Detailed Birthday Gemstone Facts For those of you requiring in depth information that goes beyond a simple list, please find below a comprehensive look at each of the gemstones associated with the months of the year. I hope this will satisfy the curiosity of most! Warning: Reads like a textbook because most of the information is from Gemstones: Their Origins January
Garnet Garnet is one of the largest families of gem stones and occurs in practically every color. Varieties include: Almandite (dark red, reddish orange, purplish red), Andradite which includes Demantoid (light to dark green), Grossularite which includes Tsavorite (intense green to yellowish green) and Hessonite (yellow-orange to reddish orange), Hydrogrossular (opaque green, often mistaken for jade), Pyrope (medium to dark red, reddish orange), Rhodalite (purplish red, reddish purple), Spessartite (yellowish orange, reddish orange), and Malaia (pinkish orange, reddish orange, yellowish orange and can exhibit color change). The red varieties are traditionally considered January’s birthstone. Garnet was believed to include healing powers as well as give strength and protection. It is also believed to relieve inflammations of the skin and regulate the heart and blood flow. Some believed wearing garnets would cure depression and warm the heart. Long ago garnets were exchanged between friends to insure that they would meet again. Hardness: 7 to 7.5
Toughness: Fair to Good
Sources: US, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Scotland, Switzerland, India, Pakistan February
Amethyst Amethyst is the purple shade of crystalline quartz. Quartz is probably the most abundant mineral in the Earth. Most Amethysts are found in alluvial deposits or in geodes. Amethyst geodes of all sizes and shapes are often purchased for home decoration. Amethyst can be found in small to very large sizes and various shades of purple. Some Amethyst is heated to produce Citrine and some stones end up as part Amethyst and part Citrine, referred to as Ametrine. Its name is derived from the Greek word “Amethustos” which means to prevent drunkenness. The Greeks often drank wine from Amethyst cups. In ancient times Amethyst symbolized a variety of virtues including piety and humility. Hardness: 7
Toughness: Good
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, US March
Aquamarine
Next to Emerald, Aquamarine is the most highly prized stone of the Beryl family. Color varieties of Beryl include: Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite (pink, rose, peach), Goshenite (colorless), Heliodor (yellow, golden yellow) and Red Beryl. Aquamarine’s color includes blue-green and shades of blue from pale to a rich deep hue. Its name is derived from the Latin “aqua” meaning water, and “marina” meaning of the sea. In ancient times the sea colored blue-green Beryls were the most desirable but today’s demands are for the deeper blues. As part of the fashioning process most Aquamarines are heated to intensify the blue color. Aquamarine was believed to give the wearer foresight, courage, and happiness, relieve anxiety and to increase intelligence and make one youthful. The largest Aquamarine crystal known to date was 520,000 carats found in Brazil in 1910. Though Aquamarines are found in India and Russia, the principal localities are Brazil and Africa. The deeper blue hues have typically been from Brazil, noted for producing some of the finest material in the world. South African Aquamarines were typically more blue-green though recently the deep blue hues in smaller carat sizes have been discovered there. Even so production of fine material is spotty at best. As a result truly fine aquamarines are seldom seen in most jewelry stores and often the finer material is only found in estate jewelry. Hardness: 7.5 to 8
Toughness: Good
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, US March Alternate Birthstone - Bloodstone April
Diamond “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!”… “A Diamond is forever!” Actually Diamond is the only gem made of a single element – pure carbon. Both graphite and coal are also essentially the same chemical composition as Diamond, however with different crystal structures. Though graphite is incredibly soft, Diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man. The remarkable properties of hardness, dispersion and brilliance influenced the belief that Diamond was a strong medicine imparting health, energy and long life if swallowed. I suspect that wasn’t exactly the result! Diamond is undoubtedly the best known gem. Its history is so long and complex that it’s true beginning is obscured in antiquity. Diamonds were traded in India as early as 400 BC. Indian superstitions were that Diamonds had the power to make a person invincible. The Greek philosopher Plato believed in this life force in gems and considered Diamond the noblest. During the Middle Ages it was believed that Diamonds reunited marriage partners as well as repelled phantoms and demons, and prevented nightmares. Diamonds also protected the wearer in battle by giving him courage, virtue and invincibility. The word Diamond is derived from the Greek “adamas” meaning unconquerable. As Diamond represented the eternity of love, the ring represented the circle life, happiness and love that has no beginning or end. During the fifteenth century the diamond ring became the traditional symbol for the betrothal of eternal lovers. To this day the Diamond is well established as THE gemstone representing the symbol of love and used for engagement. Hardness: 10
Toughness: Good in cleavage directions, Exceptional in all other directions.
Sources: South Africa, Russia, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Canada May
Emerald
Emerald belongs to the same family as Aquamarine, which is Beryl. Emerald is the most highly prized gem of the Beryl family. Fine material, which is a deep velvety green with no tinge of yellow or blue, and relatively free of inclusions, can cost thousands of dollars per carat. In fact, fine quality Emerald is one of the rarest and most valuable of all gems.
The majority of Emerald mined is often heavily included and brittle. It is common for finished stones to be treated and often oiled to fill fissures and enhance the appearance. Therefore Emeralds should not be steamed or cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Emerald mines were worked as early as 2000B.C., including Cleopatra’s Emerald mine near the Red Sea in Egypt. The best known locality for fine quality Emerald is Columbia, where the mines have been producing steadily for centuries. Emeralds are mined in other localities around the world including North Carolina though none of the material is as fine as the Colombian stones. Wearing an Emerald, according to legend, cured a wide range of ailments including low I.Q., poor eyesight, and infertility plus enabled the wearer to predict the future. Emerald has long been considered a symbol of immortality and faithfulness. Hardness: 7.5 to 8
Toughness: Poor to Good
Sources: Austria, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Russia, Norway, India, US June
Alexandrite Alexandrite is the very rare and valuable color change variety of the mineral Chrysoberyl. The most prized Alexandrite exhibits a distinct color change from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. This change can vary in intensity and color from a yellowish-green, grayish-green or bluish-green to an orangy-red, brownish-red or purple-red. The best Alexandrite has been found in Russia, though most of it has been mined out. Because natural Alexandrite is so expensive, there has been many imitations and synthetics produced and sold over the years. Synthetic Chrysoberyl as well as Synthetic Spinel and Synthetic Corundum have all been produced to imitate Alexandrite. Alexandrite was discovered in 1831, a fairly new discovery in comparison to Sapphires, Rubies and Diamonds. It is named after Alexander II of Russia. Alexandrite was believed to assist in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem and enhancing the ability to experience joy. Alexandrite is looked upon as a good omen in Russia. Hardness: 8.5
Toughness: Excellent
Sources: Russia, Brazil June Alternate Birthstone - Pearl July
Ruby Corundum is mined in all colors and called sapphire preceded by its color. For example: Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, White Sapphire, etc. The only exception is the red corundum known as Ruby. Ruby can be many shades of red including orangy-red, purplish red or brownish red. Once it becomes too pink it is really pink sapphire. Most Rubies are heat treated as part of the fashioning process in order to permanently improve their color and appearance. The ideal color is often referred to as blood red. Ruby, from the Latin word ruber meaning "red," is the red variety of the mineral corundum. Ruby is traditionally associated with passion, power and majesty; the ancients believed that a ruby thrown into a pot of water would cause it to boil immediately. Ruby is thought to attract and retain reciprocal love, and to bring success and good fortune to its wearer. Rubies have enjoyed a history of preeminence, often associated with royalty, power and wealth. When worn the Ruby is believed to discover poison, ward of illness and misfortune, and give the wearer invulnerability. Ruby was believed to be able to boil water. Today ruby is often associated with passion. Corundum was one of the earliest gemstones to be synthesized in a laboratory. Synthetic or man-made Ruby has been around for generations. It is often found in estate and antique jewelry from the very early 1900’s through today. Hardness: 9
Toughness: Excellent except in heavily included or fractured stones
Sources: Thailand, Burma, Africa, Australia, India, US August
Peridot Gem quality Peridot is part of the olivine group. It is transparent to translucent and shades of yellowish green to greenish yellow and even brownish green. Most of the material seen in stores today is the more pale yellow green color. Fine quality crystals with few inclusions with a deeper, almost emerald green color are quite rare. Cleopatra’s famed emeralds mined on an island in the Red Sea may really have been Peridot. It has been mined in The Red Sea for over 3500 years and was imported to Europe by The Crusaders in the Middle Ages. Egyptians considered Peridot the gem of the sun. Peridot is believed to the wearer good luck, peace, and success, good health, protection, and sleep. Additionally Peridot was thought to attract love and calm anger, soothe nerves and cure negative emotions. Miners were said to work in the moonlight as it made the Peridot crystals easier to see. Legend even portrays these crystals as glowing at night resulting in their use to ward off night terrors. Pirates believed Peridot kept them safe from evil. Hardness: 6.5 to 7
Toughness: Fair to Good
Sources: Australia, Brazil, China, Burma, Norway, Egypt, Mexico, US, and has been found in meteorites. August Alternate Birthstone - Sardonyx September
Sapphire All corundum not red in color is Sapphire. Sapphire is mined in all colors though blue is the color most associated with Sapphire and the color for September’s birthstone. A lot of the blue Sapphire on the market is a very dark blue and many jewelers will tell you this is the ideal color. That is incorrect. The very dark blue stones are just the opposite being the most undesirable, inexpensive stones. A more medium to lighter blue, with deep blue color saturation and a bright, vibrant light return is the most desirable and can command very high prices. Cornflower blue is the ideal color for the Ceylon or Kashmir sapphires.
As with ruby, Sapphire is normally heat treated to improve its color. Also, Sapphire was one of the earliest gemstones to be synthesized in a laboratory. It is often found in estate and antique jewelry from the very early 1900’s through today. The Persians believed the Earth rested on top of a Sapphire causing the blue color of the sky. Many believed the Ten Commandments were written on a Sapphire tablet. Sapphire was also believed to give its wearer tranquility, peace and amiability and suppress wicked, impure thoughts. Hardness: 9
Toughness: Excellent, except in fractured stones
Sources: Australia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Tanzania, US October
Opal Opal is a mineral with an amorphous structure with water content of 3% to 10% by weight and sometimes as high as 20%. As a result it can dry out and crack. It can by transparent to opaque in virtually any body color. Transparent Opal in a yellow, red, and orange to brown color is often referred to as Fire Opal. The more precious Opal will display a play of colors against a solid background. The most common is a white background with a blue, green and/or red play of colors throughout. The very desirable and often expensive Black Opal exhibits the play of colors against a black or dark blue background. Throughout history Opal was a gemstone symbolic of hope. In 1817, Sir Walter Scott published a book in which the Opal was used as a symbol of misfortune. As a result the gemstone lost its popularity for a time and was considered unlucky to its wearer. It regained favor when Queen Victoria presented her daughters with Opals as a wedding gift. Opal was prominent in both the Late Victorian era and Art Nouveau jewelry. Nevertheless there are still superstitious people today who feel that it is bad luck to wear an Opal unless it is your birthstone. Hardness: 5 to 6.5
Toughness: Very Poor to Fair
Sources: Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia, Honduras, Indonesia, Poland, Tanzania, US October Alternate Birthstone - Pink Tourmaline
November
Topaz
Topaz is yet another mineral that occurs naturally in various colors: Imperial Topaz is yellowish orange to orangy yellow with overtones of purplish red; Precious Topaz is the golden yellow variety lacking any red or pink overtones; Blue Topaz is various shades of blue as the name implies however this color is achieved by way of irradiation; Pink Topaz is the lighter tones of purplish red and red. The golden yellow Precious Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November. The name Topaz is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire. Topaz may be the gemstone with the widest range of healing powers. Among other things, Topaz has been said to cool tempers, restore sanity, cure asthma, relieve insomnia, and ward of sudden death. Hardness: 8
Toughness: Poor
Sources: Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Australia, Burma, Pakistan, Russia, Africa, US November
Citrine Citrine is the yellow, golden yellow and yellowish orange to brownish orange variety of quartz. Natural Citrine is often a pale yellow and rare. Most of the Citrine on the market is actually heat treated amethyst. Citrine has become the more common November birthstone most likely since it is considerably less expensive than precious topaz. Citrine has been marketed in the past as topaz both by mistake and by dishonest dealers. The name Citrine was most likely derived from the word citrus or citron, meaning lemon. There is very little lore related to citrine. As with many of the gemstones on this list it has been said to promote better health, specifically of the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles. Hardness: 7
Toughness: Good
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Japan, Mexico, South America, China, US December
Turquoise Turquoise is one of the first minerals known to have been mined and used in jewelry. Specimens have been found in excavations and the tombs of Pharaohs and Queens dating back to over 5000 years B.C. Native Americans have been using Turquoise in the manufacture of jewelry for several thousand years. It has been used in jewelry and adornments throughout history and across all cultures. Turquoise occurs mostly in shades of blue and greenish blue. It is often mottled, may show dark splotches and/or veins of matrix. The most expensive Turquoise and considered the finest quality is Persian Turquoise which has an intense even medium blue color, low porosity, high polish and no visible matrix. Turquoise has been believed to bring prosperity, good fortune and success to its wearer. In ancient times it was believed that the stone would change colors as a warning of imminent danger or illness. Hardness: 5 to 6
Toughness: Fine quality is fair to good, low quality material is poor and easily fractures
Sources: US, Australia, Chile, China, Iran, Mexico, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Egypt. December
Blue Topaz Blue Topaz refers to the various shades of blue as the name implies however this color is achieved by way of irradiation. In fact very little Blue topaz material has ever been found in nature. Much of the material mined is actually colorless. It is also found in very large crystals up to thousands of carats each. The Smithsonian was given the largest faceted gemstone known at the time in 1988, a golden yellow Topaz weighing 22,892.5 carats. Within one year it was surpassed by an even larger one and others have been discovered as well. The name Topaz is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire. Topaz may be the gemstone with the widest range of healing powers. Among other things, Topaz has been said to cool tempers, restore sanity, cure asthma, relieve insomnia, improve eyesight, cure insomnia, cure asthma, stop hemorrhaging and ward of sudden death. It has also been said to increase strength and make its wearer invisible. Hardness: 8
Toughness: Poor
Sources: Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Australia, Burma, Pakistan, Russia, US December Alternate Birthstones - Lapis Lazuli, Blue Zircon | 
