For the Best Selection of Birthstone Jewelry, Leave it to Levy’s!

For millennia, gemstones have captured our imaginations. They have shaped hundreds of years of global art, folklore, and culture. Now, twelve extraordinary gemstones represent each of the twelve months of the year. At some point in their lives, everybody wonders: what is my birthstone, and what makes it special? 

Read on to discover some fun facts about your birthstone, as well as some hints about how to select your birthstone jewelry.

 

January Birthstone 

The name of this deep red gem comes from the Latin granatus, meaning seed, because smaller garnets bear a striking resemblance to the seeds of a pomegranate.

 The January birthstone comes in several varieties. Iridescent garnet reflects rainbows of light like a beautiful prism. Star garnet displays four or six rays across its face. Color change garnet, as the name implies, appears to change color under different angles and lighting.

Lovely garnet jewelry will be fairly durable since the gem ranks at a 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It’s a wonderful choice for necklaces and earrings. It can also be worn as a ring, but take precautions to avoid putting the gem through too much strain.

If you are careful, clean it well and store it properly, you can flaunt your garnet jewelry every day. Show the world you’re a proud January baby with a garnet necklace like this one. Featuring a 14k white gold setting and a halo of diamonds to keep you sparkling on even the chilliest of birthdays.

February Birthstone

Amethyst is the name for a variety of quartz which comes in a range of purple shades. The palest purple amethyst are called “rose de France” amethyst, while the darkest violet amethyst are called Siberian amethyst (named after where they come from).

Once upon a time, purple was widely associated with nobility. European royals proudly wore amethyst jewelry throughout the medieval era. Its abundance makes it an affordable gemstone. That, combined with its durability (it ranks a 7 on the Mohs scale), make amethysts an incredible piece for your gemstone jewelry.

Thanks to its many shades, your amethyst jewelry can be a delicate touch of purple or a bold pop of violet. Pick up a piece and show off your February birthstone this year!
 

March Birthstone

This one-of-a-kind gem grows in six-sided columns which reflect light differently depending on which angle you look at them from, giving aquamarine color-changing characteristics. 

It gets its seaworthy name from Greek mythology. Ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon, god of the sea, created aquamarine from pure seawater. For many years, it was carried by sailors who claimed it protected them from storms and strong waves.

Aquamarine is a very hardy stone. It ranks between 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale. You can wear aquamarine jewelry with confidence, knowing that with care and cleaning it will hold up for many years.

The March birthstone is an especially lovely accessory to wear in the spring and summer (but of course, you can rock it all year long). Paired with white, it will help you cultivate a beachy mood even when you’re miles from the shore.

 

April Birthstone

The diamond undeniably symbolizes romance. Ancient Romans claimed that Cupid’s strongest arrows were diamond-tipped, and anyone struck with one couldn’t help but fall madly in love. Nowadays, three-quarters of American brides wear a diamond engagement ring on their fingers, and the diamond is the traditional gift for the sixtieth wedding anniversary.

Diamonds are the hardest material known to mankind, at a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale. In fact, the main thing to be careful of when storing your diamond jewelry is that it does not scratch your softer stones. As long as you are cognizant of diamond jewelry’s unique needs, you can adorn yourself in diamond rings, diamond necklaces, diamond bracelets and diamond earrings to your heart’s content. 
 

May Birthstone

Considered one of the “Big Three” colored gemstones, along with ruby and sapphire, emerald has earned its place in history. 

Emerald mining began in Egypt, where Cleopatra famously filled her palace with emeralds and adorned herself in emerald jewelry. Though emeralds are not naturally grown in Ireland, the emerald is symbolic to the Irish. Its beauty so stunned the Irish people that they nicknamed their country the Emerald Isle. Scientifically, green has relaxing properties for stressed eyes, and so the emerald has been associated with healthy vision.

It’s also very durable, ranking from 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. Emerald’s deep greens make it a particularly beautiful compliment to gold, but you can wear your emerald jewelry however you please. These earrings, featuring a yellow gold band and diamond studs between the emeralds, are a wonderful example of the green gemstone’s beauty.

 

June Birthstone

Pearl, June’s birthstone, is truly unique in that it is not formed by the earth, but rather by a living organism. For hundreds of years, they were only discovered accidentally, mostly by divers and fishermen. Japanese inventor Kokichi Mikimoto eventually figured out how to culture pearls, and they are now widely available.

Pearls will emerge in the same color as the shell of the oyster which grew them–white, gold, silver, black or gray. They can also have pink, green or blue undertones.

The June birthstone is quite fragile. Pearls are only a 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness scale and can be scratched or damaged if not properly cared for. This shouldn’t scare you away from pearl jewelry, however. Pearls are a wonderful choice for special occasion pieces.

Pearl jewelry adds class and sophistication to any outfit. Slip into a pearl necklace or dangling pearl earrings and be transformed into the most elegant version of yourself.
 

July Birthstone

July’s birthstone is one of history’s most coveted gems. It is even called “The King Of Gemstones” by some gemologists and jewelry historians! 

Ruby’s stunning maroon color has led to associations with passion. In Medieval Europe, it was worn to stave off hot tempers. It’s also symbolic of the heart, and has been a common romantic gift throughout history. 

The finest rubies sell for the highest per-carat cost of any gemstone. Don’t worry, though–you can find plenty of ruby jewelry at affordable prices. Ruby’s striking color will stand out no matter how you style it.

At a 9 on the Mohs scale, Ruby is second only to the diamond in terms of its durability. Purchase ruby jewelry with the confidence that it is built to last! 
 

August Birthstone

August’s birthstone is the fascinating peridot. Since its discovery, it’s been somewhat mysterious–nobody is quite sure whether its name is derived from the Arabic faridat (meaning ‘gem’) or the Greek peridona (meaning ‘to give in abundance’). 

It is formed by volcanic activity, and small deposits have also been found in meteorites, adding to its mystical allure. Peridot is a lighter green than emerald. This hasn’t stopped it from being involved in several cases of mistaken identity, though. Germany’s Cologne Cathedral was decorated with 200 carat ‘emeralds’ which turned out to be peridots after all.

Peridot is well-suited for front-and-center jewelry, since it sparkles even under artificial lighting. Peridot jewelry is also quite hardy, coming in at a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Its sweet, soft green is reminiscent of the hazy days of summer, making it the perfect August birthstone. Pick up your peridot jewelry today to show off your brilliant birthstone year-round!
 

September Birthstone

Striking sapphire has a long history in high society. Sapphire was particularly popular in the 1920s, since its deep blue dazzle perfectly complemented the sharp, clean lines of Art Deco design. In the 1980s, Princess Diana rocked a stunning 12 carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Ever since, the sapphire has been a trusted choice for brides seeking a unique ring with classic appeal. 

Sapphires are a highly durable gemstone, coming in at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. With basic upkeep, your sapphire jewelry will sparkle for a lifetime.

Sapphire rings are an especially in-demand piece of sapphire jewelry. Get in touch with your own royal vibes in a radiant 14k white gold blue sapphire ring like this one. Delicately accented with rows of diamonds, this is a gorgeous gemstone piece for the proud September girl. 

 

October Birthstone

The opulent opal is the one-of-a-kind October birthstone. Its name is derived from the Latin opalus (‘precious jewel’). Each stone is made of microscopic crystalline spheres stacked in a grid-like pattern. The light passes through these spheres and is reflected into a rainbow of hues, giving the opal its kaleidoscopic play-of-color. 

Ancient Bedouin tribes believed that opals fell from the skies during thunderstorms, and that each stone contained a little bit of lightning. When you see an opal shimmer for yourself, it’s not hard to understand why they thought so!

The opal ranks from a 5.5 to a 6.5 on the Mohs scale, meaning that it is rather fragile. It is particularly sensitive to excessive heat and sudden temperature changes, so keep your opal jewelry in a stable environment. Display the opal’s play-of-color in a pendant or drop earrings and announce that you’re a one-of-a-kind October baby!
 

November Birthstone

November’s birthstone, citrine, comes from the French citron, meaning lemon, due to its range of yellow colors. 

Like amethyst, it is a variety of quartz, forming in high heat. Occasionally, citrine and amethyst grow together into one crystal. This rare mixed color stone is called an ‘ametrine.’ Citrine was commonly used for Greek carvings, and the Scottish people are also known for historically wearing lots of citrine jewelry.

A 7 on the Mohs scale, citrine can safely be worn just about anywhere. This classy citrine ring features a 14 karat yellow gold band and glittering diamonds surrounding the center stone. November girls, wear your citrine jewelry with pride–it’s especially for you!

 

December Birthstone

December’s birthstone has been blue topaz and turquoise, but now it’s the tantalizing tanzanite. Following its discovery in 1967, Harry Platt, the president of Tiffany & Co., called it “the most beautiful stone discovered in 2000 years.” It is the first new birthstone to be adopted since 1912–it’s just that gorgeous!

Tanzanite jewelry is somewhat durable at a 6 on the Mohs scale, so consider wearing your tanzanite in a pendant or a pair of earrings. No matter how you choose to wear your tanzanite jewelry, it’s sure to be a show-stopper–just like you!

 

Find Your Special Birthstone Jewelry at Levy Jewelers 

Every girl deserves a special something that’s just for her–a reminder of the uniquely beautiful person she is. A piece of birthstone jewelry is a wonderful way to express your authentic self. Take pride in the meaning and history behind your birthstone, and treasure its beauty forever in a keepsake of birthstone jewelry.

At Levy Jewelers, we carry a vast selection of earrings, bracelets, pendant necklaces and rings featuring these incredible gemstones. Visit our website or stop by our store to browse our beautiful collections and pick out a piece of your own today!