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 | GARNET - The Birthstone for January "Let January's maiden be
All Garnet gemmed with Constancy."
Source Unknown
GARNET
The Birthstone for January
Garnets are most commonly red but also brown, orange and green varieties exist. Often they are found in conjunction with diamond and come from South Africa, Brazil and Sri Lanka.
Derived from the Latin word Garnet refers to a possible resemblance to the seeds of the pomegranite. Fine stones have an unblemished transparency and glow like a smouldering fire. Indeed there is a legend that Noah used a garnet to light the Ark!
During the Middle Ages Garnets were thought to be a remedy against fever and illness and in India too it was thought to have preventative powers, worn as an amulet to protect against plague and lightening.
The qualities associated with Garnet include friendship and power as well as happiness and success due to constancy in the case of marriage.
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 | AMETHYST - The Birthstone for February "In fitful February, it's a verity
That the Amethyst denotes Sincerity."
Source Unknown
AMETHYST
The Birthstone for February
Amethyst is the lilac to purple variety of quartz. It is found in Sri Lanka, South America and the USA.
Mythology has it that the amethyst inspires a love of fairness, a sense of duty and a devotion to high ideals. Hence for hundreds of years it has been used in ecclesiastical rings and is still worn by Bishops. Likewise it is a stone of royalty in England being first worn by Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century.
Amethyst was said to be Saint Valentine's favourite stone, his ring being engraved with a cupid. Hence amethyst became a popular token for lovers. The name amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "not drunken".
The qualities of amethyst are said to be serenity & authority.
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 | AQUAMARINE - The Birthstone for March "But oh what shall a March maid do?
Wear an Aquamarine Brave and True."
Source Unknown
AQUAMARINE
The Birthstone for March
The literal interpretation of aquamarine is "sea-water", descriptive of its soft sea-blue or green colour. It is a variety of beryl and comes from Russia, Brazil, USA and Burma.
The spirit of hope and the promise of better things to come are the ancient associations with its mystic powers. It is also known as the stone of eternal youth and is regarded as a lucky gem.
In the Middle Ages it was known as the "magic mirror" and was used for telling fortunes and answering questions about the future. Aquamarine was also worn as an amulet to guard against harm and gained a reputation as the "stone of safety".
Aquamarine has the qualities of happiness, everlasting love and courage attributed to it.
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 | DIAMOND - The Birthstone for April "The April girl has a brave defence
The Diamond guards her Innocence."
Source Unknown
DIAMOND
The Birthstone of April
The diamond is a cubic system crystal of pure carbon. It is found in India, Brazil, South Africa, Canada & Russia. Diamonds are unique as they are the hardest natural substance known to man and exhibit remarkable transparency.
Diamonds were known to early civilisations and the term adamantine is used to describe their unique brilliant lustre. This is derived from the Greek word "adamas" meaning unconquerable, from which diamond also takes its name.
In the Middle Ages diamond was thought to be a protection against the plague. Apparently Queen Elizabeth I were one on her bosom to guard against infection. Diamonds have the legendary power of protecting the wearer against evil, especially when worn on the left side. This may well have been another reason when Maximnillian of Hapsburg became the first person to give his fiancee, Mary of Burgundy, a diamond engagement ring in 1477. Indeed there is the belief that a gift of a diamond "quickens the affection and restores love between husband and wife". |
 | EMERALD - The Birthstone for May "Sweet child of May, you'll taste the caress
Of Emerald's promised Happiness."
Source Unknown
EMERALD
The Birthstone for May
Emeralds are part of the beryl family of gemstones from Brazil, Columbia, India, South Africa and Russia. They are most frequently shaped as an "emerald cut" that is oblong with cut corners.
It is said that an emerald was on offer at the earliest known gem market in Babylon about 4000 years B.C. This emerald was dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love, because it was her favourite precious stone.
Emeralds have long been associated with eyesight and this could be why green is considered to be the most restful colour for eyes. Emperor Nero was believed to use a sliced emerald to lengthen his vision while watching gladiators in the arena!
Their qualities are said to be love & success.
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 | PEARL - The Birthstone for June "Pearls should bring joy to the girls of June,
For youthful Beauty is their special boon."
Source Unknown
PEARL
The Birthstone for June
Although pearls are organic, their structure is crystalline being made from layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin. These form the nacre secreted by oysters in response to an irritant such as sand. Cultured pearls come from oysters that are farmed and artificially stimulated to produce this nacre.
For years their origin was unknown and it was romantically suggested that pearls were the tears of angels, shed for the sins of mankind and preserved in the depths of the seas. Pearls were considered to be emblems of nobility in Roman times and Julius Caesar banned women below a certain rank from wearing them. In the Koran Moslems are told that the trees of paradise are hung with pearls.
The qualities associated with pearls are vitality, beauty and innocence.
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 | RUBY - The Birthstone for July "The Ruby stole a spark from heaven above
To bring the July maiden untold Love."
Source Unknown
RUBY
The Birthstone for July
Notable sources of ruby are Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Their colour can be a pale rose-red but the sought after colour is traditionally called "pigeon's blood" and is a fine even colour and transparency.
In the Middle Ages it was believed that the ruby could relieve pain as well as protect the wearer from drowning and cure rheumatism. The Hindus likened the glowing colour of rubies to an enduring fire.
A legendry ruby, the size of a man's hand, said to belong to the King of Siam in the thirteenth century, was thought to prolong youth. Each night and morning the king rubbed the priceless ruby over his face and neck. When he died, at the age of ninety, his complexion was like a young man's - unblemished and unwrinkled.
The ruby has been the traditional choice of kings and emperors for their Coronation rings. Among the Crown Jewels of France that survived the French Revolution are the celebrated rubies of the Royal Collection. These were redesigned and set with diamonds in 1816. The Black Princes Ruby in the English Crown Jewels is in fact actually a spinel, which is another beautiful red gemstone.
The qualities of ruby are said to be contentment, love and devotion.
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 | PERIDOT - The Birthstone for August "The August maiden so sweetly coy,
Wears a Peridot, the gem of Joy."
Source Unknown
PERIDOT
The Birthstone for August
The famed source for apple green stones is the Isle of St John in the Red Sea but also Sri Lanca, Norway and the USA. It is actually a magnesium iron silicate of the mineral species olivine.
The word peridot (pronounced with a silent "T") is derived from the Arabic "fadidat", which means precious stone. The ancients believed that peridot had the power to conquer timidity and could also strengthen the nerves of the wearer. The eleventh century philosopher, Marbodus, maintained that it should be set in gold, the metal of the sun, to cure the fear of the dark. Crusaders treasured these on their long periods away from home as they reinforced their faithfulness.
The qualities associated with peridot are gladness, serenity and trust.
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 | SAPPHIRE - The Birthstone for September "Out of the depths the Sapphires come,
For September’s child to have Wisdom."
Source Unknown
SAPPHIRE
The Birthstone for September
The best shade of sapphire is recognised to be cornflower blue although lighter ones are found in Sri Lanka and these can be very pretty. Pink and yellow sapphires also exist and these are often extremely beautiful gemstones. They are of the corundum family and are found from Burma to the USA, from Australia to Sri Lanka.
Sapphire is known as the gem of autumn and of the soul by representing its purity. It is believed to be the most spiritual of gemstones and is regarded as a powerful talisman of faith and good fortune.
In the Orient, kings would wear sapphire around their necks as defence from harm and it was thought that merely looking at this stone would bring good luck. The early Persians thought that the earth rested on a giant sapphire whose pale blue reflection could be seen in the sky. The Bible says that the throne of heaven was made of sapphires.
The qualities of sapphire are said to be charm and enduring love.
Sapphire Jewellery
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 | OPAL - The Birthstone for October "October's child in darkness oft may grope,
The iridescent Opal bids it Hope."
Source Unknown
OPAL
The Birthstone for October
The main source of opal is Australia with some of the finest specimens coming from Lightening Ridge. Another variety which is orange-red in colour is known as fire opal and is found in Mexico. These opals are usually faceted unlike Australian varieties such as white, water or black opals as these are most often cut "en cabochon" or domed.
The name opal is derived from the Latin "opalus" or precious stone and in Roman times it was thought to be lucky as its display of rainbow colours was regarded as a symbol of hope. It was also believed in ancient times that opal provided protection against poisoned food and in medieval Europe blondes thought that a pendant or necklace of opal helped preserve the natural colour of their hair. It was also thought that a touch on the forehead with an opal would promote a good memory.
The qualities associated with opal are hope, faith and good fortune.
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 | TOPAZ - The Birthstone for November "Born in November, happy is she
Whom the Topaz teaches Fidelity."
Source Unknown
TOPAZ
The Birthstone for November
Topaz is found in Brazil, Mexico, USA, Russia and Australia. Colours vary from deep sherry and yellow-gold to pale brown. Also pink, red and blue though the latter is virtually always heat treated.
The likely origin of the name topaz is derived from the old Sanskrit word "Tapas", meaning fire. In ancient times it was said to ward off epilepsy and asthma and if the stones were first steeped in water to make a drink, it was used as a cure for insomnia.
During the Middle Ages it was thought that if a topaz was put in a bowl of boiling water, it would instantly chill it. The opposite of this being ruby, which was thought to make it boil! The Roman Emperor, Hadrian, owned a ring set with Topaz inscribed with a prophecy guaranteeing the wearer good luck. Pink topaz was popular in early Victorian times when filigree was fashionable.
Oscar Wilde described the colours of Topaz as being "as yellow as the eyes of a tiger, pink as the eyes of a wood pigeon and green as the eyes of a cat".
The qualities of Topaz as said to be faithfulness, true friendship and loyalty.
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 | "December's child shall live to bless
The Turquoise that ensures Success."
Source Unknown
TURQUOISE
The Birthstone for December
Turquoise is a mineral substance containing aluminium together with some copper and iron. Egypt, Iran and the USA are the main sources but it is also found in South America and Russia. American turquoise tends to be a green colour and less sought after.
Turquoise is believed to be one of the earliest stones ever mined being first found on the Sinai Peninsula. It was worn as a jewel as far back as 3,000 BC in Egypt and was also prized by the lost civilisation in ancient Mexico.
It was regarded by the Turks and Tibetan horsemen as a talisman by saving the owner from broken bones or injury from a fall. The Persians claimed that the blue would overcome the ill-effects of the "evil eye" and even now in Iran camels, horses and mules will even have turquoise beads tied to their tails. It was also known as the lovers' stone by rejecting rivals and guaranteeing fidelity.
The qualities of Turquoise are prevention if ill-health and as a cure for depression as well as assuring prosperity and freedom from financial worry - jewellers please note!
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