Birthstones

January – Garnet

It’s glowing deep red with hints of orange and brown, reminds us of an autumn harvest or Indian summer. The rich hue of Garnet enhances designs that blend the exotic flavors of India, Africa and the Orient. These styles reflect today’s culturally diverse society, giving Garnet special appeal to consumers who seek a sophisticated urban look. The affordability of Garnet adds to its allure, making this gem readily accessible to the youth market.

February – Amethyst

Purple passion. From refreshing lilac to ripe plum, the drama and excitement of purple are fully reflected in Amethyst. Ranging in color from deep purple to pale lavender, Amethyst continues to have wide appeal throughout 2006 and beyond.

March – Aquamarine

Imagine a dip in a crystal blue mountain lake – the morning air crisp and expectant, the sky soaring high and cloudless overhead. This is the unique refreshment of Aquamarine. One of the most popular of all gemstones, Aquamarine ranges in color from intense, deep blue to lighter shades of sky and water.

April – Diamond

The fire of passion. The perfection of hope. The brilliance of joy. All these are a part of a couple’s love for one another – a love that finds its ideal expression in a diamond. No other stone offers the clarity, brilliance, and breathtaking depth of a diamond. Today, they are the most potent symbol of devotion as you begin your life together. There is never a better way to show that your love has grown stronger, deeper, and more enduring with time than the gift of a diamond. Their unmatched beauty and elegance make them ideal for marking life’s most important occasions. The gift of a diamond can transform any moment into a moment sure to be treasured forever.

May – Emerald

Lush, exotic, and untamed. This is no polite, garden-variety green: Emerald pulses with life and vitality. In its depth beats the heart of a rain forest, its shadows alive with promise, expectation… even danger. More valuable than even diamonds, fine-quality Emeralds of significant size are among the world’s most bewitching jewels. Their incomparable dark green color is produced only under extreme rare conditions. Because these conditions also result in tiny cracks and cavities in the stone, inclusions are allowed in top-quality Emeralds. The hue of nature itself, Emerald enjoys appeal year-round, and is an ideal accent for Spring wardrobes, a highlight of Summer designs, an Autumn complement, and the perfect hue to dispel Winter blues.

June – Pearl or Alexandrite

Akoya Cultured Pearls: Pearls have been an object of desire from the first days of human society. Throughout Asia and the Mediterranean, Pearls were treasured, not only for their rare beauty, but also as a symbol of harmony, purity, and wisdom. Their exotic, lustrous skin, smooth and silky to hand and eye, embodies all that is feminine. Being a true gift of the sea, Akoya Pearls are what people typically imagine when they think of a pearl. They grow between 2.0 and 9.0 mm and are primarily farmed in saltwater through central and southern Japan and along the coast of China. The overtones of the average Akoya Pearl range from pale cream to pinkish white, champagne, and silver gray. These overtone hues, when properly matched to the complexion of their owner, are what make Pearl jewelry a unique statement of perfection and grace. Either by themselves or paired with other colored gems, lustrous Akoya Pearls offer glamorous sophistication and timeless elegance.

Alexandrite: Night and day, the changing hues of Alexandrite enchant the eye and fuel the imagination. Its mesmerizing color swings – from raspberry to plum to bluish-green – make it the most famous and popular of color-change stones. Mysterious, stimulating, endlessly fascinating, Alexandrite attracts buyers of all ages – from Baby Boomers to the younger generation. Its shifting colors make it great for fall and winter wardrobes.

July – Ruby

Blood-red. Fire-red. Color that burns along the veins, and gives the brightness to the night. If you’re looking for the color of life itself, look no further than a Ruby. The “King of Gems,” Ruby is one of the world’s oldest, rarest, and most revered gemstones. Fiery and romantic, showing brilliant depth and intensity, the red hue of ruby is certain to draw attention. In settings that focus attention on voluptuous color, Ruby sends a message of drop-dead glamour and femininity.

August – Peridot or Spinel

The green-apple crispness of Peridot is a perfect complement to today’s lively fashion scene. As the popularity of lime green continues to grow, so does the youthful appeal of this citrus-hued gem. Peridot’s freshness invigorates and delights the senses. Intense and dazzling, its juicy color finds appeal across the generations.

 Pink Spinel: Spinel is cut in many shapes and sizes. Colors range from orange to intense red or pink, and all shades between purple, blue and violet to blueish green. Fresh, fun, fashionable and the color of romance, Pink Spinel is a gem whose mystical properties are said to aide in love, helping its owner in finding adoring and devoted relationships. Spinel is a genuine gemstone, whose color and beauty are not treated or enhanced by technology other than faceting. With the hardness of 8, it is a wearable gemstone whose beauty enhances your fashion wardrobe. 

September – Blue Sapphire

The color blue holds an endless fascination. From the high dome of the sky to the oceans that cover two-thirds of the globe’s surface, blue literally surrounds us. Seen from space, Earth is revealed as a shimmering blue planet. It’s little wonder, then, that the breathtaking blue of Sapphire has captured man’s imagination from the beginning. Ranging from the deepest midnight to brilliant cornflower blue, Sapphires have long been prized for their intense, velvety color.

October – Pink Tourmaline or Opal

Pink Tourmaline: No one, it’s been said, can resist a woman wearing pink. This enthralling, positive hue not only enhances the energy of its wearer, but also attracts the attention and energy of others. Bold, confident, at once beautifully sensitive and self-assured: exhilarating Pink Tourmaline expresses timeless feminine charm with a decidedly modern edge. Its many hues, ranging from bubblegum pink to rich crimson, compliment all skin tones and offer year-round fashion appeal.

Opal: The color of the rainbow. The glow of the Northern Lights. The dramatic flash of summer lighting. All the lights of the evening sky are captured in the mysterious, shifting hues of Opal. The changeable color and flashing fire seen in Opal are symbolic of love, life, hope, and truth. Its rainbow of color makes Opal an ideal fashion accessory.

November – Citrine or Blue Topaz

Citrine: The mellow gold of Citrine draws us in and brightens our moods. A golden quartz whose name comes from the French word for “lemon,” Citrine brings the energizing refreshment of an icy summer drink. Sunny and full of light, this sparkling gem was once thought to protect the wearer against various evils – from snake venom to wicked thoughts. Today, its radiant color is associated with cheerfulness, youth and vitality. Citrine ranges from slightly golden yellow to a medium gold showing hints of orange.

 

 
Blue Topaz: Blue is the color of communication and self-expression. And the clear, voluptuous color of Blue Topaz certainly speaks for itself. From the pure pastel blue of an Alpine glacier… to the glow of the mid-summer sky… to the aquatic hue of the deepest ocean, refreshing Blue Topaz brings a breath of fresh air to contemporary jewelry designs. The ancients prized Topaz as a stone of divine majesty. It was believed to dispel enchantments, detect poisons – even render the wearer invisible at will. Blue Topaz rivals Aquamarine in color and charm. Found in greater abundance, it offers superb clarity and luminous color at a fraction of the cost.

December – Tanzanite or Blue Zircon

Tanzanite: The first thing you notice is the color: Deep, vivid blue, with a purplish tinge that dances about the stone as it moves in the light. With its dazzling intensity and complex play of color, Tanzanite boasts a uniquely sensuous appeal. Tanzanite’s rarity and exotic origin are also part of its fascination. Its dramatic discovery, coupled with its scintillating beauty, caused a worldwide sensation. To date, the world’s only source for the gem remains the hills of northern Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite’s dual color – brilliant blue with hints of purple – makes it both warm and cool. Bold yet meltingly beautiful, it is a favorite of both men and women.

Blue Zircon: A gem of beauty and rarity, sparkling Blue Zircon might be mistaken for the far more expensive blue diamond. Indeed, colorless forms of Zircon were long favored by consumers because this breathtaking gem, with its superb brilliance and dispersion, looks more like diamond than any other stone. The aqua-blue brightness of Zircon, often tinged with shimmering teal, gives energy and renewal to those who discover this overlooked gem.