birthstone jewelry

January's Famous Garnet: Pyrope Hair Comb

January 04, 2021

Another year has come and gone. 2020 was a wild ride, and who knows what 2021 will bring. But let’s start the year off right with something classic: garnet birthstones. Garnet can be found in a range of colors, such as intense greens, rich purples, even light pinks, but a classic garnet is most commonly found in a nice, deep shade of red. The name garnet covers an entire family of different stones, notably pyrope garnet. These pyrope stones are an infamously deep red, traditionally used in a lot of Victorian jewelry. Pyropes were mainly mined in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, and were commonly called Bohemian pyropes. The most famous pyrope garnets are set in an antique hair comb. ...

Turquoise, December's Alternate Birthstone

December 07, 2020

We’ve slipped into the last month of the year, folks. December is here, the final month of 2020. For those of you with December birthdays, it’s time to celebrate, as well as enjoy the end to a long year. So if you’ve got any birthday shopping to do, consider your alternate December birthstone: turquoise. ...

This entry was posted in: birthstones , birthstone jewelry , december birthstone , turquoise

Sparkle with Topaz this November

November 02, 2020

Autumn is getting colder, the earth turning from green to orange. Citrine is traditionally known as November’s birthstone, a perfect, bright stone to pair with the colors of autumn. But not everyone favors the rich, earthen tones of citrine. That’s where topaz comes in. For those who prefer a brighter range of colors to choose from, topaz can be found in shades of blue, yellow, pink, orange, and sometimes white. Most common is blue topaz. It’s a striking shade of blue, much like aquamarine, but with a brighter, richer hue. Blue topaz looks lovely in silver, yellow or rose gold, or paired with just about any other gemstone. ...

This entry was posted in: birthstones , blue topaz , london topaz , birthstone jewelry , citrine , november birthstone

September Sapphires: What's Your Perfect Color?

September 09, 2020

As one of the world’s most popular engagement ring stones, sapphires have been holding steady in popularity for quite a while. And with good reason. Sapphires hit a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a wonderful everyday gemstone that’s resistant to scratching, chipping, and other general wear and tear a gemstone can go through. Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, as are rubies. The difference between sapphires and rubies boils down to a very basic component: color. ...

This entry was posted in: sapphires , birthstones , birthstone jewelry , september birthstone

July's Alternate Birthstone: Onyx

July 06, 2020

July’s traditional ruby birthstone is a great match for the month’s deep dive into summer weather. Ruby sparkles in intense shades of red and pink, ideal for any type of gold. But did you know July has a great alternative birthstone as well? Meet onyx, the shimmering black stone that makes a striking appearance in jewelry. Onyx is part of the chalcedony family, along with agate. Onyx is typically available in a rainbow of different col ...

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May Birthstone Alternatives: Agate and Aveturine

May 04, 2020

In these uncertain times, one that remains steady: May’s stunning birthstone. Emeralds have long been symbolic of the month of May, representing the lush green of new life in a romantic and stunning way. But did you know there are plenty of birthstone alternatives if you’re looking to shake up your normal routine? Take a walk on the wild side and represent your birth month with two outstanding alternates: agate and aventurine. Agate Agate is a fun mineral tha ...

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Celebrate March Birthdays with Two Great Birthstones: Aquamarine and Chalcedony

March 02, 2020

Spring is beginning to appear, folks. The snow is retreating, green grass is starting to show, and delicate plant shoots are starting to poke out of the ground. There’s still a chill in the air, but there’s also a breath of fresh spring air. The perfect complement to the season is sparkling aquamarine. But if aquamarine doesn’t spark your interest, March has another birthstone: bloodstone! Bloodstone Makes a Second Appearance If you keep up with our weekly blogs, you’ve probably read our February birthstone blog. Bloodstone is also the mystical, alternative birthstone for February, and in our February birthstone blog, we covered the opaque version of bloodstone: jasper. Heliotrope, known by its common name “bloodstone,” is a mixture ...

This entry was posted in: birthstones , aquamarine , march , birthstone jewelry , march birthstone , chalcedony

Warm Up February with Two Great Birthstones: Amethyst and Jasper

February 17, 2020

As February sweeps in, we here in New England are firmly buried under a blanket of snow. The days are cold and the nights are still long, but February’s birthstones offer a warm spark at the heart of winter’s dreariness. If you’re shopping for a February birthstone gift this month, you’ve got a couple of great options. Let’s explore two stunning birthstone options for February birthdays: amethyst and jasper. Go Traditional with Amethyst Amethyst is a variety of quartz that grows in violet hues due to irradiation or impurities in iron. Shades can range from very light, pinkish-purple shades to deep violet tones, and can feature sparkles of red and blue, depending on the trace elements and precision of the stone’s cut. Amethyst is one of the rare gemstones that only comes in sh ...

This entry was posted in: birthstones , birthstone , birthstone jewelry , birthday gifts , february birthstone , amethyst , jasper , bloodstone

Celebrate January Birthdays with Enticing Garnet

January 06, 2020

The first month of 2020 is upon us, the start of not only a brand new year, but a brand new decade as well. January babies can celebrate their birthdays with lovely garnet. Originating from the 14th-century Middle English word gernet, garnet means ‘dark red,’ which is somewhat misleading. Garnets are available in a whole rainbow of colors, from red to orange to green to brown. Most common are the deep red shades, yes, but there are plenty of other glamorous color options for January birthstone jewelry. Tsavorite Tsavorite garnet gets its intense green color from chromium or vanadium. The name is a reference to Tsavo West National Park in Kenya, where the first commercially viable deposits of the ...

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November's Birthstone is Here! Say Hello to Glamorous Citrine

November 04, 2019

November brings an unavoidable chill to New England with its arrival. As we creep ever closer to winter, the bright colors of autumn begin to fade. Leaves are steadily abandoning their trees, but there’s still a vivid punch of color out there! November’s birthstone is represented in glimmering citrine, one of the most sought after yellow-to-orange gemstones in the industry, making this the perfect gem to match with the colors of November. Citrine is a variety of quartz, infused with iron to give it that yellow-orange color. As part of the same family as amethyst, citrine and amethyst are actually capable of combining, forming lovely ametrine. Thi ...

This entry was posted in: birthstones , information about , gemstone information , birthstone jewelry , birthday gifts , citrine , november birthstone