Garnet
January Birthstone
If you are loyal, devoted and energetic, then
perhaps the garnet is your stone. Red garnets were believed to promote
sincerity, stop hemorrhaging or other loss of blood, cure inflammatory
diseases, and cure anger and discord. And if you engraved a well-formed
lion image upon it, it will protect and preserve honors and health, cure
the wearer of all disease, bring him honors, and guard him from all
perils in traveling. All in all, quite a worthwhile stone. A hard,
durable, often very brilliant stone, available in many colors of greens,
reds, yellows and oranges, it affords versatility and opportunity for
adorning jewelry. Garnets are also a deceptive stone. Some red shades
appear like rubies, some greens like emeralds, and some yellows for
topaz. Garnets can be found in every color except blue. It is best known
in a deep red variety, sometimes with a brownish cast, but it is
commonly found in orangish brown shades, and brilliant wine red shades
as well. Other colors include orange, red purple, violet, and pink. A
non-transparent variety, grossularite, has a jadelike appearance and may
be mistaken for jade when cut for cabochons or carved. There is also a
star garnet found in the U.S. that is a reddish to purple variety, which
displays a faint four-rayed or six-rayed star.
Amethyst
February Birthstone
Amethyst, a transparent purple variety of quartz, is one of the most
popular of the colored stones. In contemporary times, recognized as the
birthstone of February, it was once believed to bring peace of mind to
the wearer. It was also believed to prevent the wearer from getting
drunk, and if the circle of the sun or moon was engraved thereon, it was
believed to prevent death from poison. Amethyst is available in shades
from light to dark purple, it is relatively hard, fairly brilliant, and
overall a good versatile wearable stone. Amethyst is available in good
supply even in large sizes. Note that large sizes with deep color are
becoming scarcer. Amethyst is probably one of the most beautiful stones
available at a moderate price, although one must be careful because
"fine" amethyst is being produced synthetically. Synthetic amethyst
exhibits color zoning often looking like chevrons. Amethyst may fade
from heat and strong sunshine. Guard your amethyst from these conditions
and it will retain its color indefinitely.
Aquamarine or Bloodstone
March Birthstone
To dream of aquamarine signifies the making of new
friends and to wear aquamarine earrings brings love and affection.
Aquamarine, a universal symbol of youth, hope, and health, blesses those
born in March. Prior to the 15th century it was thought to be the
birthstone for those born in October. Aquamarine is a member of the
beryl family, which includes emerald, but aquamarine is less brittle and
more durable than emerald. Aquamarine ranges in color from light blue to
bluish green to deep blue, which is the most valuable and desirable
color. Do not purchase a shallow cut stone, since the color will become
paler as dirt accumulates on the back. Aquamarine is a very wearable
gem, clear and brilliant, and, unlike emerald, is available with
excellent clarity even in very large sizes. Larger size aquamarines are
becoming scarcer, therefore more valuable. Long considered a beautiful
and moderately priced gem, aquamarine has moved into the "expensive"
classification for stones in larger sizes with a good deep blue color.
One must be careful not to mistake blue topaz for aquamarine. While
topaz is an equally beautiful gem, it is usually much less expensive.
Topaz is usually treated to obtain its desirable color. For those that
cannot afford an aquamarine, blue topaz is an excellent alternative, as
long as it is properly presented and properly priced.
Diamond
April Birthstone
The diamond has been one of the most coveted gems
in history. Uncut diamonds adorned the suits of armor of the great
knights. Cut diamonds have adorned crowns of kings and queens throughout
the ages. Today the diamond is internationally recognized as a symbol of
love and betrothal and is the recipient of increasing interest as a
source of investment.
The diamond has been credited with many magical
powers. At one time it was considered the emblem of fearlessness and
invincibility. It was believed that the mere possession of a diamond
would endow the wearer with superior strength, bravery, and courage. It
is also believed to drive away the devil and all spirits of the night.
In the 1500's it was believed to enhance the love of a husband for his
wife. In the Talmud a gem believed to be a diamond, from its
description, was worn by the high rabbi and served to prove innocence or
guilt. If the accused was guilty, the stone grew dim, if innocent, the
stone shone more brilliantly than ever. The Hindus classed diamonds
according to four castes. The Brahmin diamond, colorless, gave power,
friends, riches and good luck. The Kshatriya diamond, brown/champagne,
prevented old age. The Vaisya, color of the "kodali flower", brought
success, and the Sudra, a diamond with the sheen of a polished
blade-probably gray or black-brought all types of good fortune. Red and
yellow diamonds were exclusively royal gems, for kings alone. Diamonds
have been associated with almost everything from producing sleepwalking
to producing invincibility and spiritual ecstasy. Even sexual power has
been strongly attributed to the diamond. There is one catch to all the
associated powers; one must find the diamond "naturally" in order to
experience its magic, for it loses its power if acquired by purchase.
However, when offered as a pledge of love or friendship, its powers may
return, hence the use in engagement rings given in love. Diamond have
been found to occur naturally in almost every color and shade, blue,
red, green, yellow, lavender, pink, gunmetal blue, coffee brown, and
black. The color may be intense or very pale. These are very expensive
because they are very rare, some more than others are. The most common
fancy colors are shades of yellow, very intense, bright yellow called
"canary", orange and brown. Among the most rare and most valuable are
the reds and blues, and the least valuable are the black diamond.
Emerald
May Birthstone
Emeralds have been used for ornamentation since
4000 BC. The vibrant greens of Emeralds have long been associated with
fertility and rebirth. Many cultures have used Emerald as treatment for
eye diseases, epilepsy and poisoning. Emeralds have been held under the
tongue as a way of foretelling the future. Emeralds were dedicated to
the Goddess Venus and were considered an aid in revealing the
truthfulness of one's lover. But their incomparable beauty is reason
enough for owning the gem. The first stones were mined in Cleopatra's
Mines in the Egyptian desert near the Red Sea. These mines were
abandoned after being worked for thousands of years. They were
rediscovered in 1818 and today the Egyptian Emerald lodes are small and
dark stones.
The top Emerald producing countries are Columbia,
Zambia, Brazil and Zimbabwe. Emerald deposits are typically found in
metamorphic rocks with no particular surface indications for possible
mining locations. Mining for the 6-sided Emerald crystal is primarily
done by hand. Emeralds are part of the Beryl mineral family, along with
Aquamarine, Golden Beryl, Goshenite, Bixbite and Morganite. The name for
Emerald is taken from the Greek smaragdos, meaning green stone.
Inclusions are generally accepted in Emeralds. These inclusions help to
separate natural from synthetic Emeralds and possibly the country of
origin. Although Emeralds have a hardness of 8, they still must be
treated with care to prevent chipping. Emerald jewelry should never be
ultrasonically cleaned nor steam cleaned. Since most Emeralds exhibit
some type of visible inclusion, the degree of clarity is not as
important as with other type of Beryl. Most natural Emeralds have tiny
surface breaks that fill with air and are visible to the eye. For
centuries, organic oils and resins have been used to prevent these
surface breaks from being visible. Since these oils have a tendency to
dry out over time, manmade substances, including epoxies, are now being
used to lessen the surface fissures. The best way to care for emerald
jewelry is to use warm, soapy water and a soft brush. The top color for
Emerald is a deep, rich green. Emeralds are available in a range of
green tones, including yellowish green, bluish green and pure green.
Emeralds that are transparent in the top color command the highest
prices.
Pearl
June Birthstone
The pearl, pure and fair to the eye, has been
recognized since the earliest times as the emblem of modesty, chastity,
and purity. There are two types of pearls available today. The natural
or Oriental pearl-the real "genuine pearl"-is considered a precious gem,
since they are relatively rare in nice sizes. Most commonly found today
is the cultured pearl from pearl farms. Pearls are produced by oysters
in saltwater and by mussels in freshwater lakes and rivers. Quality and
value are determined by:
-
Freedom from skin
blemishes (blisters, pimples, or spots)
-
Roundness-the more
perfectly round the better
-
Luster-the higher
the luster the better (known as Orient by some gemologists)
-
Tint-rose-tinted are
highly desirable as are white and cream
-
Size-natural pearls
are sold by weight measured in "grains" Cultured pearls are sold by
millimeters. The larger the pearl, the greater the cost. For example,
71/2 mm to 8 mm is considered large but 9 mm to 10mm is considered
very large both in size and price. The price jumps upward rapidly with
each millimeter once you pass 8 mm.
When all of these factors come together in a set or
stand of pearls, acquiring them may be excessively costly, but you will
have the finest available. If any quality factor is lessened, the
savings can be significant. Pearls should be handled with care. It is
best to keep them in a separate pouch and to exercise some caution when
wearing to avoid contact with certain substances such as vinegar (when
making a salad), ammonia, inks, and certain perfumes, since these can
spot the pearls surface. Also frequent applications of hair spray while
wearing pearls will coat them and make them very dull, but this coating
can be cleaned by washing with nail polish remover. Pearls are
available in many colors including gray, black, pink, and blue.
Unfortunately, the colors are often produced using surface dying
techniques. A qualified gemologist should be able to detect dyed pearls.
Ruby
July Birthstone
Prized through the ages, even by kings, as the "gem
of gems...surpassing all other precious stones in virtue," and today's
birthstone for July, ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum.
Historically, it has been symbolic of love and passion, considered to be
an aid to firm friendship, and believed to ensure beauty. Its color
ranges from purplish or bluish red to a yellowish red. The finest color
is a vivid, almost pure spectral red with a very faint undertone of
blue, as seen in Burmese rubies, which are considered the finest. The
ruby is a brilliant stone and is very hard, durable, and wearable. Ruby
make an unusually fine choice for any piece of jewelry. Translucent
varieties of ruby are also seen, and one variety exhibits a six-ray star
effect when cut as a cabochon. This variety is called star ruby and is
one of natures most beautiful and interesting gifts to man.
Peridot
August Birthstone
Today birthstone for August, peridot, was also a
favorite of the ancients. This lovely transparent yellowish green to
deep chartreuse stone was quite a powerful gem. It was considered an aid
to friendship and was also believed to free the mind of envious
thoughts. Because of the yellowish green color, it was also believed to
cure or prevent diseases of the liver and dropsy. And, if that were not
enough, if peridot was worn on the left arm it would protect the wearer
from the evil eye. It is also popular today, but probably more for its
depth of green color than its professed powers. While not particularly
brilliant, the richness of its color is exceptional. Peridot comes in
shades of yellowish green to darker, purer green colors. Peridot is
widely available in small sizes but larger sizes are becoming scarce, so
prices for larger sizes are now fairly high for good quality material.
Some caution should also be exercised when wearing peridot. It is not a
very hard stone and may scratch easily. Some stones may look like
peridot-green sapphire and green tourmaline-and may be mistaken for
peridot or be misrepresented.
Sapphire
September Birthstone
The sapphire is the symbol of the heavens, bestower
of innocence, truth, good health, and preserver of chastity. Sapphire is
part of the variety corundum. While it is known best for the blue
variety it is available in nature in almost every color. The red variety
of corundum is the ruby. The sapphire's hardness, brilliance, and
availability in so many beautiful colors make it an important and
versatile gemstone. The finest sapphires are considered to be the blue
variety, specifically those from Burma and Kashmir, which are the
closest to the pure spectral blue. Many of the current sapphires used in
jewelry today are very dark but can be treated to lighten the color for
better beauty. Sapphires from Ceylon are mare pastel looking than the
deep rich color of Burmese and Kashmir sapphires. Blue sapphires are
also mined in Australia, Tanzania, Brazil, Africa, and the U.S. in
Montana and North Carolina. Blue sapphires are found in a translucent
variety that may show a six-rayed star effect when cut in cabochon
style. These are known as star sapphires and there are numerous
synthetic star sapphires on the market. Fancy sapphires are becoming
increasingly popular in colors of yellow, pink and green.
Opal
October Birthstone
The opal has suffered from an unfortunate
reputation as being an evil stone and bearing ill omen. There are
several explanations for the ominous superstitions surrounding this
wonderful gem, but the evil associations have never been merited and
probably resulted from a careless reading of Sir Walter Scott's Anne of
Geierstein. Among the ancients, opal was a symbol of fidelity and
assurance, and in later history, it became strongly associated with
religious emotion and prayer. It was believed to have strong therapeutic
value for diseases of the eye, and when worn as an amulet, it would make
the wearer immune from all such diseases as well as increase the powers
of the eyes and the mind. Many believed that to the extent the colors of
red and green were seen, the therapeutic powers of the stones with those
colors-red and green-the powers were also to be enjoyed by the wearer,
the power to stop bleeding (ruby) and the power to cure kidney disease
(emerald). The black opal was particularly highly prized as the luck
stone of anyone lucky enough to own one. This stone, whose brilliant
colors resemble the colors of the fall, is unique among the gems,
displaying an array of very brilliant miniature rainbow effects, all
mixed up together. This is opal's most distinctive characteristic. This
effect is created by opal's formation process, which is very different
from that of other gems. Opal is composed of hydrated silica spheres.
The mini rainbows seen in most opals result from light interference
created by these spheres. The arrangement of the spheres, which vary in
size and pattern, is responsible for the different colors seen. Opal is
usually cut flat or in cabochon since there is no additional brilliance
to be captured by a good faceting job. Color is everything. The more
brilliant the color, the more valuable the gem. This is probably truer
of opal than any other stone. The more beautiful the stone and its
color, the more it will cost. The finest of all opals is the black
opal. Black opals are usually a deep gray or grayish black with flashes
of incredibly brilliant color dancing around within and about the stone
as it is turned. One must be careful when purchasing a black opal; to
ensure it is not a doublet or triplet, a stone composed of two or three
pieces of stone glued together. There are many such doublet and triplets
in the market because of the black opal's rarity, beauty, and extremely
high cost. A natural black opal the size of a lima bean could cost as
much as $50,000 in today's market. The black opal doublet and triplet
provides an affordable alternative to the one who loves them but can not
afford them. Beware, this also presents an opportunity for
misrepresentation that can be very costly to the consumer. Generally
speaking, the purity of color, absence of dead spots, called trueness,
flawlessness, and intensity or brilliance of color are the primary
variables affecting value. Those opals with an abundance of red are
usually the most expensive, and those strong in blue and green are
equally beautiful but not as rare, so their prices are somewhat less.
Some opals are very transparent and are classified as "jelly",
"semi-jelly", or "water" opals. One word of caution must be offered.
Opals require special care because some tend to dry out and crack. Avoid
exposure to anything that is potentially drying. Bathing an opal
occasionally in olive oil or coating it with olive oil when not in use
will help preserve it. But do not soak any opal in oil because soaking
some opals for only a few hours can cause them to lose some or nearly
all of their fire.
Topaz
November Birthstone
True topaz, the symbol of love and affection, aid
to sweetness of disposition and birthstone on November, is one of
natures most wonderful and least known families. The true topaz is
rarely seen in jewelry stores. Most people know only the quartz
(citrine) topaz, or glass. In the past almost any yellow stone was
called topaz. Topaz occurs not only in the transparent yellow, yellow
brown, orange brown, and pinky brown, but also in a very light to medium
red, very light to light blue, very light green, light greenish yellow,
and colorless. Topaz is a hard, brilliant stone with a fine color
range. Blue topaz has become popular in recent years and most of it is
treated for color. Blue topaz closely resembles the finest aquamarine
and offers a very attractive affordable alternative to aquamarine. Some
of the fine, deeper blue treated topazes have been found to be
radioactive, and according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, may be
injurious to the wearer. The true topaz family offers a variety of color
options in lovely, clear, brilliant, and durable stones.
Turquoise or Zircon
December Birthstone
A birthstone for December, and ranking highest
among all the opaque stones, turquoise, the "Turkish stone" is highly
prized throughout Asia and Africa, not only for its particular hue of
blue, a robins-egg blue or sky blue, but more importantly for its
prophylactic and therapeutic qualities. The Arabs consider it a lucky
stone and have great confidence in its benevolent action. Used in rings,
earrings, necklaces, head ornaments and amulets, it protects the wearer
from poison, reptile bites, eye diseases and the evil eye. It was also
believed capable of warning of impending death by changing color. Also,
the drinking water in which turquoise has been dipped or washed was
believed to cure bladder ailments. Buddhists revere the turquoise
because it is associated with the legend in which a turquoise enabled
Budda to destroy a monster. Even today, turquoise is considered a symbol
of courage, success, and love. It has long been associated with American
Indian jewelry and art. Turquoise is an opaque, light to dark blue or
blue green stone. The finest color is an intense blue, with poorer
qualities tending toward yellowish green. The famous Persian turquoise,
which can be a very pleasing and intense blue, is considered a very rare
and valuable gem. All turquoises are susceptible to aging and may turn
greenish or possibly darker with age. Care must be taken when wearing
turquoise, both to avoid contact with soap, grease, and other materials
that may discolor it, and protect it from abuse, since turquoise
scratches fairly easily. Exercise caution when buying turquoise. This
is a frequently simulated gem. Very fine adulterated stones and
reconstructed stones saturate the market, as does synthetic turquoise.
Zircon is a stone of purity and innocence. It balances the emotions and
enhances self esteem and unity. Was used as an amulet by travellers to
protect against accident and injury on the journey. It was also used to
stop the wearer from being stuck by lightening. Hindu poets tell of the
Kalpa Tree, the ultimate gift to the gods, which was a glowing tree
covered with gemstone fruit with leaves of zircon. Zircon has long had a
supporting role to more well-known gemstones, often stepping in as an
understudy when they were unavailable. In the middle ages, zircon was
said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its
owner. The name probably comes from the Persian word zargun which means
gold-colored, although zircon comes in a wide range of different colors.
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