The
birthstone for this month is the garnet, which was once thought to be
connected with the blood. This stone is supposed to protect the wearer
from nightmares and offer guidance through the dark.
Garnets are
long lasting and durable gems, with a fiery, ravishing beauty. This is
type of gem that the wearer will treasure forever, no matter what item
of jewellery it is set into. Garnets are traditionally thought of as
deep red, but actually come in a wide range of colours, so there is
something to suit every taste for this month. To see my garnet jewelllery click here.
Alternative birthstones for January if you don't like garnet are Jasper and Ruby. You will find Jasper in the generla sections on the site eg Necklaces and Ruby here.
February
The
birthstone for this month is the amethyst, and the folklore attached to
this gem associates it with sobriety, tranquillity, protection and
peace. This birthstone as also been linked to improving the skin and
preventing baldness, as well as protection from deceit, so it has a lot
to live up to!
The amethyst birthstone comes in varying shades
of purple, and can be a pale lilac in colour. On the other end of the
scale, you can also get deep violet amethysts, which means that you can
enjoy a birthstone that is as subtle or as rich as you like. This
birthstone is very hardwearing, and its strength and durability will
ensure that it lasts for a very long time. To see my amethyst jewellery click here.
Alternative birthstones for February if you don't like Amethyst are Garnet and Sapphire. For garnet jewellery click here and for Sapphire here.
This
month's birthstone is aquamarine, which has been linked to the making
of new friends as well as affection and love, hope and health. This
stone was once also thought to protect those at sea.
As the name
of this birthstone suggests, it is a green-blue in colour and has a
rich, sparkling look. You can get aquamarine birthstones in a variety
of shapes and sizes, and you can also get this stone in varying shades
of green-blue. To see my aquamarine jewellery click here.
Alternative stones for March are Chalcedony and Amethyst. Click here for chalcedony jewellery and here for amethyst.
April
One
of the most popular gems throughout history, diamonds are the
birthstone for this month, and these stones are linked to love,
eternity and strength. This has contributed towards diamonds being the
most popular gems of all time when it comes to romance, so they are most commonly
used for
engagement rings, wedding bands and eternity rings.
Diamonds are very strong and
hardwearing, making them the perfect birthstone to wear on a daily
basis. You can enjoy many different cuts of this stone, and the fiery,
glamorous sparkle given off by diamonds is positively captivating. No link on this site for diamonds but the alternative stones are CZ (look here) ,Rock Crystal (look in the general sections as I usually have some in) and emerald, look here.
This
month's birthstone is the beautiful emerald, once linked to health and
the curing of ailments, as well as being associated with the ability to
see in to the future, giving them an almost bewitching, magical
reputation.
These fiery green gems are amazing to look at, and
can be found in a variety of shapes and cuts. The beauty and richness
of this stone makes it the perfect gem for birthstone jewellery, and is
something that the wearer can show off and take pride in for a long
time. To see my emerald jewellery click here.
Alternative birthstones for May are Sapphire , Chalcedony and Sardonyx, look in the general sections for sardonyx items.
June
The
elegant and subtle pearl is the birthstone for the month of June, and this gem has
been linked with chastity and modesty, making it something of an
angelic, pure birthstone. They are also linked to successful and happy
marriages.
These round, stunning birthstones come in a variety
of colours, and a range of sizes. Pearls can look spectacular yet
modest in all manner of jewellery from birthstone rings, to earrings
and necklaces, making them a perfect gift. To see my pearl jewellery click here.
The alternative stones for June are Sardonyx (see the general sections on the site). Agate and Emerald.
The
birthstone for this month is the ravishing ruby, a stone traditionally
linked with protection and harmony. This birthstone has been mined
since ancient times, and boasts a spectacular beauty.
Deep red
in colour, rubies are stunning birthstones that will liven up and
enhance any piece of jewellery. These gems have a unique, vivid and
fiery appearance that would delight anyone. To see my ruby jewellery click here.
Alternative stones for July birthdays are Chrysolite (see general sections ) Onyx (also general) and Emerald.
The
birthstone for the month of August is peridot, which was commonly
linked with protection against evil and night terrors, as well as a gem
that enhanced the properties of healing drugs.
Lime green in
colour, this birthstone is a by-product of volcanic action, and comes
in all sorts of shapes and sizes. This birthstone gives off its own
unique energy, and is strong and durable. To see my peridot jewellery look here.
The alternative birthstones for August are Beryl, Onyx and Carnelian ( for all these see the general sections eg, necklaces, earrings, bracelets).
September
Sumptuous
sapphire is the birthstone associated with September, and this gem has
been linked with faith and purity, as well as foresight. It was thought
that the stronger the sparkle of the gem, the more faithful and honest
the wearer.
These birthstones look stunning in all types of
jewellery, especially in white gold and platinum metal. However,
sapphires can come in other colours as well as blue. These are strong
and durable gems that will last for years to come, and can be passed
down to future generations. To see my sapphire jewellery click here.
The alternative birthstones for September are Topaz, Chrysolite and Carnelian both of which you find in the general sections.
October
The
birthstone of October is the opal, a stone that has been linked to
purity, hope and innocence. This gem has also been linked to healing
forces, friendship and emotion, so it has experienced its fair share of
folklore over the years.
This type of birthstone comes in white
or black, and both variations have remnants of other colours within
them. Opals have a unique look and beauty, making them a very
interesting birthstone with a strangely exquisite appearance. To see my opal jewellery click here.
Alternative stones to Opal are Chryophrase (see general sections) , Peridot and Aquamarine.
November
The
birthstone for this month is topaz, once linked with sanity, healing,
and life, as well as being connected to strength by the ancient Greeks.
This stone has even been linked to an ability to make the wearer
invisible in dangerous situations.
This birthstone comes in a
range of colours, all of which will enhance any jewel with a fiery
sparkle. Colours include golden, blue, pale green, pink and red, as
well as some other rare colours. A stunning gem, topaz boasts both
beauty and strength. To see my topaz jewelley click here.
Alternative stones for November are Bloodstone (green jasper dotted with red iron oxide),Topaz and Beryl.
December
The
given birthstone for December is turquoise, and this precious stone was
once linked to happiness, fortune and luck, making it a very popular
gem in centuries gone by.
Turquoise can range in colour from
mid-blue to a green-blue or light green colour, and this birthstone is
unusual and beautiful, making it a very distinctive and unusual
addition to any jewellery collection. To see my turquoise jewellery look here.
Alternatives stones for December are Amethyst, Topaz and Ruby