Birthstones of the Year

Experts believe that birthstones can be traced back to the Bible and it is believed to possess some magical force that could protect the wearer of the stone. These twelve stones were likely to be linked to the twelve signs of the zodiac. There have been many myths and legends associated with birthstones throughout history. Many cultures believed that birthstones have magical healing powers or bring good luck.

Giving someone a piece of jewellery with their birthstone is a touching and wonderful gift, be it a ring, a pendant or a bracelet, they are likely to treasure it forever because of its real meaning and significance. Today, most jewellers agree on a basic set of birthstones and therefore necklaces, rings and earrings made using birthstones are the most popular selling jewellery items today.

Let’s take a look through the birthstones used today based on their month.

January – Garnet, deep red in colour similar to pomegranate seed and shape are long-lasting durable gems. This fine-looking stone studded to any piece of jewellery will tone with any skin colour. Besides who doesn’t like to wear garnet gemstones which are believed to bring in good fortune?

February- Amethyst stone is considered to have powers such as courage, overcoming addiction and healing properties. The price tag on amethyst jewellery is based solely on its colour, deep and medium purple is of the highest quality. But because these gemstones are found in generous amounts, all the more reasons why you should consider having amethyst jewellery without burning your wallet.

March- Aquamarine, one of the earth’s splendid creations. Known for its healing properties coupled with love and affection, people born in the month of March have this gemstone embedded in earrings, rings and even pendants.

April- April gemstone is the famous 'Girl's Best Friend', Diamond. Even though this is considered a gemstone, it is not a mineral. For centuries diamonds remained the enduring symbol of love. They are not cheap and a one-carat ring can cost you between 10 to 15 thousand dollars. Look for jewellery with many small-sized (10-30) diamonds and sometimes they look better than a ring with a big stone. A ring with multiple stones with a total of half carat diamond for $1500 is a great bargain.

May – Emerald, speaks of faithfulness, health and love. These eye-catching stone not only sparkles but also seem to glow. Emerald jewellery is an ideal gift idea for celebrating the 20th and 50th  years of marriage, weddings or even at a birth celebration of a newborn.

June – Pearls, this gem is known for its elements of modesty and happy and successful marriages.

July- Ruby, ravishing and spectacular beauty is a well-known token of peace and harmony. It is said that ruby jewellery owners may attract good friends and luck.

August – Peridot, this pretty lime green stone is worn for protection against evil and terrors. So how much money are you going to spend on peridot jewellery, it's crucial to watch the colour of the stone, darker green is more valuable and hence expensive. What’s more interesting, famous celebrities like Halle Berry, Madonna and Roger Federer have peridot birthstones.

September- Sapphire, a lavish and luxurious gemstone is believed to bring faith and purity, it is also deemed that the stronger the sparkle on the gem, the more honest and faithful the wearer is.

October – Opals are the traditional birthstones for October, create memories for your loved ones on special occasions.  The different colours seen on these gemstones are from what are called silica spheres and represent innocence, creativity and confidence.

November – Topaz, the liveliness and beauty of these gemstones make them ideal to be used on jewellery. The clarity and the size of the gemstone are what conclude the price and are implanted onto a ring, pendant or earrings with sterling silver or white gold base to compliment it. Topaz is believed to strengthen and heal the mind and body.

December – Turquoise, symbolizes a happy life filled with good fortune and success and interestingly the changing colour of the gemstone denotes the age cycle of the wearer from birth to death.  The weight and quality measured by the hardness of the turquoise will help arrive at the price. If you are a trendsetter, this dainty coloured stone is ideal to be worn as a single piece.