Articles about the information and facts of birthstone gemstones for each month. Interesting myths and lore that surround each birthstones gemstone. Submit birthstone related article.

Below is a list of articles with the most recent ones listed first.

Creative Ways To Use Topaz In Jewelry
by SWCreations

In today's touch economic times, most people don't  have the same budget that they used to have.  Not only have people had to cut back on the essential items, but the extra type items have definitely taken a back seat.  Items that have taken the backseat are things like jewelry and expensive accessories.  Well if you have noticed, handmade beaded jewelry is definitely in these days as most fashion magazines show a model or celebrity wearing it.

Beaded jewelry has really taken off because people are able to make it themselves and the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity and design.  Many people like to use their birthstone when making these types of bracelets and necklaces to give the... read more...

Let's Be Aware Of Birthstones By Month
Author: Sadie Hurst

BIRTHSTONES BY MONTH
A birthstone is a treasurable material that signifies the month that a person was born. It is thought that they hold powers and personality traits that are unique to the individual born under a certain zodiac sign.  Wearing your birthstone can pass on powers to your body and mind.  The twelve birthstones are:

1. January – Garnet Garnet is considered to bring purity, truth, faithfulness and friendship.     Garnets occur in many different colours except blue.  The gem is found in colours such as orange, green, purple, yellow, brown, black and even colourless.  Garnets enhance sexuality and sensuality.  It is successful for lung, blood, heart and infection consitions.  It is located in Africa, India and Uruguay.
2. February – Amethyst The amethyst is extremely beautiful and is believed to protect against evil spirits.  It extends from a pale lilac to a deep, bright violet colour and is said to... read more...
   
   

All About Emerald
Author: Bella Mclaine

Whether you'll find emerald rough, raw, or uncut but the true beauty of emerald will emerge out as a shining green star. Because of its unique and special color of green concerned with this gemstone, that made this gemstone earned tremendous fame, almost from all parts of the world. The gorgeous looking – emerald gemstone has been a favorite choice right times ancient times till date. Emerald is the birthstone for those who born in the month of May. Emerald is also known as ‘Nature or Mother Nature' stone due to its green color. If you're thinking that the comparative popularity of emerald is somewhat less than diamond, pearl, and ruby, sapphire or if any other gemstone then you is completely wrong. Emerald is a precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. The emerald is a ... read more...

Mystical Birthstones – Bloodstone and Jasper
Author: Imran ali

Among the mystical birthstones, bloodstone and jasper are associated with the months of February and October respectively. Both these gemstones are unique and beautiful. They have different healing powers and are also used in contemporary jewelry designs. Bloodstone is also known as green jasper but it comes with blood red spots or veins and hence the name bloodstone. It is not very expensive and therefore used in affordable jewelry articles including pendants, rings and earrings. This stone is particularly used in men’s rings in which it is combined with other gemstones to give an individual look. The beautiful green color looks lovely with gold, silver and platinum. 

Bloodstone is also considered a jewel of the month March in traditional and Ayurvedic astrology. As such it is believed to have certain healing powers associated with it like it cures... read more...

Aquamarine – March's Gemstone of Ocean Dreams
Author: Sarah Stephens

Aquamarine is a semi-precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. It is most often found in shades of clear ocean blue, and is widely recognized as the March Birthstone and the gemstone for the 18th anniversary. But beyond its modern-day uses and associations, aquamarine holds a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that adds nostalgic value to its already strong aesthetic worth. Read on for more information that will help you fall in love with your aquamarine jewelry – or inspire you to buy some today!

The beautiful Aquamarine is semi-precious, a light greenish blue to a vibrant blue variety of the species beryl, which makes it a relative of... read more...

December Birthstone – The traditional birthstone for December
by Rita Mae Badrina

The zircon is a type of mineral that belongs to the family of nesosilicates. Zirconium silicate is the chemical name and Green, brown, red, golden yellow, and colorless are the natural color of Zircon. The Matura diamond are colorless minerals that has the gem quality and are very popular as a substitute for a diamond. They are not be confused with the cubic zirconia which is a synthetic mineral with a totally different chemical composition.

Zircon came from the Arabic word zarqun which means vermilion, the persian word zargun which means golden colored. The yellow zircon is commonly called the hyacinth which is a... read more...

Topaz or Diamond?
Information and Legends associated with Topaz, November’s Birthstone
by Lisa Vella

Topaz is a gorgeous gemstone found in a wide range of colors.  Striking shades of red, orange, peach, pink and gold are just a few shades of interest.  However, yellow topaz is the official birthstone for the month of November.  Commonly used as the suggested anniversary gemstone for the 4th, 19th, and 23rd years of marriage, this lovely stone has actually been quite famous throughout history.

The word topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire. Typically, gem connoisseurs mine it from sources in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Russia, Australia, Africa, Mexico and Pakistan.  The method most often used is surface mining or... read more...

Sapphire—A Gem Fit for Royalty
written for SWCreations by Lisa Vella

For centuries, sapphires have made their mark in the history of our world.  SWCreations Sapphire Birthstone ArticleUnderstandably so—they are beautiful and unique gemstones that come in many different varieties.  In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers recognized sapphire for its wonderful qualities and named it as the official birthstone for the month of September.  It is the designated gem given for the 5th, 23rd, and 45th wedding anniversaries and if a couple is blessed enough to make it to their 65th anniversary, the unique star sapphire is often given.

The sapphire is actually a gemstone that belongs in the corundum family.  Corundum is a pure aluminum oxide mineral which is... read more...

August - Birthstone - Cleopatra’s Favorite Gemstone
by Lisa Vella

Perhaps gemstones are one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given in this world.  For thousands of years, they have brought beauty and joy into our lives, and most have interesting folklore and legends associated with them.  The August gemstone, Peridot, is often given to celebrate the 16^th wedding anniversary, and is not lacking in either beauty or folklore.

Peridot is a variation of olivine, a mineral composed of magnesium and iron silicate.  It is found in many shades of yellow-green.   A gemstone of many names, it was originally called topaz.  In the 18^th century, the French renamed it peridot... read more...

Ruby - July's Gemstone of Hot and Spicy Fun
by Sarah Stephens

Ruby is a semi-precious gemstone frequently incorporated into some of the most modern, beautiful handmade jewelry in the world. It is most often found in shades of opaque or translucent red, and is widely recognized as the July Birthstone as well as the gemstone for the 15th and 40th anniversaries. But beyond its modern-day uses and associations, ruby holds a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that adds nostalgic value to its already strong aesthetic worth. Read on for more information that will help you fall in love with your ruby jewelry – or inspire you to buy some today!

Ruby is a variety of the species Corundum, and is one of the most sought-after precious colored gems... read more...

Pearls: Classic and Stylish
by Linda Blatchford

Pearls are June Birthstones: along with Pearl, Moonstone (Traditional: Alexandrite).

There is so much history about pearls that five (5) months claim them as their birthstone: February, April, June (traditional), July and November.

Pearls are an astral stone for the signs Gemini and Cancer are linked to the moon. Pearls have been called the “teardrops of the moon”. Some believe that pearls were formed by the passage of angels through the clouds of heaven.

Spiritual Benefits of wearing pearls:

    * Stimulates spiritual transformation
    * Promotes prosperity and success
    * Encloses you with an aura of calm and beauty
    * Helps with stomach, digestion and emotional stress
    * Amplifies focus, meditation skills and wisdom
    * Helps balance the solar plexus chakra

Over time, the pearl has become the symbol of purity and innocence and it is ofte... read more...

Facts About the April Birthstone
Diamond History, Origin and Powers
by Melody Jones

Diamond is the April birthstone. Known as one of the hardest substances on earth, diamonds are thought to be billions of years old. The word diamond derives from an ancient Greek word, "adamas", meaning invincible.

Arguably the most prized of all crystals, diamonds come in a range of colors: clear, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and black.
 
Color depends on the kind of impurities present. Blue ones have traces of boron, and yellow diamonds have minute amounts of nitrogen.

April Birthstone: Origin of Birthstones

How certain stones came to be connected to specific months is cloudy. Some speculate the birthstone originates from Biblical times when a priest's breastplate was adorned with... read more...

Aquamarine ~ One of Natures Most Beautiful Gemstones
by Lisa Coultrup 

The gemstone Aquamarine is a very old gemstone, known through out history. The name Aquamarine is Latin for Water of the Sea. The Romans believed that a figure of a frog carved into a Aquamarine it would facilitate friendship between enemies. In the Middle Ages people thought Aquamarine could help people overcome poisoning and even kindle . Sailors of Ancient times believed that if they had crystals of Aquamarine with them on their ships that it would enable them to have a safe voyage. The sailors also believed that the bodies of Mermaids were made of Aquamarine. It is also said that the Aquamarine was kept in the Treasure Chest of the Mermaids. In 1609 Anselmus de Boodt used the term "Aquamarine" for the first time... read more...

An Amazing Purple Semi-precious Stone: the Amethyst
by Priyanka Arora

The term for the semi-precious stone Amethyst comes from the Greek word “Amethystos”, which means not drunken. This stone was actually believed by the Greeks of ancient times to prevent intoxication. It is also the birthstone for those people born in February.

The amethyst is a purple semi-precious stone, with its color ranging from a pale pinkish violet to a very deep purple. It is made from the chemical silicon dioxide. It has a vitreous luster and could be mined from alluvial deposits. The amethyst has a structure that is a trigonal crystal structure and has a hardness of 7 on the Moh’s scale.

This stone has several believed holistic benefits. It strengthens and improves the immune system and can... read more...

Turquoise Jewelry Marks December Birthstone In Style
by Melanie Spark

Turquoise is a semi-precious stone, which is commonly opaque (non-transparent) and features a sky-blue or greenish-blue color. Recognized as the birthstone for December, turquoise symbolizes prosperity, which means to succeed or flourish. Perhaps you choose to wear turquoise because of its relation to your birth month or maybe you enjoy wearing it as a reminder of your goals of success but, whatever the case, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy this popular gem.

Commonly used in the popular southwestern jewelry style, turquoise is a must have accessory for... read more...

The September Birthstone: Sapphire
by Priyanka Arora

Sapphire is the official September birthstone. It is just one of the birthstones and semi-precious stones that are assigned for several Zodiac signs which include Taurus, Pisces, Sagittarius and Virgo. Sapphire is also the gem that could be given for a 5th, 23rd as well as a 45th wedding anniversary and for a 65th wedding anniversary, a star sapphire should be given.

It is the second hardest of the natural minerals, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Although blue is the most common color for sapphires, they could come in nearly any color, which includes... read more...

The History and Significance of Birthstones
by Ron Peterson

For centuries, gemstones have played a significant role in the everyday lives of people. Today, birthstones are used to represent the birth month of individuals. Some believe that birthstones hold special powers for the wearer. Others just appreciate wearing a gemstone that represents the month in which they were born.

When did these gemstones first become associated with the months of the year? Historians think that the first written record comes from the book of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible. Here, the... read more...

August’s Birthstone: Peridot, the Evening Emerald
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

August's birthstone is peridot, a yellow-green gemstone that glows like a firefly on a hot, lazy night. In color, peridot can range from olive to cat-eye green. And unlike cool emerald, with its pine-forest overtones, peridot calls to mind warmer climes. Reminiscent of lemon wedges, watermelon rinds and pistachio ice cream, peridot seems to capture all the memories of summer as of it fades.

Though peridot is one of the more obscure birthstone gems and hasn’t recently been in favor with fashionistas and gem connoisseurs, it was once one of the most prized gemstones in the world.  A very old gemstone, peridot is one of the twelve on the breastplate of Aaron in the Bible.  But somewhere along the way, peridot became so... read more...

July’s Birthstone: Ruby Passions
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

July’s birthstone is ruby. Given that July is a month dedicated to Julius Caesar—a dictator who died in a pool of his own blood--the red gemstone seems somehow appropriate. But then, July has always been a month for red hot passions, whether murderous rages or ardent love affairs. In that respect, with its own internal fire, ruby is the ideal birthstone for the hottest month of the year.

Because ruby represents such fiery human passions, it’s a common alternative to diamond for engagement rings. This might also be because ruby is the red variety of... read more...

June’s Birthstone: The Ethereal Pearl
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

Pearl is June’s birthstone, lending its ethereal beauty to the traditional month for weddings. Since ancient times, when the month was dedicated to the Roman Goddess of marriage, it has been considered good luck to take marriage vows beneath June’s sunny skies. Even today, one cannot imagine June without conjuring images of brides in lace and, of course, pearls.

Pearls glow with an iridescent luster and represent both purity of heart and mystery of spirit. Purity for its spiritual iridescence, mystery because the ancients didn’t know where pearls came from. The Greeks hypothesized that pearls were the hardened teardrops of Aphrodite, born of the sea. The Chinese suspected that pearls were... read more...

May’s Birthstone: Enduring Emerald
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

May’s birthstone is emerald, a green gemstone that heralds the lush landscape of spring. May is a month in which flowers blossom, grass unfolds, and everything seems new again. Emerald is a stone that capture’s all spring’s verdant splendor, ranging in color between a bluish jungle green to chartreuse. The stone and the month are a perfect pairing.

Yet, for all of its exotic allure, emerald stones are simply a green variety of beryl. Aquamarine, another type of colored beryl, is the sister stone to May’s birthstone. But unlike aquamarine, emeralds are notorious for their flaws.

Though emerald clocks in at a respectable 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, its frequent flaws and inclusions make it... read more...

April’s Birthstone: Diamond Showers and Spring Flowers
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

April showers bring May flowers, so what better birthstone than diamond to represent that glistening awakening? Like nourishing raindrops on a sunny day, clear diamonds cast dazzling rainbows whenever exposed to the sun.

In fact, it was once believed that diamonds were made by the very rainstorms which loosened them from their deposits and swept them into riverbeds. The ancients who found diamonds washed ashore likened them to the tears of the gods, fallen stars. Some even believed that diamond gemstones were the physical manifestation of lightning bolts.

Then as now, the classic white diamond represented clarity of thought, purity of heart, and the... read more...

March Birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

Aquamarine is March’s birthstone and its blue and green hues help usher in the springtime thaw. Greener aquamarine gemstones herald the arrival of Saint Patrick’s Day and springtime flowers while the bluer stones bring Easter Eggs to mind.

Aquamarine is both the color of sea and sky, and was always considered to be a traveler’s stone. Sailors in ancient times carved aquamarine into shapes honoring Neptune and slept with the gemstone beneath their pillows to see them home safely. Ancient Egyptians often put aquamarine beaded jewelry in their tombs to ensure a successful journey to the afterlife.

Aquamarine is closely related to emerald, but is itself a unique gemstone in that it almost never has... read more...

February’s Birthstone: The Romance of Amethyst
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

Amethyst is February's birthstone. Some might wonder whether amethyst’s rich violet hue is appropriate for a month associated with red roses and candy hearts. But as it happens, the legend of Saint Valentine says that he wore an amethyst ring carved in the shape of cupid. Amethyst beads, with their grape purple tints, have been associated with love, fertility and romance long before pink Hallmark Cards took February’s center stage.

In fact, before the legend of Saint Valentine and his amethyst ring, there was the legend of Cleopatra and hers. Though Egyptian pharaohs generally adorned their tombs with amethysts, Cleopatra wore... read more...

January Birthstones - Garnet and Auld Lang Syn
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

January’s birthstone is garnet, a stone with an inner fire that defies even the coldest winter days. And the month of January is filled with those. January is named for Janus, the two faced Roman God of beginnings, endings, gates and doors. This is because January pays tribute to the year just past and harbingers the journeys we’ll make into the New Year.

As we make those journeys, whether as trips or metaphorical resolutions, no more fitting birthstone could guide us than garnet. This is because ancient cultures like the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and even Sumerians used garnet beaded jewelry as... read more...

December Birthstone - Turquoise and Blue Topaz
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

Turquoise is December's birthstone, blue as a winter sky or a Christmas forest.These cool turquoise shades have endeared December’s birthstone to cultures from antiquity to today. Even though this opaque gemstone brings to mind the native tribes of the American Southwest, historically, the largest source of turquoise beaded jewelry was the Middle East.

Iran was the single greatest source of quality turquoise, and December’s birthstone was prized by the Egyptians as far back as the First Dynasty. Indeed, turquoise is a regal stone that has... read more...

November’s Citrine and Topaz - Sunny Disposition
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

With fallen leaves swirling on chill winds, November marks our last fond farewell to warmer days. As trees turn color and people get cozy with spiced cider, the gemstones for this month are bound to bring seasonal cheer. Citrine and yellow topaz are November’s birthstones, heralding the harvest with their warm and sunny hues.

Topaz is one of the oldest and most revered ornamental gemstones in the world. The ancient Egyptians believed that the bright and beautiful stones were glowing drops of light cast to... read more...

October's Birthstone: Spooky Tales of Pink Tourmaline
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

There are two October birthstones: opals and pink tourmaline. But while opals are more famous and certainly have their charm, pink tourmaline’s spooky qualities make it the perfect birthstone for the month in which we revel in ghost stories and the supernatural.

You see, pink tourmaline shares a unique quality with all tourmaline gemstones—it’s pyroelectric and piezoelectric. That means that when heated or put under pressure, tourmaline gemstones take on an electric charge and can actually pull things towards them. If you vigorously rub and warm up your pink tourmaline birthstone jewelry, it can “magically” attract nearby bits of paper and dust. It might even make the hairs on your arm stand on end!

But spooky action at a distance isn’t the only haunting quality of this October birthstone. Tourmaline jewelry can also... read more...

September Sapphires from Ancient Egypt to Today
written for SWCreations by Stephanie Dray

In Ancient Egypt, sapphires were associated with the wisdom of the all-seeing Eye of Horus, which makes this gemstone the perfect birthstone for the month of September. Then, as now, September was a month for celebrating learning and knowledge. During September’s autumnal equinox, when day and night are in balance, the ancient Egyptians celebrated the wisdom of Isis, who used her knowledge to resurrect her dead husband, Osiris. And since ancient sapphires were prized by the Egyptians for their eye-opening qualities, they have come down to us as the birthstone for September--the month that starts our academic year, and our own quest for wisdom.

But when the ancients talked about sapphires (derived from saphirus, the Latin term for ‘blue stones), they were almost certainly referring to lapis lazuli. Modern sapphires are... read more...

Tags: SWCreations Articles | Bead Articles | Beauty Articles | Birthstone Articles
Fashion Articles | Gemstone Articles | Jewelry Articles | Women Related Articles