Trusted Jewelers in the Tampa Bay Area since 1980
The Basics About Birthstones
What are birthstones anyway?
Simply put, birthstones are gemstones that generally represent a person’s month of birth. The classification can get more complex, and there are also birthstones by day of birth (Monday to Sunday) and even by zodiac sign.
Historically, birthstones have been around forever, or at least the year 1 AC. Currently, the Jewelers of America association is in charge of the official birthstone list. The first official birthstone list was published in 1912 and it’s the one used today with very minor additions.
Why would you try out birthstones?
For us, it’s a great way to customize jewelry. Since it represents someone in particular, it’s a subtle option as a keepsake for yourself or as a gift. Birthstones are also useful to diversify your jewelry. We love diamonds, but there are plenty of other options when it comes to different gems and precious stones!
How to use birthstones in jewelry
Want to create a timeless piece? Birthstones are a great option to customize jewelry for yourself or a loved one. We love working with clients’ birthstones, so here are some of our fave project ideas.
Moi et toi birthstone ring
A classic, a moi et toi ring places two gems side by side. They represent the coming together of two souls, so they’re a favorite engagement ring. Originally, moi et toi rings have each of the partner’s birthstones or favorite gem. However, modern buyers have tweaked the classic. We’ve made custom moi et toi rings with gems based on personal preference, or even using two of the same gems to keep a minimalist look.
Birthstone halo accent
This is an easy way to create custom birthstone jewelry. A halo is a set of smaller stones surrounding a larger center one. Using birthstones as the smaller halo gems are a great way of adding extra spice to a
classic diamond ring. It can also make custom jewelry more affordable than if you were to add a full diamond halo.
As a unique replacement for classic stones
When updating heirloom jewelry or modifying vintage pieces, replacing gems with birthstones is a great choice. Many of our clients have used birthstones to customize heirloom jewelry, especially when the main gem has been lost or will be used in a new piece.
Create a custom wedding set
What is more romantic than showing your love through birthstones? In the same spirit of birthstone moi et toi rings, many couples choose to use each other’s birthstones as a wedding set to represent their love.
As a special Mother's Day gift
Custom birthstone jewelry is also the perfect way to symbolize motherly love. We’ve created beautiful pieces for mothers with the birthstones of each child. These are great as rings, but also bracelets or necklaces.
Birthstones by Month
Do you know which is your birthstone?
The original birthstone list was published in 1912 by the American Association of Jewelers. Nowadays, we still use that same list with some minor changes and additions. Here’s the full list:
January - Garnet
Description: Traditionally red, the name refers to the bright “pomegranate” color garnets naturally have. However, there’s a variety of colors including purple, orange, yellow and green.
Meaning: Health, love and passion. Ancient Romans believed garnets protected travelers from danger.
February - Amethyst
Description: A quartz gem, amethyst tends to be violet and purple. It’s very translucent and has a bright sparkle.
Meaning: Peace and serenity. Also linked to a stronger spiritual connection.
March - Aquamarine and bloodstone
Description: Aquamarine is a pale blue gem, sister to emeralds. Bloodstones, in contrast, tend to be green with delicate red speckles.
Meaning: Aquamarine represents happiness, hope and protection. Bloodstone is said to be calming and used to increase courage.
April - Diamond
Description: The hardest of all minerals, diamonds are translucent and bright.
Meaning: Unity, love and purity. They are said to amplify energy and bring wisdom.
May - Emerald
Description: Bright green stone.
Meaning: Positivity and love. It has also been linked to abundance.
June - Pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite
Description: Pearls are a grain of sand covered in nacre. Moonstones resemble a moon because of its iridescence and milky color.
Meaning: Pearls symbolize faith, innocence and integrity. Moonstones are meant to help balance emotion and bring creativity. Alexandrite symbolizes joy, balance and peace.
July - Ruby
Description: Pinkish to deep red, very bright.
Meaning: Protection and friendship.
August - Peridot and spinel
Description: Peridot is a yellow-green stone, while spinel tends to be red and similar to rubies.
Meaning: Both of these stones symbolize protection. Spinel is linked to restoration, while peridot symbolizes light.
September - Sapphire
Description: Deep blue to pale baby blue. Very shiny.
Meaning: Truthfulness, romance and creativity.
October - Opal and tourmaline
Description: Opal is available in a wide variety of colors and transparency, from intense orange to moody maroon. Tourmalines are also very diverse, from green to black, and tend to have a metallic hue.
Meaning: Tourmaline and opal are both famous for their protective qualities.
November - Topaz and citrine
Description: Topaz is naturally found in warm hues, from yellow to orange and light pink/lavender. Citrine is very translucent and can be found in bright colors, from yellow to orange.
Meaning: Citrine symbolizes happiness and abundance, while topaz is linked with intelligence.
December - Turquoise, zircon and tanzanite
Description: Turquoise comes in a range of aquamarine hues. Zircon is usually a deep, warm hue from orange to light brown. Tanzanite is bright blue, and can be confused with a sapphire.
Meaning: Turquoise is meant to bring good fortune, tanzanite connects with the spirit world and zircon serves as protection from bad energies.
Birthstones by Zodiac sign
The list of birthstones by zodiac signs is somewhat similar to the monthly birthstone list. The main changes are the specific cut-out dates of each “month”, as well as certain stones. Here’s the full list:
· Aries. 21 March to 19 April - bloodstone
· Taurus. 20 April to 20 May - sapphire
· Gemini. 21 May to 20 June - agate
· Cancer. 21 June to 22 July - emerald
· Leo. 23 July to 22 August - onyx
· Virgo. 23 August to 22 September - carnelian
· Libra. 23 September to 22 October - chrysolite
· Scorpio. 23 October to 21 November - beryl
· Sagittarius. 22 November to 21 December - topaz
· Capricorn. 22 December to 19 January - ruby
· Aquarius. 20 January to 18 February - garnet
· Pisces. 19 February to 20 March - amethyst
Adding a birthstone to a custom piece of jewelry is a great way to express your uniqueness, or to personalize a gift for someone you love. Your jeweler can make recommendations or, search Pinterest for birthstone jewelry inspiration and ideas.
