Birthstones in Jewellery
Birthstone history can be traced back through the centuries however it was in 1912 that the American National Association of Jewellers created an official list. This list is still in use today with a few changes and additions.
Each month has one or 2 (or 3 in the case of June and December!) gemstones assigned as birthstones and these can make a great gift idea for a special birthday, to celebrate a birth or even as a multi gem piece of jewellery to symbolise your family unit.
The birthstones are
January – Garnet
Garnets are most commonly known to be red but do come in an array of colours including green and purple.
The name garnet comes from the latin word granatus which means pomegranate; which links to the classic
red colour of this beautiful gemstone.
This gemstone is thought to bring the wearer good health, wealth and happiness.
As well as being the January gemstone garnet is also the
gemstone for a second wedding anniversary.
February – Amethyst
Amethysts come in an array of shades from lilacs through to rich dark purples and can be cut in many different ways.
The name amethyst comes from the ancient Greek word ‘amethystos’ which means ‘not drunk’. The gemstone was believed to prevent intoxication! That is definitely my favourite gemstone fact!
As well as being the birthstone for February amethyst is also the gem for 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
March – Aquamarine
Aquamarine is typically a pretty light blue colour. This gem is the green/blue variety of the mineral beryl; emerald is the green variety of the same material.
It gets its name from 2 latin words; aqua meaning water and marina meaning ‘of the sea’.
As well as being the March birthstone aquamarine is also the gift of a 19th wedding anniversary.
April – Diamond
Diamonds are formed under extremely high temperatures and pressures in conditions that exist approximately 100 miles below the surface of the earth. Diamonds are the hardest material on earth and are made from around 99.95% carbon.
Diamonds have been popular for centuries; in the 1st century AD the Roman naturalist Pliny stated “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones but of all things in this world.”
Diamonds are graded by categories known as the 4 c’s- cut, colour, clarity and carat.
As well as being the birthstone for April diamond is also the gemstone for 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.
May- Emerald
Emeralds are the green variety of the mineral beryl and have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.
They have been used in jewellery for thousands of years and it was first mined in Egypt in 330BC. Cleopatra is known to have worn this beautiful gemstone in her jewellery.
The oldest emeralds found (to date) were created 2.97 billion years ago in South Africa!
As well as being Mays birthstone emeralds are also the gems associated with 2oth and 35th wedding anniversaries.
June – Pearl, moonstone and Alexandrite
The month of June has 3 birthstones associated with it; pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. For this blog I am going to focus on pearls.
Pearls have been used in jewellery for centuries and were first written about by a Chinese historian in 2206 BC.
Pearls come in a rainbow of colours. White, soft pink, grey and peacock blues can occur naturally but brighter colours can also be created by adding dye to the shell before the pearl begins to grow.
The shine on a pearl is known as lustre and can easily be damaged. It is advised to spray products such as hairspray and perfume (and allow them to dry) before putting on pearl jewellery. To keep their sheen gently wipe them with a damp cloth after wearing.
Did you know that real pearls feel warm to the touch and have a gritty texture if you lightly rub them on your teeth? You can spot a fake if it feels cold to hold and/or feels smooth on your teeth!
As well as being the birthstone of June pearls are also the gift of a thirtieth wedding anniversary.
July- Ruby
Rubies are in the family of minerals called corundum which also includes sapphire. In its purest form corundum is colourless; the variations in colour come from the trace elements in the gems. Chromium is the element which gives ruby its colour.
Rubies have been treasured for years and early civilisation believed the gems held the power to life. The gem remained popular throughout the middle ages and was sought after by Royalty.
The word ruby comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’ which means red.
As well as being the birthstone for July Rubies are also the gem for a 40th wedding anniversary.
August – Peridot
Peridot is the name given to gemstone quality pieces of the mineral olivine. It gets the vibrant yellow-green colour from the presence of iron within its composition.
Peridot gems are found in solidified lava and some has even been found in meteorites that have fallen to earth.
The Egyptians believed that peridot is the gemstone of the sun.
As well as being the birthstone for August peridot is also the gemstone for a 15th wedding anniversary.
September – Sapphire
Sapphires are in the same family of gemstones as rubies, known as corundum. Sapphires get their colour from the trace elements that make up the gem; in the case of blue sapphires this is iron and titanium.
While sapphires tend to be thought of as blue they can be any colour except red including pink, green, purple, yellow or even colourless. A red corundum would class as a ruby.
Sapphires have been used in adornments for centuries and were worn by kings and queens in ancient Greece and Rome as they were believed to protect their owners from harm and envy.
As well as being the birthstone of September sapphires are also the gemstone for 45th and 65th wedding anniversaries.
October – Tourmaline and Opal
October is another lucky month with 2 birthstones; both tourmaline and opal are associated with this month. I am going to focus on the beautiful gem tourmaline.
This gemstone can be found in many different colours as wide ranging as pink and green and you can even get a range of colours in one piece!
Tourmaline has been found in many places around the world including Brazil, America and China. The different colours of the gem are produced with different elements within the stones. For example copper is found in vivid blues and greens discovered in Brazil and this colour is called paraiba.
Tourmaline is also the gemstone for an 8th wedding anniversary.
November – Topaz and citrine
November babies have the choice of 2 gemstones; topaz or citrine.
Topaz gemstones come in a wide range of colours the most common is brown but it is also found in shades of pink and purple through to blue and green. Topaz is a pleochroic gemstone which means it can show different colours through the crystal structure as its moved.
Citrine is a rarer gemstone and in the past it was confused with topaz as it is found in similar brown- yellow shades. Citrine is often used in fancy gemstone cuts and carvings. This gemstone is also the gemstone for a thirteenth anniversary.
December – Tanzanite, turquoise and zircon
December birthdays have three options for their birthstone and you are spoilt for choice with tanzanite, turquoise and zircon!
Tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone having been found in Tanzania in the late 1960’s. At first the locals believed they had discovered sapphires as the blue- purple colour can be very similar.
By contrast turquoise has been found and used in jewellery for thousands of years! It is thought to provide good health, fortune and protect the wearer from evil and was used by the ancient Eypytians.
Zircon comes in a range of colours and is a natural gemstone unlike cubic zirconia which it is often confused with. Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth; there are deposits in Australis which are over 4 billion years old. This gem is known for its ‘fire’ as it has beautiful sparkle and flashes of multicolour light.
Birthstone Summary
Having said this I don’t think people should feel tied to a gemstone if they are not keen on theirs’; I have had people message me saying they like a particular gemstone but its not their birthstone so they are not sure they should wear it. In my opinion you should wear a gemstone if you love it no matter if it is your birthstone or not
Head over to my shop to see my range of gemstone jewellery and do get in touch if you are looking for anything in particular whether it’s a birthstone piece or just something with your favourite gemstone in.
Do you have any jewellery with your birthstone in; do you prefer another gemstone?! I’d love to know.
Laura xx
In the UK we have one of the strictest systems in the world for testing and quality marking items. This makes it a fantastic way of guaranteeing the precious metal item you are purchasing is indeed what you believe it to be.
I am proud to have my hallmark registered with the London Assay office and to have my work checked here. My makers mark is an oval shaped stamp with the initials LJG; the G is from my maiden name. Each person or company’s stamp is unique so the maker of a piece can be identified.
interesting places to visit and are a great way for designers and makers to be able to showcase their work. Our high streets would be a lot more boring without them! So the aim of the Just a Card campaign is to encourage people to support and buy from artists, makers, independent shops and small businesses.
Plus, have you ever noticed how much people appreciate a handmade gift?! They show you’ve taken the time to seek out something you know someone will really love, something that might be really personal and unique – so really, shopping small is a win, win!