BIRTHSTONE JEWELLERY
Gemstones have been imbued with spiritual meaning for eons, dating back to the breastplate of Aaron that contained 12 gemstones representing the signs of the zodiac and the tribes of Israel. The modern birthstone list was established by the National Association of Jewellers in 1912, with a few updates over the years.
JANUARY: GARNET
Garnets were prized by the ancient Egyptians, and during the Middle Ages were exchanged to signify trust and affection. High-quality garnets have vivid colour and good translucency. Commonly found in a deep red, this crimson stone’s name comes from the word granatum, Latin for pomegranate seed.
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The vibrantly purple amethyst, a variety of quartz, has long been worn by royalty and was a favourite of both St. Valentine and Leonardo da Vinci. Amethysts were once considered as rare as diamonds, and medieval soldiers believed they provided healing and calmness. High-quality specimens have saturated colour and pure purple hues.
shop amethyst jewelleryMARCH: AQUAMARINE
These light blue gemstones are a variety of the mineral beryl, as is the emerald. Long associated with water, the aquamarine was especially treasured as a talisman by ancient seafaring people. Aquamarine’s cool blue hue is believed to have a calming effect on its wearer. Look for clear, bright colours and good translucency.
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April is the winner of the birthstone lottery—diamonds! Treasured for their rarity and brilliance, diamonds have been prized for centuries as the symbol of eternal love. Highly valued for their brilliance and durability, diamonds also signify strength, balance, and courage. Look for diamonds with a good balance of the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight.
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The rich, green emerald has been held in high esteem by many cultures around the world for centuries, including the ancient Incas and Aztecs who regarded them as holy. Emerald is a variety of beryl and the finest-quality emeralds have vivid, saturated colour.
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The lustrous pearl is the oldest known gem and symbolizes purity and innocence. A rare gift from the sea, only about one in 20 pearl-growing mollusks will produce gem-quality pearls and no two are alike. Coveted by fashion icons and royalty, pearls have become an heirloom for generations of women around the world.
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Because of its fiery crimson colour, ruby has long represented romance, devotion, and passion. Like sapphires, rubies are a variety of corundum, a mineral with great hardness well suited to everyday wear. Examples of flawless rubies are extremely rare and highly prized. The best examples have good translucency and depth of colour.
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This vivid green gemstone is thought to ward off evil, and bring good fortune to its wearer. Peridots, like diamonds are formed deep in the earth, surfacing only during volcanic eruptions. Hawaiian mythology refers to this vibrant green gemstone as the tears of the fire goddess, Pele. Look for bright yellowish-green hues and good translucency.
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Sapphire is well known for its velvety-blue hue, but pink sapphire is gaining popularity. A variety of corundum like rubies, sapphire’s natural hardness makes it an ideal gemstone for fine jewellery. A traditional symbol of nobility, truth, and romance, the most prized sapphires have good transparency and vibrant depth of colour.
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The dramatic opal stands out for the fiery range of colours contained within a single stone, and is typically cut into rounded cabochons to enhance its exceptional light play. The Greeks believed opals provided the power of prophecy and the stone is a celebrated symbol of loyalty, faith and hope. Look for stones with bright spots of well-distributed flashes of colour.
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This bright, effervescent gemstone gets its name from the French word for lemon and has been regarded as a symbol for happiness, health and vitality for centuries. High quality citrines will have good transparency and no eye-visible inclusions. They range in colour from earthy deep browns and reddish-oranges to glowing yellow-orange.
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Blue topaz is one of December's birthstones along with tanzanite and turquoise. Symbolic of wisdom and longevity, blue topaz ranges in hues from deep London blue to paler sky blue. The ancient Greeks believed that topaz gave strength to the wearer.
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Giving Birthstone Jewellery
Most people find special meaning in their birthstone, and a ring, necklace or bracelet set with their stone is a great way to honour the most important people in your life—and keep thoughts of them top of mind.
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GEMSTONE JEWELLERY
Birthstones represent just 12 of the most popular gemstones commonly used for fine jewellery. Don’t miss out on all the other minerals deemed beautiful and durable enough to be called gemstones.
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