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January-Garnet |
| Garnets comprise a group of differently colored minerals
with similar chemical composition. The name derives from Latin meaning
grain because of the rounded edges of the rough crystals. Although garnets
are usually thought of as red (such as seen in almandine and pyrope) they
come in other colors as well. |
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February-Amethyst |
| Amethyst is a variety of microcrystaline quartz (silicon dioxide). It has a hardness of 7 and is a very transparent gemstone. Amethyst quartz is layered with milky white quartz stripes and is opaque to translucent. Amethyst is the most highly valued stone in the quartz family and it is said to have many supernatural powers: it brings luck, ensures constancy, and protects against magic and home-sickness. |
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March-Aquamarine |
| Aquamarine, together with emerald and beryl, belongs to
the beryl group. It is a light blue to blue to blue-green variety of the
beryl group. |
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April- Diamond |
| The birthstone for April is Diamond. Its name refers to
its hardness. Diamond is generally acknowledged as the most precious of
gems. One reason for this is that it is the hardest known natural
material. This extreme hardness along with high luster and single
refractive quality gives the diamond its beauty. |
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May-Emerald |
| Emerald, together with aquamarine and beryl, belongs to the beryl group, being the most precious of the group. Its green is incomparable, and is therefore called "emerald green". The pigment responsible for this color is chrome, and sometimes vanadiuim. The color of these natural emeralds is very stable, and non fading. |
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June-Pearl |
| The Pearl is one of the only gemstones that is produced by a living creature. Although once plentiful in nature, most pearls now are cultured by man. This still involves the oyster doing its part but man inserts a nucleus into the oyster to spur the production of a pearl. |
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July-Ruby |
| Derived from the Latin "ruber" meaning "red", the ruby was thought to aid in romantic pursuits. It was also thought to bring the wearer vitality, wealth and wisdom. |
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August-Peridot |
| The name Peridot was coined by the French, but the root is from the Arabic word "faridat" meaning "gem". Due to its yellow green color it was know as the "gem of the sun". |
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September-Sapphire |
| Blue sapphire is the September birthstone; however, sapphire hues vary. They can be found colorless, orange (Padparadschah) or black, or in pastels - yellow, green, purple, light red. |
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October-Opals |
| Derived from an Indian word meaning "stone," opals are categorized in three groups: opalescent precious opals, yellow-red fire opals and common opals. Almost all opals used in jewelry are Australian precious opals and Mexican red fire opals. |
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November-Topaz |
| Precious Topaz or Imperial Topaz refers to the very finest yellow gemstones which are peach-orange and medium golden hue, while average mere topaz tends to be a progressively yellow and brown hue. When the color is sherry red, deep pink and reddish-orange the material is classified as Imperial Topaz by most Gemmologist. |
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December-Zicron |
| There are two types of zircons, which vary greatly in thier physical properties. Zircons with the highest values in optical properties and specific gravity are designated as normal or high zircon. Those with lower values are low zircon. |
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