Birth Gem Stones

Quartz is found in abundance from every corner of the earth. In its purest form, quartz is colourless, but is most prized for its purple variety- amethyst. Purple has long been considered a royal colour, so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so much in demand throughout history.

Amethyst, the gemstone believed by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, also is said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted. English regalia were even decorated with amethysts during the Middle Ages to symbolise royalty.

Temperatures that are either too hot or cold can change the colour of your Amethyst jewellery. When the gemstone is left in temperatures that are too hot, it may turn yellow and when it is left in temperatures that are too cold, it may turn to a shade of smoky grey. The best way to effectively clean it is to use a soft bristled brush and warm water with mild liquid detergent to gently scrub away the residue, and it is best to keep your gemstone jewellery away from household cleaning products, which may contain harsh chemicals which can change the appearance or durability of the gemstone.

Found in Brazil, Uruguay, USA, India, Zambia, Russia

Colour Violet

Hardness 7

Mineral class Quartz

Properties Healing powers to help with physical ailments

Aquamarine (March)

Aquamarine is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. It is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the colour usually is more intense in larger stones and the deeper blue gemstones are more rare.

The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene colour of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and level headed.

Take care to remove aquamarine jewellery while doing housework or gardening. Aquamarines may crack if they are subject to blows. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight as aquamarines tend to become pale. Always take jewellery off before going swimming as the chlorine content of water hinders its sheen. Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Brazil

Colour Blue

Hardness 7.5-8.0

Mineral class Beryl

Properties Protects all who travel by, over, or near water and provides eternal youth and happiness

Diamond (April)

Found in Africa, Russia

Colour Colourless, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple

Hardness 10

Mineral class Diamond

Properties Diamond is a powerful love stone. It bonds relationships and enhances love. It generates longevity and honesty of relationships,  and engenders trust between two partners. It increases harmony, not only in romantic relationships, but in all areas.

Emerald (May)

Emerald is a bright green gemstone, second in value to the Ruby. The green colour of emerald is caused by traces of chromium, and variations in the shade seem to be caused by slight amounts of vanadium or iron.

Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C and Cleopatra was an avid collector.

Emerald is the birthstone for May.

Emeralds should never be cleaned with steam or any cleaning solution that contains petroleum distillates or any other organic solvent as most of these are not compatible with the oil treatment of Emeralds. Emeralds should not be placed in ultrasonic cleaning equipment at all either, and should not be exposed to high heat. An Emerald should be cleaned gently with a warm, mild detergent solution and a very soft brush, such as a worn-out toothbrush. The Emerald should then be rinsed with warm water, and patted dry. Cleaning should be done no more frequently than is necessary, and in no cases more than several times a year. Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Thailand, Burma, Madagascar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India

Colour Red

Hardness 9

Mineral class Corundum

Properties Emerald symbolises rebirth and the abundance of the life force. The rich green hue brings to mind the regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities. It is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. 

Ruby (July)

Ruby is a precious gemstone, and the most valuable. It is harder than any natural gemstone except diamond, which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday wear. Fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and the colour of the gem is most important to its value. The most prized colour is a medium or medium dark vivid red or slightly purplish red. If the gem is too light or has too much purple or orange, it will be called a fancy-colour sapphire.

Ruby's inner fire has been the inspiration for innumerable legends and myths, and to this day, no red gemstone can compare to its fiery, rich hues. It was believed wearing a fine red ruby bestowed good fortune on its owner.

Ruby is the birthstone for July.

Rubies are not affected by commercial solvents, so they can be used for cleaning the rubies effectively. A toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water is also more than enough to clean ruby jewellery. The bristles of the brush will remove the dirt lodged in the tiny crevices of the setting. You can also use a toothpick to clean off any remaining dirt. Avoid contact with harsh chemicals, since they can cause damage to the settings and mountings of your ruby. Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Thailand, Burma, Madagascar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India

Colour Red

Hardness 9

Mineral class Corundum

Properties Good fortune

Peridot (August)

Peridot is a light green coloured gemstone. It is one of the few gemstones that exist only in one colour, however the intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure so the colour of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow- to olive- to brownish-green. The most valued colour shades are a dark olive green and bright lime green.

 As peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes, in Hawaii, peridot symbolises the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Peridot is the birthstone for August.

Peridot is harder than metal but softer than many gemstones. Store peridot jewellery with care to avoid scratches and protect from blows. Because peridot is sensitive to rapid changes in temperature, never have it steam cleaned and avoid ultrasonics. Clean with a mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.

Sapphire (September)

Blue Sapphires range from very light to very dark greenish or violetish blue, as well as various shades of pure blue. The most prized colours are a medium to medium dark blue or slightly violetish blue. Sapphire is a variety of the gem species corundum and occurs in all colors of the rainbow. Pink, purple, green, orange, or yellow corundum are known by their colour (pink sapphire, green sapphire). Ruby is the red variety of corundum. One of Nature's most durable gemstones, sapphire shares this quality with its sister, the ruby.

The Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral and because of this, sapphires can be cleaned in almost any way. The best choice is warm, soapy water and some use ultrasonic cleaners and steamers. If your sapphire has a fracture or is a star sapphire, do not use mechanical cleaning methods, sapphire can shatter with one single blow if hit sharply. Also do not use mechanical cleaning if your sapphire gemstone has inclusions because this weakens the crystal structure. Avoid heavy work or chemicals while wearing sapphire jewellery as it can damage settings. Store sapphire jewellery separately from softer gemstone jewellery because sapphire can scratch them. Storage in a soft, cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Thailand, Burma, Madagascar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Austrialia, USA

Colour Blue, White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Multi-coloured

Hardness 9

Mineral class Corundum

Properties According to folklore, Sapphire will protect your loved ones from envy and harm. Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolise heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings.

Tourmaline (October)

Tourmaline is a gemstone that is available in a wide variety of colours so it is ideally suited to almost anyone's taste. Tourmaline also is known for displaying several colours in the same gemstone. These bi-colour or tri-colour gems are formed in many combinations; gemstones with clear colour distinctions are highly prized. One multi-colour variety is known as watermelon tourmaline, and features green, pink, and white colours bands; to resemble its namesake, the gemstone is cut into thin slices having a pink center, white ring, and green edge.

Ancient mystics believed tourmaline could encourage artistic intuition: it has the palette to express every mood.

Tourmaline is one of the birthstones for October.

Always use a mild soap while cleaning your Tourmaline jewellery at home. Remove the dirt and dust accumulated on your Tourmaline jewellery with a very soft brush with gentle strokes. Dry your Tourmaline jewellery with cotton, as it will soak the water content in it. Never let your Tourmaline jewellery dry in sun for a long duration or dry it with an electric hair dryer.Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Brazil, Africa, USA, Afghanistan

Colour Green, Watermelon, Orange, Blue, Pink

Hardness 7-7.5

Mineral class Crystal Boron Silicate

Properties Tormaline is a talisman that protects against all dangers

Topaz (November)

Topaz is a semi precious gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colours. Prized for several thousands of years in antiquity, all yellow gems in antiquity were called topaz. Often confused with citrine quartz (yellow) and smoky quartz (brown), quartz and topaz are separate and unrelated mineral species. The most prized colour of topaz is called Imperial topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s and features a magnificent orange body colour with pinkish undertones. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones.

The Egyptians said that topaz was coloured with the golden glow of the sun god. The ancient Greeks believed that it had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency.

Topaz is one of the birthstones for November.

All gemstones should be kept at room temperature because it is possible for them to change colour if they are in conditioners which are much too hot or too cold. Although Topaz is not a gemstone that is known to change quickly due to temperatures, it’s always best to keep it at room temperature. In order to prevent the jewellery from becoming damaged due to cleaning products that contain chemicals, be sure to take Topaz jewellery off before cleaning. This is especially important if you are using products that include chlorine as an ingredient. Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Found in Brazil, USA, Australia, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

Colour Blue, Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink, Purple, Multi-coloured

Hardness 8

Mineral class Topaz

Properties to soothe, heal, re-motivate, and bring the wearer strength, loyalty, beauty, protection, healing, weight loss, joy, generosity, abundance, wisdom, enlightenment, knowledge, good health, virtues of leadership, and love. Topaz is known as the “lover of gold,” as it is used to bring wealth and money.

Citrine (November)

Citrine is a semi precious gemstone which can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange. Named from the French word for lemon, "citron" since citrine can have a juicy lemon colour. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones and plentiful in nature.

Citrine is one of the birthstones for November.

It is very important for a citrine not to be left in the sun, or to be in situations, for example sunbathing, where it will be exposed to prolonged sunlight or heat. Because of its sensitivity to heat, the stone’s colour could change and fade into a lighter colour. You can use any commercial jewellery cleaner or plain soap and warm water (using a soft brush) to wash your citrine. Make sure you rinse and dry it thoroughly after cleaning it. You may also have the stone cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, however steam cleaning is not recommended. Storage in a soft cloth bag is a great way to protect gemstones.

Tanzanite (December)

Found in Tanzania

Colour Blue, Purple

Hardness 6-6.5

Mineral class Zoisite

Properties Tanzanite is known to both dispel as well as transmute negative energy it is said to restore vitality to the physical being, encouraging cell regeneration Tanzanite will improve hair and skin as well as slow down the ageing process and increase one’s inner light, helping one to see the next level of personal spiritual evolution.