Next to Emerald, Aquamarine is the most highly prized stone of the Beryl family.  Color varieties of Beryl include: Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite (pink, rose, peach), Goshenite (colorless), Heliodor (yellow, golden yellow) and Red Beryl.  Aquamarine’s color includes blue-green and shades of blue from pale to a rich deep hue. 

Its name is derived from the Latin “aqua” meaning water, and “marina” meaning of the sea.  In ancient times the sea colored blue-green Beryls were the most desirable but today’s demands are for the deeper blues.  As part of the fashioning process most Aquamarines are heated to intensify the blue color. 

Aquamarine was believed to give the wearer foresight, courage, and happiness, relieve anxiety and to increase intelligence and make one youthful. 

The largest Aquamarine crystal known to date was 520,000 carats found in Brazil in 1910.  Though Aquamarines are found in India and Russia, the principal localities are Brazil and Africa.  The deeper blue hues have typically been from Brazil, noted for producing some of the finest material in the world.  South African Aquamarines were typically more blue-green though recently the deep blue hues in smaller carat sizes have been discovered there.  Even so production of fine material is spotty at best.  As a result truly fine aquamarines are seldom seen in most jewelry stores and often the finer material is only found in estate jewelry.

Hardness: 7.5 to 8
Toughness: Good
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, US 

March
Bloodstone

Bloodstone, also called heliotrope, is one of the many varieties of Chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz.  Bloodstone is typically semitranslucent to opaque dark green with red to brownish red spots resembling drops of blood.  The red spots are actually the result of iron oxide. 

Bloodstone is more often found in estate rings and men’s jewelry in rings, cuff links, and tie-tacks. 

In the middle ages, the red spots in Bloodstone were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ giving the stone special powers.  In ancient times Bloodstone was thought to be able to stop hemorrhages. 

Hardness: 6.5 to 7
Toughness: Good
Sources: Australia, Brazil, China, India, US

April
Diamond

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!”… “A Diamond is forever!”  Actually Diamond is the only gem made of a single element – pure carbon.  Both graphite and coal are also essentially the same chemical composition as Diamond, however with different crystal structures.  Though graphite is incredibly soft, Diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man. 

The remarkable properties of hardness, dispersion and brilliance influenced the belief that Diamond was a strong medicine imparting health, energy and long life if swallowed.  I suspect that wasn’t exactly the result!

Diamond is undoubtedly the best known gem.  Its history is so long and complex that it’s true beginning is obscured in antiquity.  Diamonds were traded in India as early as 400 BC.  Indian superstitions were that Diamonds had the power to make a person invincible.  The Greek philosopher Plato believed in this life force in gems and considered Diamond the noblest.

During the Middle Ages it was believed that Diamonds reunited marriage partners as well as repelled phantoms and demons, and prevented nightmares.  Diamonds also protected the wearer in battle by giving him courage, virtue and invincibility. 

The word Diamond is derived from the Greek “adamas” meaning unconquerable.  As Diamond represented the eternity of love, the ring represented the circle life, happiness and love that has no beginning or end.  During the fifteenth century the diamond ring became the traditional symbol for the betrothal of eternal lovers.  To this day Diamond is well established as THE gemstone representing the symbol of love and used for engagement.

Hardness: 10
Toughness: Good in cleavage directions, Exceptional in all other directions.
Sources: South Africa, Russia, Australia, Brazil, china, India, Canada  

May
Emerald

Emerald belongs to the same family as Aquamarine, which is Beryl.  Emerald is the most highly prized gem of the Beryl family.  Fine material, which is a deep velvety green with no tinge of yellow or blue, and relatively free of inclusions, can cost thousands of dollars per carat.  In fact, fine quality Emerald is one of the rarest and most valuable of all gems.
 
The majority of Emerald mined is often heavily included and brittle.  It is common for finished stones to be treated and often oiled to fill fissures and enhance the appearance.  Therefore Emeralds should not be steamed or cleaned in the ultrasonic.   
 
Emerald mines were worked as early as 2000B.C., including Cleopatra’s Emerald mine near the Red Sea in Egypt. The best known locality for fine quality Emerald is Columbia, where the mines have been producing steadily for centuries. Emeralds are mined in other localities around the world including North Carolina though none of the material is as fine as the Colombian stones.

Wearing an Emerald, according to legend, cured a wide range of ailments including low I.Q., poor eyesight, and infertility plus enabled the wearer to predict the future.  Emerald has long been considered a symbol of immortality and faithfulness. 

Hardness: 7.5 to 8
Toughness: Poor to Good
Sources: Austria, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Russia, Norway, India, US 

June
Alexandrite

Alexandrite is the very rare and valuable color change variety of the mineral Chrysoberyl.  The most prized Alexandrite exhibits a distinct color change from green in daylight to red in incandescent light.  This change can vary in intensity and color from a yellowish-green, grayish-green or bluish-green to an orangy-red, brownish-red or purple-red.  The best Alexandrite has been found in Russia, though most of it has been mined out. 

Because natural Alexandrite is so expensive, there has been many imitations and synthetics produced and sold over the years.  Synthetic Chrysoberyl as well as Synthetic Spinel and Synthetic Corundum have all been produced to imitate Alexandrite.

Alexandrite was discovered in 1831, a fairly new discovery in comparison to Sapphires, Rubies and Diamonds.  It is named after Alexander II of Russia.

Alexandrite was believed to assist in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem and enhancing the ability to experience joy.

Alexandrite is looked upon as a good omen in Russia.

Hardness: 8.5
Toughness: Excellent
Sources: Russia, Brazil

June
Pearl

Pearls are among the oldest of all gems and are the only gem created by a living creature.  Pearls were originally created when a foreign body such as a grain of sand or grit found its way into an oyster.  The oyster then reacted defensively by secreting nacre around the irritant gradually building up layers forming the pearl.

Though Kokichi Mikimoto is often given credit for the culturing process, there is evidence that it once being attempted as early as 1500 BC.  During the 13th century small figures of Buddha were fixed to the inner wall of a mollusk shell in order to eventually cover it in nacre.  Virtually all pearls today are cultured, the process of maintaining oyster beds where small beads have been inserted into each oyster for later harvesting.   

Pearls have adorned Kings and Queens for over 6000 years and have been portrayed in the painted images of Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth and Marie Antoinette.  An ancient Arabian legend explains that Pearls wee formed when dewdrops filled with moonlight fell into the ocean and were swallowed by oysters.

The quality of a pearl is determined by it its luster, complexion, color, overtones of color, size and shape.  Better pearls are usually a creamy off-white with a pink or rosy overtone, high luster and few blemishes.  South Sea Pearls and black Tahitian pearls are notably some of the finest and most expensive Pearls. 

Hardness: 2.5 to 4.5
Toughness: Good but variable
Sources: Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Japan, China, Australia, Tahiti, Mexico, US

July
Ruby

Corundum is mined in all colors and called sapphire preceded by its color.  For example: Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, White Sapphire, etc.  The only exception is the red corundum known as Ruby.  Ruby can be many shades of red including orangy-red, purplish red or brownish red.  Once it becomes too pink it is really pink sapphire. 

Most Rubies are heat treated as part of the fashioning process in order to permanently improve their color and appearance. The ideal color is often referred to as blood red. 

Ruby, from the Latin word ruber meaning "red," is the red variety of the mineral corundum. Ruby is traditionally associated with passion, power and majesty; the ancients believed that a ruby thrown into a pot of water would cause it to boil immediately. Ruby is thought to attract and retain reciprocal love, and to bring success and good fortune to its wearer. 

Rubies have enjoyed a history of preeminence, often associated with royalty, power and wealth.  When worn the Ruby is believed to discover poison, ward of illness and misfortune, and give the wearer invulnerability. Ruby was believed to be able to boil water.  Today ruby is often associated with passion. 

Corundum was one of the earliest gemstones to be synthesized in a laboratory.  Synthetic or man-made Ruby has been around for generations. It is often found in estate and antique jewelry from the very early 1900’s through today. 

Hardness: 9
Toughness: Excellent except in heavily included or fractured stones
Sources: Thailand, Burma, Africa, Australia, India, US

August
Peridot

Gem quality Peridot is part of the olivine group.  It is transparent to translucent and shades of yellowish green to greenish yellow and even brownish green.  Most of the material seen in stores today is the more pale yellow green color.  Fine quality crystals with few inclusions with a deeper, almost emerald green color are quite rare.

Cleopatra’s famed emeralds mined on an island in the Red Sea may really have been Peridot.  It has been mined in The Red Sea for over 3500 years and was imported to Europe by The Crusaders in the Middle Ages.  Egyptians considered Peridot the gem of the sun.

Peridot is believed to the wearer good luck, peace, and success, good health, protection, and sleep.   Additionally Peridot was thought to attract love and calm anger, soothe nerves and cure negative emotions.

Miners were said to work in the moonlight as it made the Peridot crystals easier to see.  Legend even portrays these crystals as glowing at night resulting in their use to ward off night terrors.  Pirates believed Peridot kept them safe from evil.

Hardness: 6.5 to 7
Toughness: Fair to Good
Sources: Australia, Brazil, China, Burma, Norway, Egypt, Mexico, US, and has been found in meteorites.

August
Sardonyx

Sardonyx is another one of the many varieties of Chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz.  The name chalcedony is derived from the name of the ancient Greek town Chalkedon.  The name Sardonyx is a combination of the word Sard, a Greek word that means reddish brown, and Onyx, another Greek word that means finger nail or claw.

Sardonyx is basically an agate that has banded colors of reddish brown or brownish red alternating with white or black.  Most of the Sardonyx seen in jewelry is only the reddish color.  Most Sardonyx material seen in estate jewelry was carved as a cameo or intaglio.   

Native Americans believed chalcedony was a sacred stone and would use it in spiritual ceremonies.  In ancient times Greeks and Romans believed it could bring courage and victory, often carried into battle by soldiers. It was also believed to lend the gift of persuasiveness. Sardonyx is thought to increase vitality, stamina, and endurance. 

Hardness: 6.5 to 7
Toughness: Good
Sources: Worldwide including: Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Pakistan, US, Germany, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and Africa

September
Sapphire

All corundum not red in color is Sapphire.  Sapphire is mined in all colors though blue is the color most associated with Sapphire and the color for September’s birthstone.  A lot of the blue Sapphire on the market is a very dark blue and many jewelers will tell you this is the ideal color.  That is incorrect.  The very dark blue stones are just the opposite being the most undesirable, inexpensive stones.  A more medium to lighter blue, with deep blue color saturation and a bright, vibrant light return is the most desirable and can command very high prices.  Cornflower blue is the ideal color for the Ceylon or Kashmir sapphires. 
As with ruby, Sapphire is normally heat treated to improve its color.  Also, Sapphire was one of the earliest gemstones to be synthesized in a laboratory.  It is often found in estate and antique jewelry from the very early 1900’s through today.

The Persians believed the Earth rested on top of a Sapphire causing the blue color of the sky.  Many believed the Ten Commandments were written on a Sapphire tablet.  Sapphire was also believed to give its wearer tranquility, peace and amiability and suppress wicked, impure thoughts. 

Hardness: 9
Toughness: Excellent, except in fractured stones
Sources: Australia, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Tanzania, US 

October
Opal

Opal is a mineral with an amorphous structure with water content of 3% to 10% by weight and sometimes as high as 20%.  As a result it can dry out and crack.  It can by transparent to opaque in virtually any body color.  Transparent Opal in a yellow, red, and orange to brown color is often referred to as Fire Opal.  The more precious Opal will display a play of colors against a solid background.  The most common is a white background with a blue, green and/or red play of colors throughout.  The very desirable and often expensive Black Opal exhibits the play of colors against a black or dark blue background.   

Throughout history Opal was a gemstone symbolic of hope.  In 1817, Sir Walter Scott published a book in which the Opal was used as a symbol of misfortune.  As a result the gemstone lost its popularity for a time and was considered unlucky to its wearer.  It regained favor when Queen Victoria presented her daughters with Opals as a wedding gift.  Opal was prominent in both the Late Victorian era and Art Nouveau jewelry.  Nevertheless there are still superstitious people today who feel that it is bad luck to wear an Opal unless it is your birthstone.

Hardness: 5 to 6.5
Toughness: Very Poor to Fair
Sources: Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Czechoslovakia, Honduras, Indonesia, Poland, Tanzania, US

October
Pink Tourmaline

Tourmaline occurs naturally in a wide variety of color:  Rubellite refers to stones in the pink to red range; Verdelite refers to yellowish green to bluish green; Indicolite refers to violetish to greenish blue; Chrome refers to the fine intense green; Cat’s Eye typically has a green, blue, or pink body color with chatoyancy; Watermelon is pink in the center and green at the edges though bi-colored stones that are half green and half pink are referred to as watermelon as well; Parti-colored are other combinations of bi color Tourmalines.

Pink Tourmaline is a common substitute for October’s birthstone. Although Rubellite refers to stones in the pink to red range, it is more commonly used in conjunction with the red Tourmalines.  As with many gem stones Tourmalines are often heated to improve their color.

Both red and green Tourmalines were long mistaken for rubies and emeralds.  Tourmaline has only been recognized as a separate gemstone for about the past 250 years.

The name tourmaline is derived from the Sri Lankan word tura mali which means stone of many colors.  It has been considered a lucky gem often referred to as the stone of wisdom, and it is supposed to protect the wearer from ill fortune.  It has also been suggested that Tourmaline may promote healing and strengthen the body and spirit and possibly even inspire creativity. 

Hardness: 7 to 7.5
Toughness: Fair
Sources: Russia, Madagascar, Brazil, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Nigeria, India, US

November
Topaz

Topaz is yet another mineral that occurs naturally in various colors: Imperial Topaz is yellowish orange to orangy yellow with overtones of purplish red; Precious Topaz is the golden yellow variety lacking any red or pink overtones; Blue Topaz is various shades of blue as the name implies however this color is achieved by way of irradiation; Pink Topaz is the lighter tones of purplish red and red.  The golden yellow Precious Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November. 

The name Topaz is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire.  Topaz may be the gemstone with the widest range of healing powers.  Among other things, Topaz has been said to cool tempers, restore sanity, cure asthma, relieve insomnia, and ward of sudden death.  

Hardness: 8
Toughness: Poor
Sources: Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Australia, Burma, Pakistan, Russia, US

November
Citrine

Citrine is the yellow, golden yellow and yellowish orange to brownish orange variety of quartz.  Natural Citrine is often a pale yellow and rare.  Most of the Citrine on the market is actually heat treated amethyst. 

Citrine has become the more common November birthstone most likely since it is considerably less expensive than precious topaz. Citrine has been marketed in the past as topaz both by mistake and by dishonest dealers.     

The name Citrine was most likely derived from the word citrus or citron, meaning lemon.  There is very little lore related to citrine.  As with many of the gemstones on this list it has been said to promote better health, specifically of the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles.

Hardness: 7
Toughness: Good
Sources: Brazil, Russia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, US

December
Blue Zircon

The name Zircon is probably derived from the words zar and gun which combined mean gold colored, although zircon comes in a wide range of colors. 
Zircon is a mineral that occurs in colorless, blue, yellow, green, brown, orange, red and occasionally purple.  It has a high dispersion and high double refraction lending to its very brilliant, vibrant appearance.  The colorless variety has been sold in the past as diamond.  Though one of the best natural imitators of diamonds, Zircon shows wear easily and is a very brittle gemstone.  Nevertheless the stone is still highly valued because of its stunning brilliance.

Zircon today is often wrongly associated with cubic zirconia, the laboratory grown diamond imitation.  People don't realize that there is a natural gemstone called zircon.  Blue zircon was used frequently in Victorian jewelry during the late 1800s, and was again marketed in the 1920s.  You have to ask for it today as most jewelers don’t inventory it.   

The most popular color is the Blue Zircon, the alternate December birthstone.  The majority of this material has been heat treated to improve color.

In the middle ages, zircon was believed to bring prosperity, riches, honor and wisdom and cure insomnia. 

Hardness: 6 to 7.5
Toughness:  Heat treated stones - Poor to Fair, Untreated – Fair to Good
Sources: Kampuchea, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Australia, Brazil, Tanzania, France

December
Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the first minerals known to have been mined and used in jewelry.  Specimens have been found in excavations and the tombs of Pharaohs and Queens dating back to over 5000 years B.C.  Native Americans have been using Turquoise in the manufacture of jewelry for several thousand years.  It has been used in jewelry and adornments throughout history and across all cultures. 

Turquoise occurs mostly in shades of blue and greenish blue.  It is often mottled, may show dark splotches and/or veins of matrix.  The most expensive Turquoise and considered the finest quality is Persian Turquoise which has an intense even medium blue color, low porosity, high polish and no visible matrix.

Turquoise has been believed to bring prosperity, good fortune and success   to its wearer.  In ancient times it was believed that the stone would change colors as a warning of imminent danger or illness.

Hardness: 5 to 6
Toughness: Fine quality is fair to good, low quality material is poor and easily fractures
Sources: US, Australia, Chile, China, Iran, Mexico, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Egypt.

December
Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz refers to the various shades of blue as the name implies however this color is achieved by way of irradiation.  In fact very little Blue topaz material has ever been found in nature.  Much of the material mined is actually colorless.  It is also found in very large crystals up to thousands of carats each.  The Smithsonian was given the largest faceted gemstone known at the time in 1988, a golden yellow Topaz weighing 22,892.5 carats.  Within one year it was surpassed by an even larger one and others have been discovered as well.   

The name Topaz is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning fire.  Topaz may be the gemstone with the widest range of healing powers.  Among other things, Topaz has been said to cool tempers, restore sanity, cure asthma, relieve insomnia, improve eyesight, cure insomnia, cure asthma, stop hemorrhaging and ward of sudden death.  It has also been said to increase strength and make its wearer invisible. 

Hardness: 8
Toughness: Poor
Sources: Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Australia, Burma, Pakistan, Russia, US

December
Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is essentially a rock composed primarily of lazurite, calcite and pyrite.  It may also contain traces of other minerals such as hauynite, sodalite, diopside, augite, mica, and hornblende.  It can be semitranslucent though it is most often opaque.  Lapis Lazuli is medium to dark blue to violetish blue with veins or flecks of pyrite and or white to gray calcite inclusions.

Deep blue Lapis Lazuli with the presence of pyrite is considered valuable whereas the presence of calcite often diminishes its value.

Lapis lazuli is commonly impregnated with wax to improve its appearance, and much of the darker material has been dyed to provide color and uniformity.

It has been said that wearing Lapis Lazuli can help one better understand the mind, and expand your viewpoint.  When worn over the heart, Lapis Lazuli is believed to connect the heart and mind.  Lapis Lazuli may also protect the wearer from evil, and some considered it a cure for melancholy and certain types of fever.

Lapis Lazuli has been around for a very long time and was prized in both Babylonia and Egypt, often worn by royalty.

Hardness: 5 to 6, varies with impurities
Toughness: Fair
Sources: Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Russia, US.