Birthstones are a fun, popular and colorful introduction to the world of gemstones. They appeal to audiences around the world regardless of gender, age, nationality or religion. Birthstones carry secrets, attributes and lore that are unique to each gemstone. There are countless myths and legends around the many different powers and attributes that birthstones have. Whether or not you believe these legends, it’s hard to disagree that learning about birthstones can be an educational and entertaining experience. Discover what makes your birthstone a powerful statement of your finest qualities by clicking on the month you were born in below.
JANUARY- GARNET
The garnet group of related mineral species offers gems of every hue, including fiery red pyrope, vibrant orange spessartine, and rare intense-green varieties of grossular and andradite.
FEBRUARY- AMETHYST
Purple variety of the mineral quartz, often forms large, six-sided crystals. Fine velvety-colored gems come from African and South American mines.
MARCH- AQUAMARINE
Blue to slightly greenish-blue variety of the mineral beryl. Crystals are sometimes big enough to cut gems of more than 100 carats.
APRIL- DIAMOND
This hardest gem of all is made of just one element: carbon. It’s valued for its colorless nature and purity. Most diamonds are primeval—over a billion years old—and form deep within the earth.
MAY- EMERALD
The most valued variety of beryl, emerald was once cherished by Spanish conquistadors, Inca kings, Moguls, and Pharaohs. Today, these fine gems can be found in Africa, South America and Central Asia.
JUNE-PEARL
The most valued variety of beryl, emerald was once cherished by Spanish conquistadors, Inca kings, Moguls, and Pharaohs. Today, these fine gems can be found in Africa, South America and Central Asia.
JULY- RUBY
Traces of chromium give this red variety of the mineral corundum its rich color. Long valued by humans of many cultures. In ancient Sanskrit, ruby was called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.”
AUGUST- PERIDOT
Yellow-green gem variety of the mineral olivine. Found as nodules in volcanic rock, occasionally as crystals lining veins in mountains of Myanmar and Pakistan, and inside meteorites.
SEPTEMBER- SAPPHIRE
Depending on their trace element content, sapphire varieties of the mineral corundum might be blue, yellow, green, orange, pink, purple or even show a six-rayed star if cut as a cabochon.
OCTOBER- TOURMALINE
Comes in many colors, including the remarkable intense violet-to-blue gems particular to Paraíba, Brazil, and similar blues from Africa. One of the widest color ranges of any gem.
NOVEMBER- CITRINE
A yellow-to-golden member of the quartz mineral group. Deep golden varieties from Madeira Spain can resemble costly imperial topaz. Thought by ancient cultures to increase psychic powers.
DECEMBER- TANZANITE
Named for Tanzania, the country where it was discovered in 1967, tanzanite is the blue-to-violet or purple variety of the mineral zoisite. It’s become one of the most popular of colored gemstones.