What Is My Birthstone?
Each month of the year is represented by a stone that has significance to that month. The person wearing that stone is thought to gain through each stone different abilities and outcomes.
January – Garnet
For those born in the month of January, Garnet is your birthstone. Garnet has been around since the bronze age and derived its name from the Latin word for pomegranate, granatium as the seeds were thought to resemble garnets. Granat, the original name of the gem slowly transformed into the name garnet.
Garnets are believed to have soothing and healing abilities. The most common colour of a Garnet is shades of red, but they can be found in orange, green, pink, yellow and brown.
Mineral: Silica
Mohs Hardness Scale: 6.5-7.5
February – Amethyst
The birthstone for February is the Amethyst. Amethyst has been around since 2000 BC. Amethyst gemstones are one of the twelve gemstones that symbolise the 12 tribes of Israel.
Amethyst was thought to be one of the most precious gemstones in the world. On par with diamonds, until the discovery of large quantities of amethyst caused them to drop in value.
Thought to increase intellect and remove negative thoughts. Amethyst’s most desirable colour is a reddish purple to dark purple
Mineral: Quartz
Mohs Hardness Scale: 7
March – Aquamarine
Aquamarine is not only the birthstone for March but the gift given on the 19th Wedding Anniversary. The word Aqua Marina in Latin means “seawater” so was an obvious choice for the name of this beautiful aqua blue stone. It was used as a safeguard for Roman sailors as they believed it created calm waves and an abundance in catching fish.
Believed to proliferate the contentment of marriages. Most Aquamarines are a light greenish blue. The purer and more intense the blue colour the more valuable the stone.
Mineral: Beryl
Mohs Hardness Scale: 7.5 to 8.0
April – Diamond
Diamonds are known as the birthstone of April but also represent the 60th wedding anniversary. Diamonds were discovered in India around 4th century BC. The newest deposits of diamonds were formed 900 million years ago. Many of these diamonds were shipped along the Silk Road which connected India and China early on during the diamond trade.
Believed to give people longevity, vigour, beauty, and contentment
Mineral: Carbon
Mohs Hardness: 10
May – Emerald
The Emerald is the birthstone of May and the 20th Wedding Anniversary stone. It is believed to bring its wearer good fortune, rebirth and renewal.
Cleopatra was obsessed with emeralds and claimed possession for all emerald mines in Egypt.
The most sort after emerald is the one with a true deep green hue, but can range in shades of green from light to yellow or bluish tones.
Mineral: Beryl
Mohs Hardness: 7.5 to 8
June – Pearl
A pearl is the birthstone of June and also the symbol of the 30th wedding anniversary. As early as 2300 BCE, Pearls were given as gifts to Chinese royalty. In ancient Rome, pearls were renowned as the epitome of status symbols. Julius Caesar approved a law that only allowed people of the ruling classes to wear pearls in the 1st century BCE.
A pearl represents humility, chastity, and virtue.
Mineral: Calcium Carbonate
Mohs Hardness: 2.5-3.0
July – Ruby
The ruby is the birthstone of July and also the gift for a 15th or 40th wedding anniversary.
Ruby has been renowned as the most precious of the 12 stones created by God. It is considered the “King of Precious Stones” and symbolises affluence and aristocracy.
Europeans during medieval times thought that wearing rubies, allowed people to maintain good health, increase wealth, intuition, and have a successful love life.
Ruby is coveted for its rich, vibrant shade of red.
Mineral: Corundum
Mohs Hardness: 9
August – Peridot
The peridot is the gemstone that represents August. They were recognised by the Egyptians as the “gem of the sun”
The peridot is believed to bring wellbeing, rest, and peace to relationships by balancing the feelings and mind of an individual.
The bright green stone also has the uncanny capability to kindle expression and originality; it is also understood to bring contentment and optimism.
Mineral: Olivine
Mohs Hardness: 6.5 to 7
September – Sapphire
A sapphire is the birthstone of September and the gift for a 75th Wedding Anniversary. The celestial blue colour of this gemstone represents the dwelling place of a higher power and allows one to seek divine help and intuitive decision-making.
Sapphire was worn by the ancient Greeks when asking for guidance from the oracle. The Ancient Greeks associated sapphire with the God of Apollo. Buddhists thought that sapphire bestowed enlightenment spiritually. Hindus worship their gods with the use of sapphire in their rituals.
A sapphire represents authenticity and truthfulness
Mineral: Corundum
Mohs Hardness: 9
October – Tourmaline
If you were born in October your birthstone is the tourmaline.
The first tourmalines were found in northeastern Brazil in the state of Paraíba around the 1980s. Tourmalines became known as Paraíba tourmalines after the discovery in the local area.
A tourmaline is the gem of creativity
Mineral: Silica
Mohs Hardness: 7 to 7.5
November – Topaz
A Topaz is the birthstone of the month of November.
Many cultures have found meaning in the wearing of the topaz gemstone. Ancient Greeks believed the stone could give them great strength. In the Renaissance Period, it was believed that wearing topaz could break a spell that had been placed on you.
The most popular topaz colour today is blue but it is also highly sought after in yellowish to peach hues.
Topaz is renowned for Intuition, beauty, and longevity for the wearer.
Mineral: Silica
Mohs Hardness: 8
December – Tanzanite
Tanzanite is the birthstone of December. It was discovered in 1967 by a Masai tribesman as he came across a bundle of highly translucent, concentrated violet-to-blue gemstones eroding out of the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzanite is part of the zoisite family. Its radiant blue/violet colour gives tanzanite its own special character. Tanzanite is also trichroic meaning that in its raw form, it emanates three distinctive hues; blue, violet, and red.
A tanzanite aligns the heart and mind, it is thought to produce longevity and prosperity for its wearer.
Mineral: Zoisite
Mohs Hardness: 6 to 7
