Your Ultimate Guide to Birthstones

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIRTHSTONES

UNCOVER THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR BIRTHSTONE

Meaningful and personal, birthstone jewellery makes a wonderful gift for birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions. Our guide takes you through the history, meaning and science behind each birthstone because no one cares more about celebrating life’s moments with you than us.

A birthstone is a gemstone that represents someone’s birthday, usually their month or zodiac sign. Legends speak of the healing, protective powers, and spiritual symbols of each birthstone, and it’s believed that wearing a birthstone during its assigned month heightens these powers.

So without further ado let's embark on a tour of all things birthstones.

GARNET

Birthstone: January

Wedding Anniversary: 2nd

Star Sign: Capricorn

The word "garnet" comes from the Latin term "garantum", which means "seed". This is due to its likeness in colour to the deep red hue of pomegranate seeds. This luxurious gemstone is associated with success, good health, and prosperity. During ancient Rome, garnets were frequently featured in signet rings. The Victorians also held a fascination with this gemstone and crafted jewellery designs that imitated the appearance of pomegranate seeds.

Amethyst

Birthstone: February

Wedding Anniversary: 6th and 33rd

Star Sign: Aquarius 

Derived from the Greek word ‘amethystos’, translating to ‘not drunken’; it was believed by the ancient Greeks and Romans that it would ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, the Greek god of the wine harvest.

Most commonly seen in a beautiful shade of pale lilac to deep purple, Amethyst is composed of quartz, formed through crystals in rocks and lava – getting its striking purple shades from irradiation, impurities and trace elements. A symbol of peace, protection and tranquillity, amethyst is said to bring calm and serenity to the wearer.

Aquamarine

Birthstone: March

Wedding Anniversary: 19th 

Star Sign: Pieces 

Believed to be the treasure of mermaids, Roman fishermen called aquamarine the “water of the sea” and used it as protection for safe travel. Aquamarine is a type of beryl (the same mineral family that includes emeralds), a rare mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The light blue stone can often be seen better at night and is used by healers to drive out negative emotions. 

DIAMOND

Birthstone: April

Wedding Anniversary: 60th 

Star Sign: Aries

Diamonds have been a timeless emblem of love throughout history, originating from the Greek term 'adamas', which translates to 'invincible'. A gemstone we specialise in, diamonds are the birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in April. Representing affection, eternity and everlasting love, diamonds are also believed to give you courage, strength and endurance.

EMERALD

 Birthstone: May

 Star Sign: Taurus 

 Wedding Anniversary: 55th 

This ancient gemstone was beloved by Cleopatra and later Elizabeth Taylor. A striking green gemstone signifying rebirth, perfect for the spring season.

It is believed that emeralds can provide you with the ability to be young, energetic, and lucky. They have traditionally been regarded as a symbol of love and commitment and are associated with the heart chakra. Emeralds belong to the beryl family and their green hue is the result of the presence of chromium and iron in their mineral composition during their creation process.

PEARL

Birthstone: June

Star Sign: Gemini 

Wedding Anniversary: 30th 

Originating from the French word ‘perle’ which means leg, referring to the leg shape of a mollusc shell, pearls were once thought to be the tears of the gods. Adored for their pearly and iridescent lustre, pearls are also a symbol of innocence, purity and faithfulness. The exquisite pearl is created inside oysters and mussels through a process where living organisms form layers of nacre around a foreign object that enters the shell.

RUBY

Birthstone: July 

Star Sign: Cancer

Wedding Anniversary: 40th 

The vivid red ruby gemstone was crowned the ‘King of Gems’ and early cultures believed rubies symbolised the power of life. Throughout the ages, it has represented nobility, purity, and passion. It was also said to protect people from misfortune and ward off evil. A variety of the mineral corundum and forming from metamorphic rock, rubies come in lots of colours, including blue – better known as sapphires. Seen as symbols of love and passion, rubies are a wonderful alternative to diamonds for an engagement or wedding ring.

PERIDOT

Birthstone: August

Star Sign: Leo 

Wedding Anniversary: 16th

Ancient Egyptians called the peridot gemstone the ‘gem of the sun’, and Egyptian priests believed it harnessed the power of nature. With a unique lime green glow, peridot is associated with prosperity and good fortune. In Hawaii, it symbolises the tears of Pele; the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Peridot is formed deep within the earth and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. Its signature green colour comes from the composition of the mineral itself. Some claim that it originates from the formation of our solar system and is considered crucial in the creation of the moon. Additionally, it is believed to enhance inventiveness and uplift one's spirit.

SAPPHIRE

Birthstone: September

Star Sign: Virgo 

Wedding Anniversary: 45th

The term 'sapphire' has its origins in the Latin word 'sapphirus', which refers to a stone of blue colour. They symbolise loyalty, nobility and integrity. In old Persian lore, the Earth was said to be balanced on top of an enormous sapphire and its reflection gave the sky its blue colour. Throughout history, royalty has favoured this precious gemstone, and to this day it remains popular. The Duchess of Cambridge's sapphire engagement ring is perhaps the most well-known example of its royal popularity in modern times.

OPAL

Birthstone: October

Star Sign: Libra

Wedding Anniversary: 34th

The name "opal" comes from the Greek word "Opallos", which refers to the stone's ability to exhibit a spectrum of colours when viewed from different angles. This phenomenon is caused by the silica-rich water seeping into the rock's crevices and solidifying over time. Opals are amorphous, meaning, it has no crystal structure and they contain up to 20% water trapped within their structure. The mesmerizing display of colours in opal is the result of numerous silica spheres of varying sizes, which scatter light and produce the various hues of the rainbow. The Roman’s most precious gemstone, it symbolised hope, purity and truth.

TOPAZ

Birthstone: November

Star Sign: Scorpio

Wedding Anniversary: 4th

The name topaz derives from the ancient Greek name for St. John’s Island in the Red Sea, where lots of yellow stones were famously mined there. Though the Orange/Yellow Topaz is the traditional November birthstone. It comes in a myriad of colours and hues. Topaz was prized for thousands of years by ancient cultures such as the Greeks and Romans where it was the symbol of Ra, The Egyptian Sun God.

Topaz is an aluminium silicate and is the hardest of the silicate minerals. It is also pleochroic meaning that it can show different colours when moved in different directions. 

TANZANITE

Birthstone: December

Star Sign: Sagittarius

Wedding Anniversary: 24th

Tanzanite is a relatively modern gemstone and was discovered in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Named after the country in which it was discovered, tanzanite is an exquisite blue variety of the mineral zoisite.

Tanzanite can range from pale blue to a deep blue with violet undertones, the blue colour is caused by trace amounts of vanadium mixed with extreme heat. Due to its limited supply available in a singular location, tanzanite has become highly prized for its rarity and beauty. 

Did you know, it’s rarer than a diamond?