Your Birthstone

A birthstone is a gemstone that represents a person's period of birth, which is usually the month or zodiac sign. Birthstones are a fun and personal way to wear meaningful jewellery. Perhaps have a ring or necklace with your significant other´s birthstone or that of your family member´s such as your children´s. Just another way to express your own unique style and add to your daily essential jewellery look.

Read about jewellery care and maintenance HERE.

Moh´s hardness: 6.5 - 7.5

The birthstone of January, the garnet, is a vibrant gemstone, named after the pomegranate fruit. It is a group of silicate mineral that can be found in a rainbow of colours from dark red, brown, green, blue, yellow, to orange. The deep pink purple variant is called rhodolite garnet.

In ancient times it was believed garnets formed the eyes of dragons. The Roman Caesar Tiberius had a ring in the form of a snake with a garnet
stone in its mouth. According to legends it is supposed to protect from evil and to give its wearer a sense of calm.

 

Moh´s hardness: 7

The birthstone of February, the amethyst, belongs to the quartz group and is recognized by its many shades of purple, from lilac to deep violet. The amethyst is a gemstone with a long and mysterious history. Amethysts can be found in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Siberia, and Uruguay.

The amethyst is believed to represent hope and strength, which is why, throughout history, heads of state and clergy have used amethysts as a sign of power.

Some of the most famous amethyst jewels include the Duchess of Windsor ́s amethyst and turquoise necklace, created by Cartier, as well as the Queen Silvia of Sweden ́s tiara, originally owned by the French Empress Josephine.

 

Moh´s hardness: 7.5 - 8

The birthstone of March - the aquamarine, is named after the Latin phrase “water of the sea”, referring to its sparkling ocean-like colour. Roman fishermen believed the gem would calm the waves and keep them safe at sea.

The aquamarine is a form of the mineral beryl that also includes other gemstones, such as emerald, morganite and heliodor.

According to a legend, the aquamarine enhances the happiness of marriages. Meghan Markle was gifted a 30-carat aquamarine ring by Prince Harry during their wedding. The cocktail ring belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana.

 

Moh´s hardness: 10

The birthstone of April, the diamond, is the hardest of all precious gemstones and a solid element of carbon. Its name derives from the Greek word "adamas", which means unconquerable and suggests its hardness.

Diamonds are formed 80 km below the earth’s crust in extreme conditions. Although known as colourless, diamonds can be found in green, yellow and the most expensive ones are pink and blue.

The largest cut diamond, known as the African Star, is 530 carats in size and is mounted in the head of the Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross, found at the Tower of London.

 

 

Moh´s hardness: 7.5 - 8

The birthstone of May, the emerald, is a symbol of rebirth and believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. It is the gem of the twentieth and thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries. The name emerald is derived from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus”.

From Egyptian pharaohs to Inca emperors, throughout history the emerald has enchanted the royals. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emeralds and used it in her royal adornments.

Since the great majority of natural emeralds contain filled fractures, they require special attention, as they can easily be damaged by exposure to heat and harsh chemicals.

 

Moh´s hardness: 2.5 - 4

Many myths and legends have grown around the origin of pearls. In ancient China, pearls were believed to protect from fire and dragons. Pearls are organic gems that form when an irritant works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam.

As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant, layer upon layer, until a lustrous pearl is formed. Pearls are soft organic gemstones and require special care.

They should not be stored alongside other sharp objects to prevent scratches and they should be kept away from perfume and hair products. The other birthstone for June is alexandrite.

 

Moh´s hardness: 9

The birthstone of July, the Ruby, is one of the most coveted gems. The name is derived from the Latin word “ruber”, meaning red. Burmese warriors would embed rubies into their skin, as they believed this gem signified strength and protection.

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, colored by the element chromium. All other colours of gem-quality corundum are called sapphire, which means colour is key for this royal gemstone. The ruby is associated with desire and power.

The largest mined ruby in the world is the 8500-carat Liberty Bell Ruby, found in east Africa in the 1950 ́s.

Moh´s hardness: 6.5 - 7

A glimmer of green like sunlight through the trees, the peridot is a green, ancient, and cosmic gem that has been found in volcanic lava in Hawaii, China, and Vietnam, and rarely, in meteorites that have fallen to Earth.

Associated with the sun, peridot has been praised since the earliest civilizations for its protective powers to drive away the forces of darkness.

The ancient Egyptians began to mine peridots around 1500 B.C on St. John ́s island in the Red Sea.

 

Moh´s hardness: 9

The birthstone of September, the sapphire, has been cherished for thousands of years. It is a very durable and versatile gem.

Although the term sapphire usually refers to the blue variety of corundum (ruby is the red variety), this birthstone comes in a kaleidoscope of colours, from the gold of a sunrise to the fiery reddish orange of a sunset, to the delicate violet of twilight.

The most famous sapphire is perhaps Princess Diana ́s royal blue sapphire engagement ring, worn today by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Traditionally a favourite stone of priests and kings, the sapphire symbolizes purity and wisdom.

 

Moh´s hardness: 7 - 7.5

The tourmaline has the widest range of colours of any gemstone in the gem kingdom, with virtually every colour represented, including black, bicolours and tricolours.

Egyptian legend maintains that during its formation, tourmaline passed over a rainbow as it made its journey from the Earth’s center, which led to it assuming the seven colors of the rainbow. Tourmaline has the ability to become magnetic under heat or pressure.

Tourmaline is believed to promote inspiration and happiness. The other birthstone of October is opal.

 

Moh´s hardness: 7

The citrine is the transparent, pale yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz. The stunning colour of the gem is due to iron impurities within its structure. The citrine is associated with the values of hope, cheerfulness, youth, and health.

Some of the oldest found citrines date back to 300 B.C. The name citrine is believed to derive from the French word “citron”, lemon.

In Bolivia, amethyst and citrine colours can occur together in the same crystal. These unique gems are called ametrine. The other birthstone of November is topaz.

 

Moh´s hardness: 6.5 - 7

The exclusive gem tanzanite can only be found in Tanzania, near the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. The unique conditions for the formation of tanzanite have made this gemstone rarer than diamonds.

Legend has it that this deep blue stone could develop intuition and spiritual power. The tanzanite is often described as “velvety,” mostly because of its deep and saturated colour, which ranges from a pure rich blue
to violet, with the blue considered most valuable.

The other birthstones of December are turquoise and zircon.