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Birth Stones
Month |
Birthstone |
Meaning |
January |
Faith, Eternity, Truth |
|
February |
Luck, Wit, Health |
|
March |
Happiness, Understanding |
|
April |
Eternity, Courage, Health |
|
May |
Fidelity, Goodness, Love |
|
June |
Peace, Nobility, Beauty |
|
July |
Love, Enthusiasm, Strength |
|
August |
Success, Peace, Luck |
|
September |
Truth, Serenity, |
|
October |
Purity, Hope, Health |
|
November |
Wisdom, Courage, Sincerity |
|
December |
Love, Happiness, Luck |
January - Garnet
While most of us think of Garnets as red, and it's name comes from the Latin for pomegranate, Garnets vary from deep green right through the yellows and browns to reds and mauves providing a rich family of top gem substitutes. Garnets also encompass a variety of compound structures. Good green Garnet can fetch higher prices than Emerald so it is no poor relation to its other likenesses.
A Garnet wearer can, according to history, be assured of protection against heart, lung and blood diseases and melancholy. It also protects against excess bleeding - even in battle. It wards off evil spirits and is still used medicinally in India.
February – Amethyst
Probably the 'jewellers' most popular violet stone, Amethyst has, for thousands of years, been considered able to instill sobriety and serious mindedness in its wearer. It is also said to protect against magic, homesickness and drunkenness - possibly because it was a favourite medium for fashioning drinking vessels and it's colour made even water look like wine!
As with other members of the quartz group, Amethysts have been used since earliest times, not only in jewellery but as an ornate carvings and seals, being highly prized by the Romans and ancient Greeks.
For the technically minded
Quartz family. Trigonal crystal system. Hardness 7. SG 2.65 - 2.66 RI 1.54 - 1.55. Doubly refractive. Mainly sourced from Brazil, Uruguay, Africa and the USA.
March – Aquamarine
Aquamarine translates in Latin to "sea water" and the name is appropriate given the color of this gemstone. Aquamarine has become a symbol of safety at sea, and according to legend is the treasure of mermaids
For the technically minded
Hexagonal crystal system. Hardness 7.5. SG 2.68 - 2.80 RI 1.57 - 1.58. Main sources of supply are Brazil, Namibia, Ural Mountains, USA, Zimbabwe, North Pakistan, Malagasy, Republic and the Mourne mountains in Northern Ireland.
April – Diamonds
Power and invincibility are the keywords describing Diamonds which help ward off the 'evil eye'. The only gemstone which is pure - almost totally carbon - rather than compound, it derives its name from the Greek 'adamas' meaning invincible or unconquerable and it's brilliance, near-indestructibility, and purity has
fascinated man throughout history.
For centuries a gemstone for only the most wealthy, it was ascribed to victory in battle. In the 18th Century some considered Diamonds poisonous when swallowed - a useful deterrent against theft, others believed they neutralised poison. They were believed to protect from lightning, cure insanity and even today are used by some cults to increase spiritual consciousness.
For the technically minded
Carbon. Cubic crystal system. Hardness 10. SG 3.51 - 3.53 RI 2.417 - 2.419. Main sources of supply are South Africa, Namibia, Siberia, Australia, Brazil, India and Russia.
May – Emerald
Associated with creating beauty, health and happiness only green Beryl with sufficient chromic oxide (or vanadium oxide) can be classified as Emerald. Because of its colour, Emerald has always been considered calming, especially on the eye, but it is also believed to retard or accelerate childbirth, guard against snake bites, indeed against all weaknesses and diseases of man.
Emeralds also symbolise faith, kindness and goodness. Carved Emeralds under the pillow dispel bad dreams and reduce stupidity and if placed under the tongue evoke visions and premonitions. Emeralds are still used medicinally in China and India.
For the technically minded
Hexagonal crystal system. Hardness 7.5 - 8. Refractive index 1.57 - 1.58. Doubly refractive. Main sources are Columbia, India, South Africa, Urals, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and the USA.
June - Pearl
Pearls are formed in both salt and fresh water by oysters, mussels, conch and clams, as part of the host's defense against irritants which find their way into the shell. The host secretes a liquid which surround the irritant and hardens into layers.
The position and shape of the irritant determines the shape of the pearl: centre body - usually spherical; attached to shell - a blister; an irregular shaped pearl is termed a baroque.
Most pearls are white with a slight colour tint, usually determined by the host shell colour or the nucleus. The marine conch produces flame-like pink, orange and brown pearls. Giant clams can produce pearls weighing several pounds. Pearls are associated with wisdom, are a symbol of sexual purity, safeguarding the virtue of the wearer. They are believed to impart oracular vision and help in the interpretation of dreams.
July – Ruby
Ruby is probably the most coveted of our coloured gemstones. In its pure state Corundum is colourless and it is the different trace elements that create the rainbow of Sapphire colours, and when red, Ruby. The sacred gem of the tribe of judah and revered as Krishna's most prized gift, it is closely allied with wisdom. In first century Rome, Pliny catalogued a host of Ruby substitutes indicating its value.
Across Asia, Rubies have long held magical powers, curing and protecting against heart and blood disorders and curing melancholy. Wearers could expect health, wisdom and happiness, luck in gambling and with the opposite sex.
For the technically minded
Trigonal crystal system. Hardness 9. SG 3.97 - 4.05. RI 1.762 - 1.77. Sourced include: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Malawi, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, USA and recently Vietnam.
August - Peridot
More info to follow
For the technically minded
Orthorhombic crystal system. Hardness 6.5. SG 3.34. RI 1.64 - 1.69 Sources include: St John's island (Egypt), China, Burma, Brazil, Hawaii, and Arizona (USA).
September – Sapphire
For most of us Sapphire is synonymous with blue although this gemstone comes in a veritable rainbow of colours. Revered throughout history as one of the principal gemstones, it has been used by royalty and high priests of many religions. Believed to be imbued with heavenly rays, it is said to kill venomous creatures, and as a holy stone bestow the virtues of piety, devotion, amiability and peace on the wearer.
Medically it is said to ease eye infections, cure ulcers and stop bleeding as well as having strong powers to help interpret oracles and visions and to calm and balance the mind.
For the technically minded
Corundum. Trigonal crystal system. Hardness 9. S.G. 3.99-4.00 Refractive index 1.76-1.77. Doubly refractive. Most commonly sourced from Australia, Africa, Cambodia, Mayanmar, Sri Lanks, India, Thailand and the USA.
October – Opal
The link between Opal and bad luck seems comparatively recent, as much ascribed to Sir Walter Scott who painted them unlucky in a popular novel, as to their fragility.
Probably named from the Sanskrit upala; meaning gemstone, and then opallios, Greek for 'seeing a change of colour'.
Greeks and Romans prized Opals, believing their multi-colouring imbued them with all the virtues bestowed on coloured gems. This has led to numerous descriptions, among them, matrix and boulder - opals cut to retain surrounding rock; or to describe the play of colour like harlequin black, flame, flash, pinfire and peacock.
Opals are said to protect the eyes, guard against misfortune and were used by Renaissance magicians to render themselves invisible.
For the technically minded
Silica. Amorpous. Hardness 5.5 - 6.5. SG 1.98 - 2.20. Refractive index 1.44 - 1.46. Sourced from Australia, Czechoslovakia, Mexico and the USA, Japan, Guatemala and Turkey.
November – Topaz
Possibly not known in ancient times, Topaz comes in a variety of colours, yellow, pink, orange and rarely, red - or when affected by (sometimes natural) irradiation, blue, golden and brown. Sometimes more than one colour appears within the same stone though this is unusual. In the Middle Ages Topaz was frequently set in gold and worn around the neck where it was said to dispel bad dreams, overcome cowardice, cool anger, brighten wit and cure insanity.
It was considered a cure for the plague, protection against witchcraft and to lose colour in the presence of poison.
For the technically minded
Orthorhombic crystal system, Hardness 8, SG 3.50-3.60, RI 1.607 - 1.638, Sources include: Brazil, Pakistan, various European countries, USA, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Africa, Malagasy Republic, CIS, Japan, Mexico. Light blue Topaz is also found in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall.
December – Turquoise
Turquoise derives from Turkey which was part of the route which brought this stone from Iran to Europe. Used by the ancient Egyptians for amulets and jewellery, Turquoise is supposed to protect its wearer from injury when falling - by breaking itself. The Turks often placed Turquoise on their horses’ bridles to protect against colic and it is also considered a time-telling stone, chiming the hours against the side of a glass when suspended from a cord.
The stone plays a wide role in American Indian culture, and the Persians used to view the new moon in Turquoise mirrors to ward off evil. Around the world Turquoise has been fasioned into charms to bring good luck.
For the technically minded
Triclinic crystal system. Hardness 3-6. SG 2.60 - 2.80 Refractive index 1.61 - 1.65 Sources include Afghanistan, Australia, China, Tanzania and the USA.