If you went to a gemology class and they gave you a pop quiz on birthstones, how many would you get right? Well, never fear - we won’t quiz you next time you stop in the store. But if you ever need a study guide, look no further. Read below to see Vanscoy, Maurer and Bash Diamond Jewelers’ cut and dry birthstone guide!
January: Garnet
Color: wide range from red to green
Hardness: 6.5-7.5
Description: The January birthstone we know and love is commonly referred to as a Rhodolite Garnet. Distinguished by its purplish red undertones, this gemstone is found in Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka and even the U.S! Its durability and abundance make garnets the perfect choice to start your birthstone collection.
February: Amethyst
Color: light lavender to deep purple
Hardness: 7
Description: February’s birthstone is a gorgeous purple variety of the quartz family. Amethyst was a popular stone in Ancient Greek as they believed it would prevent intoxication and . Produced all over the world, including the U.S, amethyst is another abundant stone, making it an ideal candidate for birthstone jewelry.
March: Aquamarine
Color: Light greenish blue
Hardness: 7.5-8
Description: Named for its close color match to ocean waters, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family with emerald and morganite. This gemstone has historically been seen as a symbol of happiness and youth as well as the ocean, inspiring tales of aquamarine as mermaid treasure. While this gemstone is rarer, it has a royal history as the star of Queen Elizabeth’s tiara and Princess Diana’s cocktail ring.
April: Diamond
Color: Most commonly yellow, brown, gray and white; rarely found as blue, green, red and pink
Hardness: 10
Description: Perhaps one of the most well-known gemstones on the planet, diamonds are the solid form of carbon. Diamonds are the hardest material on earth, making them the perfect everyday stone. For a stone as renowned as a diamond, we don’t think they need much of an explanation. But if you would like to read more, check out our other blogs on all things diamond!
May: Emerald
Color: Deep green to bluish green
Hardness: 7.5-8
Description: Another member of the beryl family, emeralds are a stunning, deep green stone and is another incredibly popular gemstone. Emeralds require a bit more maintenance than your typical gemstone: semi-frequent oiling preserves its vibrant color and its signature step-cut is often done to align with its natural crystal shape to prevent cracks. This gorgeous, vibrant gemstone has made its mark on modern culture with references in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
June: Pearl
Color: most common as white, pink and black
Hardness: 2.5-4.5
Description: Pearls are one of the only organic gemstones on this birthstone list. Grown in the soft tissue of a living mollusk or similar sea creature, naturally occurring pearls are very rare; cultured pearls (the classic, round white pearls) make up the majority of the market. These stunning gemstones are perfect for dressing up your everyday outfits or a night out on the town. Just avoid wearing when cleaning - vinegar can dissolve your precious pearls!
July: Ruby
Color: bright red
Hardness: 9.0
Description: Rubies are one of the hardest gemstones, making it another ideal stone for everyday wear. This stunning red stone features a pinker undertone, creating a distinct contrast between rubies and garnets. Several ancient civilizations had beliefs that rubies brought health and good fortune - modern designer Roberto Coin uses rubies in his pieces for that reason!
August: Peridot
Color: yellowish green
Hardness: 6.5-7
Description: Did you know that since August tends to have the highest birth rates, peridot is the most common birthstone? Something else that makes peridot unique is its lack of color range- peridot almost exclusively occurs as an olive green color. Similar to rubies, peridot was valued in ancient cultures for its protective ability to drive away nightmares.
September: Sapphire
Color: bright blue, as well as green, purple, pink and yellow
Hardness: 9.0
Description: Another of the four traditional gemstones, sapphire’s vibrant deep blue color has enchanted the jewelry world for generations. While naturally occurring in a wide range of colors (except red - a red sapphire is a ruby), sapphires are prized for their vivid, cerulean blue. A few large sapphires have been sold for over $200K per carat!
October: Opal
Color: iridescent white, black, pink, blue, red
Hardness: 5.5-6
Description: Opal is perhaps one of the most eye-catch gemstones on this list, as well as one of the most fragile. With somewhere between 3% - 21% of its weight being made up of water, opals are extremely sensitive to water exposure, even just hand washing a ring or wearing your necklace in the shower. The stunning iridescence of precious opals makes this gemstone worthy of the extra effort.
November: Citrine
Color: orange to yellowish orange
Hardness: 7
Description: Citrine, like amethyst, is a variety of quartz. This gemstone ranges from a classic deep orange to a champagne yellow. One of only a handful of naturally occurring yellow gemstones, citrine has been in popular use since the time of the ancient Egyptians and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
December: Turquoise
Color: opaque greenish blue
Hardness: 5-6
Description: Turquoise, like opal, is an opaque gemstone known for its rich greenish blue. Technically, turquoise is defined as a mineral (the only on this list) and its deposits are often found with copper, creating its signature bright orange fissures. Turquoise is particularly abundant in the southwest United States, with Arizona producing some of the highest quality turquoise available.
Curious to see these gemstones in action? Schedule an appointment to see our selection of birthstones today!
