Birthstone jewellery is available in a number of types including fashion, contemporary, and handmade jewellery to name but a few. It is possible to purchase the handmade jewellery in genuine gemstone, faux stones, or as a corresponding coloured stone such as glass . There are a number of ways of classifying birthstones including mystical, traditional or zodiac. The most frequently used definition today is modern. This list was created circa 1912 . The purpose was to standardize birthstones into one generic list. For those looking for a personal present of birthstone jewellery perhaps a piece of handmade jewellery from our handmade jewellery collection would be perfect !

The modern list of birthstones is as follows:

January
January’s birthstone is the Garnet. Garnet can vary in colour from very dark red, violet red, rose red or a reddish orange this can depend on the gems chemical composition. Used as an enhancement for jewellery since Anglo Saxon times, the garnet is still much loved. Garnet is associated with purity, honesty, faithfulness and friendship, expanding awareness, bringing out a passion for life, commitment, regeneration, personal insight and helping to increase self esteem and remove negativity.

February
Amethyst is February’s birthstone. Amethyst is a member of the quartz family. It is considered to be the most valuable stone within the group. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale , Amethyst has long been a favourite because of dependability for constant use as a stone for jewellery. Amethyst is prized for its beautiful colour shades of violet, mauve, lilac through to a deep dark purple. Believed to assist psychic opening, creativity, courage, intuition, increasing self esteem. Deemed to aid insomnia, headaches and over-indulgence in alcohol.

Aquamarine
March’s birthstone is the Aquamarine. Derived from the Latin words for sea water Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family that when it is faceted will show clarity and brightness. The colour ranges from palest blue, to greenish blue to colourless. Believed by the Romans to aid or cure diseases of the liver, throat and stomach. Aquamarine is considered to help give direction in life, raise depressed spirits and as an aid to spitiual visions. Believed to purify, cleanse and extend psychic powers, Aquamarine is also recommended to provide protection at sea.

April
Diamond is April’s birthstone. Purity, durability and sparkle make diamond especially valued as a gemstone. As a 10 on the Mohs scale, Diamond is the hardest of gemstones. Diamonds are found in various sizes and colours including brown, yellow, black, green, pink. Diamond is not attributed with any specific healing properties. However, it is believed to enhance the energy of other gemstones. Diamonds are considered to be the ultimate symbol of innocence and constancy. Diamonds have been prized for centuries by kings and queens and consequently are included in the Crown jewels of a number of countries. The main modern use of diamonds in jewellery is as a gem in engagement rings.

May
Mays birthstone, the emerald is a member of the Beryl gemstone family. It derives its stunning green colour from the presence of vandium. Emeralds are rarely flawless but have been mined for millennia. Historically emeralds would have been mined from Cleopatra’s mines in Egypt. Venus, the goddess of loves sacred stone is believed to be the emerald. It has long been associated with hope and prophecy and the power to preserve love.The emerald is attributed with the ability to soothe a mind in turmoil. The emerald is said to endow its wearer with reason and wisdom. The power of the emerald is said to be at its height in spring.

June
June’s birthstone, the pearl, is not a stone at all. Pearl is one of the organic materials used in jewellery. Pearls come in many colours and shade from the purist of white to the deepest black. Pearls are highly valued for their lustre, colour and size. Pearls have long been associated with the moon. Eastern cultures believe the pearl is a symbol of purity and spiritual transformation. Wearing a pearl is believed to endow the wearer with honesty, purity, and wisdom.

Ruby
Julys birthstone is the ruby. It comes in beautiful shades of pink and fuchsia though historically it was the blood red colour that was prized. Associated with numerous astral signs, the ruby is believed to be one of, if not the, most powerful gem. The ruby is believed to bring peace and contentment to its wearer. The ruby is attributed with warding off nightmares It is a symbol of vitality, royalty and passion. Ruby is believed to give the wearer self-confidence and a sense of adventure, and will banish the wearer’s long held fears.

Peridot
Augusts birthstone is the vibrant green peridot which comes in shades from olive to apple. For 3500 years peridot was known to the ancient world but it was only recently in mans history that the Crusaders introduced it into Europe in the Middle Ages. Peridot is believed to be a gift of Mother Nature or of the sun. Credited with the power to allow the wearer to expand inner vision, the peridot will also help to attune to the spirit of the sun and to see into the future. Believed to hold the power to unburden the wearer of jealous thoughts and to frustrate negative emotions, peridot is a stone of beauty and light. The peridot helps to release the wearer from past guilt and troubles and permits the release from relationships or ideas that are holding the wearer back.

September
September’s birthstone is the sapphire. It is a member of the corundum family. Highly prized for its elegant blue colour. Sapphire means blue in Greek. Found as black, purple, yellow and pink specimens, sapphire is considered to be the symbol of Saturn. Since the Middle Ages sapphire has symbolized the tranquillity of heaven and is attributed with bestowing peace and joy upon the wearer and preventing corrupt thoughts. During the Middle Ages there was a belief that sapphire could heal eye diseases and set prisoners free. Sapphire can reveal the wearer to the appreciation of beauty and bring serenity and harmony. Considered to be a stone of prosperity, sapphire is also believed to help the wearer to achieve their ambitions. Sapphire is believed to facilitate clarity and perception to be a symbol of heaven and rapturous devotion to God. It was commonly worn by royalty and as protection against poison and harm looked upon as a powerful talisman to counter the evil eye and to allow connection to the spirit world.

Opal
The birthstone of October is the opal. The name was derived from the Roman word ‘opalus’ the Latinised translation of an ancient Sanskrit word meaning precious stone and is valued for the colours flashing from within. Opals are beloved for the optical properties that cause vivid colours to flash within. The most prized and exceptional opal is black, other varieties of opal include gem quality precious white opal, fire opal and rose opal. The most familiar opal to us is the white opal. The Romans used opals as gemstones. A beautiful opal, called the ‘orphanus’, was believed to have been set in the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor. Opals are incorporated in many Crown and State jewellery collections. White opal is attributed with balancing the left and right sides of the brain, increasing mental capacities such as creative imagination and for stimulating white corpuscles in the blood. Opal is believed to symbolize faithfulness and confidence, hope and good luck.

Citrine
The citrine is the birthstone of November. Citrine is a yellow to brownish quartz. The lightest and most valued of yellow coloured citrine is found in a small number of places in the world resulting in much of the citrine found in the market is in fact heat treated pale amethyst or in a few cases smoky quartz. Citrine is said to symbolize light heartedness, joy, happiness, wisdom and peace. Citrine is considered to have beneficial healing abilities and is of help in relieving depressed feelings and digestive symptoms as it is believed to be cleansing and purifying and can help to eliminate poisons that have built up in the system. Citrine is credited as an enhancer of creativity and motivation particularly for writers, bringing emotions under control and to increase self esteem.

Topaz
December’s birthstone is the topaz. Topaz is found in a range of colours from deep yellow to pink and blue to green. Of most value is the deep yellow or pink. The name topaz is thought to be derived from an ancient Sanskrit word ‘tapas’ which means fire. Important as a gem for thousands of years, topaz is referred to in ancient texts of a number of cultures. In medieval times topaz was used to cure physical and mental complaints. Topaz is believed to be beneficial in balancing emotion, calming passions, releasing tension and bringing feelings of joy to the wearer. Believed to be a spiritually rejuvenating stone, topaz is said to help to develop psychic abilities and give glimpses of the beyond.

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