A GUIDE TO BIRTHSTONES BY MONTH OF THE YEAR
Birthstones are timeless and remain as popular as ever. When purchasing Birthstones, you can purchase
the Natural Gemstones or purchase Imitation (Simulated) Birthstones. I do not carry jewelry designed with all of the
Birthstones, but the highlighted links will carry you to the ones that I do have in My Gallery.
JANUARY
Garnet Gemtones - Rich in Iron and Chromium, which gives these gemstones their color. Garnets exhibit few
inclusions and when present tend to be rounded, seedlike crystals with irregular edges.
FEBRUARY
Amethyst Gemstones - Amethyst is the best known and most valuable form of quartz. Natural amethyst's light
to dark purple color is caused by iron or manganese compound impurities in the mineral.
MARCH
Aquamarine or Bloodstone Gemstones
Aquamarine - A variety of beryl, gets its name from the Latin word for water and sea. This dazzling pale
blue stone flatters any wearer.
Bloodstone - beads are deep green, heavily mottled with dark reds and browns.
APRIL
Diamond or Cubic Zirconia
Diamonds - The first step in purchasing Diamonds is to understand the importance of the Four C's: COLOR,
CUT, CLARITY, and CARAT WEIGHT. Diamonds can cover the entire spectrum of colors - from yellow or brownish tint to colorless.
Cut has the greatest influence on a diamond's fire and brilliance. A round, brilliant-cut diamond has 58 facets.
Most diamonds contain internal stress fractures and minute traces of non-crystallized carbon. These Inclusions are usually
not apparent to the naked eye, but can be seen with magnification.
Cubic Zirconia - can also be used for the April Birthstone, this is a man made material.
MAY
Emerald Gemstones - Emerald belongs to the beryl family and gets its green color from traces of chromium and
vanadium. Many emeralds are treated with Opticon or oil to enhance their color.
JUNE
Pearl, Alexandrite or Moonstone
Alexandrite - Shows strong color changes from bluish-green to bluish-purple to purplish-red.
Moonstone - is one of the best known and most valuable varieties of feldspar. This translucent gemstone
features and iidescent sheen called "adularescence".
JULY
Ruby - a variety of corundum, is one of the world's most valuable gemstones. A ruby's color is due to a
trace of chromic oxide; the amount of this substance determines the depth of color. Rubies are an excellent choice for
all jewelry due to their hardness and durability.
AUGUST
Sardonyx and Peridot Gemstones
Peridot - is the gem form of the mineral olivine. Its yellowish to vibrant color is caused by iron.
It looks beautiful set in yellow or white gold.
Sardonyx - is a form of chalcedony that occurs in nodular masses in rocks such as volcanic lavas. Colors
can range from red, rust red with white banding to black.
SEPTEMBER
Sapphire Gemstones - The blue color in sapphire gets it color from titanium and iron oxides; the depth of color
depends on the amount of oxides in the stone.
OCTOBER
Opal and Tourmaline Gemstones
Tourmaline Gemstones - can be found as Pink Tourmaline or Green Tourmaline. Pink Tourmaline gets its pink
color from the manganese in this gem, the Green Tourmaline gets its color from chromium, irom or vanadium in the gem.
Opal - is a relatively soft mineral composed of silicon and water. Do not clean opal in hot water or in
an ultrasonic cleaner. Most opals come from Australia, especially the Boulder Opals and Black Opals.
NOVEMBER
Topaz Gemstones - A common misconception is that all topaz is yellow; pure topaz is colorless, but the gem actually
occurs in a broad range of colors including yellow, brown, pink, red, blue and green.
DECEMBER
Turquoise and Zircon Gemstones
Turquoise Gemstones - can span a color range from green to clean blue with matrixes of black. Turquoise
is usually enhanced(treated) to improve color and has been stabilized to set the color and to protect the gemstone.
Turquoise should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Zircon - usually exhibits an aqua blue/green color.
