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Gems of Life: Exploring the Meaning Behind Birthstones

Birthstones are very popular gifts. Giving someone a piece of jewelry with their birthstone makes it all the more personal and sentimental. 

In the modern tradition, each month is represented by 1 to 3 gemstones. Today we will learn about the 12 most commonly known stones. Every gem has its own interesting history behind it.

Birthstones are set on all types of jewelry. Whether the stone is set in a ring, a pair of earrings, a bracelet or a necklace, it allows the wearer to celebrate their special day every day of the year. 

The official birthstone chart was created by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912.

JANUARY 

The official birthstone for January is the Garnet. The color of a Garnet is deep red. The name originated from a 14th-century middle-English word meaning dark red.

What Do Garnets Represent?

Garnets are said to bring peace and prosperity to a community and good health to a home. They are stones are said to bring positive energy to those who wear them.

FEBRUARY 

The Amethyst is February's birthstone. The stone is purple in color. Amethyst comes from the Greek word amethystos and is the name given to a specific variety of violet quartz.

What Do Amethysts Represent?

The Amethyst is said to represent peace, courage and stability. Wearing it is supposed to quicken intelligence and rid the wearer of evil thoughts.

MARCH

March's birthstone is Aquamarine.

 Aquamarine is blue or blue green. The name comes from the Latin word aqua marinus, which means water of the sea. 

What do Aquamarines represent? 

They represent communication, calmness and promote clarity. 

APRIL

Diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April. Most are colorless. There are also colored diamonds that are called fancy diamonds. Some of the colors that fancy diamonds come in are green, black, blue & yellow also called a Canary diamond. 

The word diamond originates from the Greek word adamas, which means invincible.

What do Diamonds represent? 

Since diamonds are one of the hardest materials on earth, it symbolizes strength and courage. It is also a symbol for everlasting love and is traditionally given as an engagement ring. 

MAY

May's birthstone is the Emerald. Emeralds are a green gem. 

The word Emerald originates from the Greek word smaragdus, which means green stone. 

What do Emeralds represent? 

 The Emerald symbolizes love and abundance. Ancient Greeks believed that emeralds would protect them from unfaithfulness, and thought the stone would always shine green as long as their partners were faithful.

JUNE

Pearl is the primary June birthstone. Pearls come in the following colors: White or Cream, Blue, Black, Pink & Brown.

What does the Pearl represent? 

Each color pearl has a different meaning:

Blue = Love 

Black = Prosperity

Pink = Good Fortune

Brown = Harmony and Practicality

White = Beauty, Purity, Innocence and New Beginnings

JULY

Ruby is the gemstone of July. The colors range from bright red color to a pink tone. The word Ruby comes from the Latin word Ruber, which means red.

What do Rubies represent? 

Rubies represent courage, energy and passion. They are the symbol for powerful feelings and are said to promote self-confidence. In modern times, the ruby mostly represents passion and love.

AUGUST 

Peridot is the primary August birthstone. It is known for its distinctive bright green color. Peridot comes from the Arabic “faridat,” which means gem.

What does Peridot represent? 

Peridot represents strength and bravery. It is also believed to bring purity and health to its owner.

SEPTEMBER 

Sapphires rang from a bright blue to a dark blue color. Its name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, which probably referred to Lapis Lazuli.

What do Sapphires represent?

 Sapphires represent royalty, wisdom and protection from harm and evil. They are said to eliminate nerves, providing you with a clear mind to make important decisions.

OCTOBER 

Opal is the stone associated with October. The name Opal can be traced back to the Greek word opallios, meaning to see a change in color.

What do Opals represent? 

The Opal represents confidence and faithfulness. The stones have also been worn to keep away evil and protect eyesight.

NOVEMBER 

 Topaz is November birthstone. It comes in many colors including yellow. The color for November's birthstone is golden yellow. Most agree that the name Topaz comes from Topazios, the old Greek name for a small island in the Red Sea, now called Zabargad.

What does Topaz represent? 

Topaz represents love and affection. It is said to be the bringer of abundance, granting the wearer a happy and fulfilled life.

DECEMBER 

December’s birthstone is the Blue Zircon. As the name implies, the color is blue, actually more greenish blue. It is due to heat treating. Many scholars think the stone’s name comes from the Arabic word zarkun, meaning cinnabar or vermilion. Others believe it comes from the Persian word zargun, or gold colored. Zircon has a wide color range, so either seems possible.

What Does Zircon Represent?

Zircon is a grounding stone, used to balance the wearers dreams with reality. In addition, zircon is said to ward off negative energy and invite happiness into the wearer’s life.


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Until next time,

Lori

Mon Petit Bijou

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