JANUARY: GARNET
Garnet is a great stone for January's cold days, as it is said to activate the senses and improve energy with its warm red hue. Garnet symbolizes love, passion, well-being and inspiration, making it a perfect New Year’s stone! Garnet gemstones also symbolize loyalty and trust among friends and are considered a gift to honour friendship. It is assumed that those with a garnet birthstone are sweet and have a strong spirit.
FEBRUARY: AMETHYST
Amethyst is a purple quartz. Today it is said that this precious stone gives meaning to the wearer's thoughts, feelings and beliefs. The amethyst has long been called the "jewel of the gods" due to it being used in the jewellery of famous and royal figures such as Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth. Amethyst symbolizes deep devotion, affection, joy, and harmony and contentment.
MARCH: AQUAMARINE
With its perfect spring hues of green and blue, aquamarine couldn’t be more suited as the March birthstone. It is said that aquamarine gemstones help their wearers to stay calm, clear their minds and have courage. Aquamarine is perfect for assisting in meditation and it is traditionally given as a gift for 19th wedding anniversaries.
APRIL: DIAMOND
Diamond is perhaps the most desirable birthstone of all, and the most durable gemstone found in nature, making it the perfect stone to symbolise long-lasting love and devotion. Diamond’s name comes from the Greek word "adamas", meaning invincible. Diamonds are commonly linked to love, making them the ideal gift for a loved one. Although white diamonds are most traditional, coloured diamonds can be found in various colours including yellow, blue, and pink as well.
MAY: EMERALD
The rich and majestic green tone of emerald makes it the perfect birthstone for spring! The emerald is a sign of rebirth and is said to bring luck, foresight and youth to its owner. Emeralds exude the rich green colour of spring and have a stunning vibrant tone. Emeralds are typically mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan and Zambia.
JUNE: PEARL
Beautiful pearls are the only gemstones that are created entirely inside a living creature. Pearls are shaped and formed within mollusks such as oysters and scallops, and the creation can take up to eight years! Pearls represent love, friendship, integrity, honesty and innocence in many cultures.
JULY: RUBY
Ruby is a deep-red and precious gemstone. Rubies are seen as symbols of love and passion and are said to create powerful emotions and feelings, similar to the powerful colour they exude. Ruby is one of the most expensive and prized gemstones in the world, therefore it is not surprising that it is often given as a gift for 40th wedding anniversaries. The iconic red gems are also appropriate as a Valentine’s Day gift, as well as for anyone born in July who is fortunate enough to call the ruby their birthstone!
AUGUST: PERIDOT
Peridot is formed deep within the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes. Easily recognized by its olive green hue, peridot is thought to protect the wearer from nightmares, and symbolizes fame, dignity and success. Known as the “gem of the sun”, peridot has been a prized gemstone for more than 3,500 years. While the peridot is sometimes overshadowed by the better-known emerald, peridot has its own uplifting energy and beauty that should be seen and appreciated by all. As the birthstone of August, it is a great gift for those seeking good luck, and is prized in many alternative medicine communities for its healing powers.
SEPTEMBER: SAPPHIRE
Sapphires are usually thought of as blue gemstones, but actually come in nearly all colours (with the exception of red, which is classified as ruby). The sapphire is a symbol of loyalty and integrity. It is also said to protect the wearer from envy or harm and to attract blessings from heaven. The sapphire is most closely related to the ruby as they are made of the same mineral. It is a popular option for engagement rings, and is also traditionally given to celebrate 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.
OCTOBER: OPAL & TOURMALINE
The word opal comes from the Greek “opallios”, meaning “to see a change of colour”. Opals shine with a rainbow of colours because of their unique make-up of light-bending microscopic silica spheres. The majority of the world’s supply of opals comes from Australia. Opals signify hopeful love, faith and confidence. Opal gemstones are truly unique because each individual gem sparkles with a one-of-a-kind colour combination; the opal was known as the “queen of gems” in ancient times as it encapsulated the colours of all other gems.
Tourmaline gemstones come in a rainbow of hues: pink, yellow, green, orange, and the rarer blues (especially the neon blue Paraiba tourmaline) and reds (known as rubellite). Paraiba tourmaline was first discovered in the Brazilian state of Paraiba in 1989 and is the rarest and most valuable variety of tourmaline. 18th century literature considered tourmaline to be helpful to artists, authors, actors and those in creative fields. It is what is called a “receptive stone”, which means it is soothing and calming and promotes spirituality and wisdom.
NOVEMBER: CITRINE
Citrine is a variety of quartz with a glowing orange hue. Citrine has been called the “healing quartz” because it is thought to provide energy and vitality. Citrine has also been known as the “merchant’s stone” because it is said to attract prosperity and wealth. This bright shining gem was long considered to be a gift from the sun, and in ancient times was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Although citrine is derived from the French word for “lemon” due to its colour, citrine comes in a wide colour range from pale yellow to bright orange to gorgeous darker brown hues.
DECEMBER: TANZANITE
The December birthstone is named after Tanzania, the country where it was discovered in 1967, by Tiffany & Co. It is found in only one place on earth, near the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Legend has it that tanzanite was created when some brown rocks lying on the dry earth were caught in a fire started by lightning; Maasai herders driving cattle in the area noticed the beautiful blue colour of the stones and picked them up, believing them to be a gift from the gods. Tanzanite is said to generate an energy of happiness and relief from worries, and inspires one in feeling more compassionate, loving and centered.
Discover your birthstone with the birthstone pendants from our Birthstone Collection, available in yellow gold and silver.