbow and is sometimes serene and pastel. Sometimes, it feels like celebrating and displays bold brilliant colours. Other times it feels festive and combines more than one colour. The people of ancient Ceylon called it “turmali”, the Sinhales word for “many colours”. For centuries, Tourmalines have adorned the jewels of royalty.
Vivid reds, hot pinks, forest greens and blues abound in this marvellous gem variety. Earth tones as varied as a prairie sunset are readily available. Not only does Tourmaline occur in a spectacular range of colours, but it also combines those colours in a single gemstone called “bi-colour” or party –colour” Tourmaline. One colour combination with a pink centre and a green outer rim called “watermelon” Tourmaline is cut in thin slices similar to its namesake.
Tourmalines are available in faceted or cabochon cuts and a range of shapes and sizes. They are mined in many parts of the world including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa and the United States. They share the birthstone status with Opal for the month of October.
Turquoise
Turquoise, with its robin’s egg blue hue, is amongst the oldest known gemstones. It graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early Native Americans and has been attributed with healing powers as well as promoting the wearer’s status and wealth. Turquoise is an ornamental stone with Jade, Chalcedony and Lapis Lazuli.
Zircon
Zircon is the birthstone for December and is associated with the astrological sign of Taurus and Scorpio.
Zircon, since medieval times has brought wisdom, honour and wealth to those who possess it. Zircon is mined in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia. The gemstone’s fire and brilliance can rival that of any gemstone and its affordability, coupled with its vibrant colours of greens, blues and pleasing earth tones, contributes to its growing popularity today. In their purest form, zircons are colourless, but more commonly they are golden brown. The name Zircon is said to come from the Persian meaning “zargun” meaning “golden”. Although they occur in a range of colours, many zircons are heat treated to produce the popular blue or colourless varieties.
