Birthstone Knowledge

May birthdays fall right in the heart of autumn. The emerald is the perfect gem to symbolise and celebrate this month.

Prized for its brilliant and beautiful green colour, the emerald is often favoured by the rich and famous to wear as statement pieces for big events. But this beautiful gem is just at home in an unassuming pendant as it is in an ornate tiara.

Emerald's name is derived from the Greek word smaragdus, meaning “green gem.”

For the lucky people with March birthdays, the birthstone associated with this early autumn month is aquamarine.

Tanzanite is the exquisite blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one part of the world. Named for its limited geographic origin in Tanzania, tanzanite has quickly risen to popularity since its relatively recent discovery.

The name Citrine, comes from the old French word ‘citrin’, meaning yellow.

Citrine is a rare, transparent, pale yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz. Due to its beautiful tawny colour, durability and affordability, it is the most popular yellow to orange gem. Historically, Citrines yellow to orange hue meant that it was often confused with Topaz.

For those fortunate to be born in April, their birthstone is the most prized gemstone of all. You probably already know of the diamond’s toughness. In fact, it’s the hardest gemstone and is made of just one element: carbon.

For individuals with February birthdays, the amethyst makes a perfect birthstone.

The word “garnet” comes from the 14th century Middle English word gernet, meaning “dark red.” The word is derived from Latin granatum, which means “seed,” and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to the beautifully red seeds of the pomegranate.

OPAL - The name “opal” originates from the Greek word opallios, which meant “to see a change in colour.” The Roman scholar Pliny used the word opalus when he wrote about this gemstone’s kaleidoscopic “play” of rainbow colours that could simulate shades of any stone.

Sapphires make stunning gifts for anyone born in September or celebrating a 5th or 45th wedding anniversary. 

The name “sapphire” comes from the Latin sapphirus and Greek sappheiros, meaning “blue stone,” though those words may have originally referred to lapis lazuli. Some believe it originated from the Sanskrit word sanipriya which meant “dear to Saturn.”

Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot once symbolized the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is also found inside meteorites.

Ruby, the king of precious gems, is the birthstone for fortunate folks born in July. Whether you're showing your love for someone born in July, or celebrating a 15th or 40th wedding anniversary, there's no better gift than ruby gemstone jewellery.

June’s birthstone, pearl, has long been a symbol of purity. The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were the hardened tears of joy from Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Moonstone is also the birthstone of June - a healing and captivating gem with its playful lighting. In India, moonstone is said to possess a spirit within that brings good fortune.