This is the gemstone that belongs to the month in which you were born. It is said that this comes from the book of Exodus, a scholar saw twelve stones on a breastplate and linked them to the twelve months of a year. There are also many gemstones that are linked to the different constellations. It is believed that each gemstone has a certain healing effect and if you wear the gemstone of your birth month on your skin it will have a positive effect.
January: Garnet
Courage – Authority – Faith – Protection – Purity
Garnet possesses a beautiful deep red colour, its name derives from the seeds of the pomegranate. The ancient Latin ‘granatus’ means seed. The name of this birthstone, hence, was derived from this. In the past knights and warriors carried this birthstone as an amulet, or it was used to decorate swords and armour. Garnet is really tough and was even used as a bullet by some Asian tribes.
A garnet gives power and energy. Additionally, the gem provides perseverance and confidence. A garnet improves hope and courage. Just like with ruby, the red gems are said to help achieve a good blood circulation and strengthened feelings.
February: Amethyst
Beauty and prestige – Protection – Good for bodily ills
Amethyst possesses a beautiful purple colour and sparkling sheen. The name amethyst is derived from the Greek word ‘amethystos’, which means ‘not drunk’. In the past, people thought that wearing an amethyst would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and is found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Uruguay amongst other places. An amethyst can be treated in various ways to improve its colour. It is also commonly used to cut specials shapes into and possesses a clarity that allows it to be used in the most wonderful of creations.
An amethyst is sometimes called the stone of seduction. This is because people used to think that the stone would protect you against seduction. The stone was also said to help you ward of ghosts and inspire you to have new thoughts.
Leonardo DaVinci wrote that amethyst makes you smarter and cleanses the negative thoughts from your mind.
March: Aquamarine
Happiness and harmony – Love – Therapeutic effect
Aquamarine owes its name to its beautiful light blue colour. The name is derived from the ancient Latin word for seawater. Aquamarine is a gem which is found in large chunks, that is why it is often used in many beautiful creations. Aquamarine is the birthstone for the month of March and is most frequently found in countries such as: Australia, India, Myanmar, and Zambia. An aquamarine is often given a special heat treatment to help improve the intensity of its colour. As a precious stone, aquamarine is one of the stones most often used to experiment with new cuts.
Perhaps because of its name, aquamarine has always been a stone that was said to protect people who work at sea. Furthermore, the precious stone is said to improve upon the happiness of married couples. Additionally, the stone is said to have a soothing effect, mentally and physically.
April: Diamond
Romance – Love – Wealth – Strength and power – A girl’s best friend!
Diamond is the hardest precious stone and naturally occurring substance. Diamonds can be colorless, like the ones that most people know, but are also available in yellow, brown, pink, blue, green, red, and black.
April: Black diamond
Romance – Love – Wealth – Strength and power – A girl’s best friend!
A black diamond radiates an aura of mystery and its deep black makes it perfect for use in jewellery.
The diamond owes its deep black colour to the many encapsulations inside of it that prevent you from seeing through it. Despite its darkness the stone has not lost its sheen, this is due to the cutting of facets on the diamond’s surface. In recent years wearing black diamonds has become quite the trend. Along with white diamonds, black diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April.
Just like other precious stones, diamond was said to have healing properties. A diamond’s energy is extremely powerful and strengthens other nearby energies.
Black gems have the ability to act as painkillers and strengthen mental resistance, the same goes for black diamond.
May: Emerald
Eternal youth – Wisdom – Love and loyalty – Rest – Good for eye-related ailments
With its intense colour, emerald may be one of the most fascinating gemstones. Its green colour is one of the most beautiful naturally occurring ones. The word emerald derives from the ancient Greek name (s)maragdos, meaning: green stone. The emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. Because of its structure the emerald will have many fracture planes, making it hard to set into a piece of jewellery for even a professional goldsmith. An emerald is usually inspected with the naked eye first. If the appraiser does not notice anything out of the ordinary it will be graded ‘flawless’. The most beautiful emeralds are found in Colombia, that is why the most valuable emeralds are sometimes nicknamed ‘Colombia Green’. Besides Colombia, the stone is also found in Australia, Brazil, South Africa and the USA. Often oil is used to improve the toughness of an emerald. This oil fills the miniscule cracks in the encapsulations and on the fracture planes and enhance the colour intensity and transparency of the stone. Whenever you clean an emerald, be sure to take care not to use chemical substances which could remove the oil. The best result is achieved by brushing the stone carefully with a toothbrush and some water.
In a distant past emerald was often viewed as a holy stone. One of the most famous persons to have worn emeralds was Cleopatra. In those days people assumed that the stone was imbued with healing powers and would bring its wearer lots of luck.
Additionally, green gems were said to have positive effects on the liver and to strengthen the heart.
June: Pearl
Love – Protection – Happiness – Wisdom – Humbleness – Therapeutic
While strictly speaking pearls are neither gems nor precious stones but organic material produced by a living creature, pearls too come with their fair share of stories. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed that pearls were the tears of joy of their goddess of love, Aphrodite.
A pearl consists of a soft organic material and is very vulnerable. Therefore we do not recommend bringing them into contact with any chemicals, cleaning agents, etc.
A pearl is said to provide its wearer with happiness, protection, and strengthened bonds of friendship. Additionally the white pearl is said to have a positive effect on someone who suffers a calcium deficiency.
July: Ruby
Love – Passion – Protection from evil – Luck
Just like sapphire, ruby belongs to the family of stones called corundum and is only available in the colour red. The most beautiful ruby colour is also called dove’s blood red. The name “ruby” is often used to denote the stone and is derived from the ancient Latin “ruber” which means red. Ruby is one of the most expensive gemstones and is the birthstone for the month of July.
Along with sapphire, ruby is the hardest type of gemstone after diamonds and has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Ruby is found in countries such as Australia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and the USA. In India the rubies are sometimes called the ‘King of Gemstones’.
Since time immemorial ruby has been used to ward off bad luck, heartbreak, and bad health, that might be why many pieces of jewellery that belonged to royalty were set with rubies.
Red gemstones are said to ensure a proper blood circulation and to strengthen emotions.
August: Peridot
Vitality – Nature – Inner growth – Soothing – Confidence
Peridot is known for its intense (olive) green colour. Peridot is often called the sun stone. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use it in jewellery. In the past it was said that Peridot had many different healing and magical properties. People even used to grind the stone into a dust which was added to liquid and used as medicine. The stone was said to protect against nightmares and the evil eye. Furthermore, it is supposed to have a positive effect on people who suffer from asthma or fever. This brightly coloured stone goes well with trendy fashion styles. It is the birthstone for the month of August and is found in the Brazil, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the USA.
Just like with emerald, peridot’s green colour is said to have a positive effect on the liver and heart.
September: Sapphire
Wisdom – Purity – Wealth – Immortality – Friendship
Sapphires are part of the corundum family of minerals. It is available in many different colours, except red. Sapphires are well known for their blue colour and sapphires in different colours are often called fancy sapphires. Sapphire is also the birthstone for the month of September and belongs to the zodiac signs of Taurus and Virgin. Sapphire is sometimes called the colour of the heavens. Sapphire is found in Australia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and the USA. For sapphires the intensity of the blue colour is essential. This intensity has a great impact on the quotation for a stone or piece of jewellery. Through heat a sapphire may be heated and treated to intensify the colour and remove impurities.
Sapphire protects against sickness and provides its wearer with wisdom and peace. Furthermore, blue gemstones are said to have a positive effect on kidneys, to have soothing qualities, and to help with anxiety issues or fear.
October: Opal
Hope – Invisibility – Stress reducing – Creativity – Against nightmares
An opal is a remarkable stone in beautiful colours. The ancient Romans called the opal the “queen of gemstones” because of the many different colours that are visible in one stone.
Opal is a protective stone and just like peridot it is said to ward of nightmares. This gemstone increases joy, optimism, spontaneity, and creativity. The stone is associated with love and passion.
At DiamondsByMe we do not work with this gemstone. This is because it is a very vulnerable stone, it is vulnerable to exposure to strong sunlight or water.
November: Topaz
Loyalty – Friendship – Rest – Optimism – Balance – Therapeutic
Of the different precious stones in this list, topaz is well known for its light blue colour. Most people are unaware, however, that topaz occurs in a variety of colours. There are white, gray, green, orange, yellow and even red varieties of topaz.
This precious stone occurs naturally in countries such as: Australia, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, and the USA.
The stone has been said to make its wearer stronger and give him or her more confidence. Topaz has also been worn to help its wearer set goals and achieve them. The gemstone represents success, joy and truth.
December: Turquoise
Rest – Good for depression – Insightful – Creativity
Turquoise appears in sky blue, cyan, or apple green colours with dark veins throughout.
Another name for turquoise is the sacred stone. This name comes from the ancient belief held by shamans that this stone could cure people and give them wisdom. It was said the colour of the stone would change when danger is near.
The stone was said to ward off the evil eye and provide its wearer with wealth. It is said to have a positive effect on people suffering from depression, anxieties and mood swings.