Understanding your Birthstone

Garnet

Most garnets are red in color. In fact a few varieties, such as grossularite, can have a wide range of colors, and uvarovite is always a bright green. There are 9 types of Garnet. They are; Pyrope, Spessartine, Alamandine, Uarvoite, Hessanite, Pink Grossular, Green Grossular and Garnet Topped Doublet.It has the hardness ranging from 7 – 7.5.

Garnet is also the Zodiac stone for the constellation of Aquarius. It is the anniversary gemstone for the 2nd and the 6th year of marriage.

Garnet is given as a symbol of: consistency, perseverance, and good health. Garnet is used as a power stone. Many energy healers say that it supports the basic chakra which is associated with power and prosperity.

How to take care of Garnet:
Clean garnet with a dry soft cloth. As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures.

Amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz. Amethyst is probably the 13th most popular stone in the world. When heated amethyst can be yellow which produces citrine. Amethyst has a hardness of 7.

Amethyst is the February Modern and Traditional stone. For the 4th and 6th year of marriage, Amethyst is the anniversary gemstone. Amethyst is used to increase spiritually. Often amethyst is used in presents to represent security, sincerity, and peace of mind.

 

How to take care of Amethyst:

Clean your Amethyst in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush. Amethyst often becomes paler if kept out in the sun.

 

Aquamarine

Aquamarine comes in various shades of blue: light, blue-green and dark. The best quality is see-through. This gemstone has a hardness of 7.5.

Honesty, Loyalty and Truth. Aquamarine is the March Modern birthstone. For the 16th and 19th year of marriage, Aquamarine is the anniversary gemstone. Aquamarine is often used to (hopefully) experience boundless love and mercy. It is said to help ease depression and grief.
Aquamarine is said to re-awaken love in long-married couples and signify the making of new friends. Legend has it that to wear aquamarine in earrings would bring love and affection.

 

How to take care of Aquamarine:

Carefully clean your Aquamarine in soapy warm water with a soft bristle brush. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine to clean Aquamarine. Take care to protect Aquamarine from sharp blows and scratches. Aquamarine will fade if it is stored in the sun. Do not leave it on window sills.

Diamond

Diamonds are usually colorless. However, brown, yellow, green, blue, pink, red, gray and black variations are also found depending on the impurities present. Diamond has a hardness rating of 10.

They are marvelous symbols of lasting love around the world. Diamond is the anniversary gemstone for the 30th and 60th year of marriage. Diamond jewelry is the anniversary gift for the 10th year of marriage.

Gemstone healers often use diamonds to improve their personal clarity and vision. It helps them be honest and direct with themselves and others. Theoretically, the higher quality the stone, the better it is helps strengthen these qualities.

How to take care of Diamond:

Though diamonds are quite durable, they can chip and fracture when handled roughly. Store diamonds separately. Be aware that diamonds can scratch other jewelry as well as each other.

Emerald

Emerald is a very transparent green. Emeralds are very rarely flawless. The stones are often oiled to fill in the cracks of imperfect emeralds. When they oil the emeralds they often help enhance color. The finest emeralds come from Columbia.

 

Emerald is both the May birthstone and the Zodiac stone for the constellation of Cancer.
Emerald is the anniversary gemstone for the 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage, the perfect emblem of an enduring love.

 

Though not meant to replace traditional medical treatment, Emerald is used for physical and emotional healing. It is said to strengthen not only the physical body but also sooth the emotions. Energy healers often associate emerald with the heart chakra. Some traditions say that emerald will help one become more flexible and understanding making it a helpful addition to wedding rings.

 

How to take care of Emerald:

Use a soft, dry cloth to clean your Emerald. Avoid sudden temperature changes, household chemicals and ultrasonic jewelry cleaners.
Emerald is often treated with oil to fill fissures and fractures that are characteristic of emerald. Hence, you should never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner because this oil could be removed or damaged, making the fissures more visible. In addition, do not clean emerald in hot soapy water since it too can remove this oil.

Pearl

Pearl is a very popular gem for adult women wear pearls around there necks. Pearls are formed in oysters and other shellfish. Pearls can also be found in mussels. The orient of a pearl occurs when the light of a pearl reflects off of the iridescent layers of a pearl. This makes the iridescent layers have character. Pearls use to be thought of as tears of the gods. Pearl has a hardness of 3.

The price of pearls vary widely as a result of luster, size, how they were grown, color and type. Natural pearls are the most expensive, followed by cultured pearls. Fresh water pearls tend to be relatively inexpensive.

Pearl is June birthstone. Fresh Water Pearl is the anniversary gemstone for the 1st year of marriage; Pearl is the anniversary gemstone for the 12th and 30th year of marriage.

Gemstone healers use pearl gems to help one love themselves and help improve their self-worth. Giving a loved one a gift of natural pearls is one of the most love-filled gifts one can give. It allows the wearer to feel the love of the person who gave them the pearls.

How to take care of Pearl:

Pearls are less durable than most gems. They are sensitive to acids, dryness, and humidity. If you wear cosmetics and/or perfume, put these on before wearing your pearl jewelry. When taking off your pearls, wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth. If needed, clean your pearls with warm soapy water being very careful to not get water into the drill hole as the pearl may discolor. Dry your pearls flat on an absorbant soft (preferably lint-free) towel.

Always store your pearl necklaces flat as the silk will stretch. Store pearl jewelry separately from other jewelry as they will scratch. Store pearls in a dry environment. Avoid using plastic bags (as moisture may get trapped and cause damage).

Ruby

A pure flawless red ruby is valued more than a diamond. Ruby is one of the best jewelry settings. It may be red, pinkish, purplish or brownish. The color depends on the iron content of the stone. If ruby fracture it may be because of constant twining. Crystal prisms are hexagonal with tapering or flat ends. As ruby grows they form more layers. The best shade of red for ruby is often given the name “pigeon blood red“.

Ruby is the anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th year of marriage. Ruby is the July birthstone, and the Capricorn Zodiac stone.

Ruby is said to open one’s heart to love. It can heal emotion wounds.

How to take care of Ruby:

 

 

 

Peridot

Peridot is a transparent lime or olive green. Gem quality of the mineral olivine is called peridot by gemologists. Peridot has an olive or bottle green color that is due to the presence of iron and a distinctive oily or greasy luster. It has a high birefraction. So doubling of the back facets can easily be seen in larger specimens. When viewed from the front good quality crystal is very rare. It has a hardness of 6.5.

Peridot is the anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. Peridot is used to help dreams become a reality. Peridot is given as a symbol of fame, dignity, and protection. Legend has it that pirates favored peridot to protect them against evil. When the peridot was set in gold it also protected the wearer from terrors in the night. Peridot is the birthstone for August and the Zodiac stone for the constellation Libra.

How to take care of Peridot:

As with all gems, protect peridot from scratches and sharp blows. Also avoid large temperature changes (such as leaving it be a heater vent or in a hot car). Do not clean peridot in a home ultrasonic cleaner.

 

Sapphire

All quality corundum that is hot is sapphire yet this name is popularly associated with blue. Variation in color that is due to iron and titanium impurities spans many shades but the most valuable is a clear deep blue. Some stones called color change sapphire exhibit different shades of blue in artificial and natural light. Good quality sapphire is found in Mynmew, Sri Lanka and India.

Sapphire is a September birthstone and the anniversary gemstone for the 5th and 45th year of marriage.

Sapphire represents truth, sincerity and consistency. Sapphire engagement rings are given to express the commitment and loyalty of their heart. Prince Charles chose a blue sapphire for Princess Diana’s engagement ring.

How to take care of Sapphire:

Generally, sapphire is quite durable. Still, sapphires are subject to chipping and fracture is handled roughly.

 

Opal

Opal is hardened silica gel usually containing 5%- 10% water. It is therefore non crystalline unlike most other gem stones. It may even dry out and crack. There are two varieties of precious opal which flashes of color iridescence. Depending on the angle of viewing a common or porch opal, which is often opaque, opal displays no iridescence.

Opal is October gemstone and the anniversary gemstone for the 14th and 18th years of marriage.

Opal jewelry is used to see possibilities in ones life. Represent Joy and Positivity.

How to take care of Opal:

Opals develop crazing if they are allowed to dry out. Heat treatment is catastrophic!! In addition to cracking, loss of water causes loss of iridescence.

 

Citrine

In a range of different colors topaz varies of deep golden yellow and pinks are often the most valuable of topaz. A blue topaz is almost indistinguishable from an aquamarine from the naked eye. Some topaz has a bubble in the center. When a gas bubble is in a topaz in can cause damage such as cracks to occur. It has a hardness of 7.

Citrine is the anniversary gemstone for the 17th year of marriage and November birthstone.

Citrine is said to help one connect with Spirit. Citrine is given as a symbol of hope, youth, health, and fidelity. Citrine is said to help one connect with Spirit. It can aid in connecting to ones inner guidance. This gem may also help ease depression and lethargy.

How to take care of Citrine:

Citrine can be easily scratched. Citrine gem stone often permenantly changes color if left in the sunlight for several hours.

Zircon

Zircon is a natural stone comes in: blue, yellow, orange, red, brown and green. Zircon is a natural stone often used to imitate diamonds. It is often confused with cubic zirconia which is a synthetic stone. Often Zircon is used as a replacement for diamonds. It was often used before diamonds became so popular. Currently, blue zircon is much more popular than white or clear zircon.
It has a hardness of 7.5.

Zircon is December birthstone.

Zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace with oneself. Zircon was believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor and riches. The lost of luster on a Zircon stone is said to warn of danger.

How to take care of Zircon:

Zircon is somewhat soft so avoid scratches and sharp blows. Avoid hot water and household chemicals.
Brown Zicon is usually heat treated to change them to colorless or blue Zircon. Blue stones that revert to brown will regain the blue if reheated. Blue Zircon reheated in the presence of oxygen will change to a golden yellow.