Birthstones January to March
Garnet is January's Birthstone
January's birthstone is the garnet. It is often mistakenly thought that all garnet stones are red.
Red garnets are the most common, but in fact, garnet comes in a wide variety of colours ranging from black, green, clear and numerous shades of red. The variety of colours is due to metal impurities such as iron, aluminum and manganese. A few garnets look as if they have a star in their center. This look is produced when tiny fibers of the metal impurities form within the piece of garnet.
The name "garnet" comes from the Latin "granatum" meaning pomegranate" because the crystals look like the red color and seed-like form of this fruit. Use of garnet goes back very far. Garnet necklaces were found in the graves of wealthy Bronze age Czechoslovakians. Even older is garnet jewellery from Egypt and Sumeria dating as far back as 3100 BC. Garnet jewelry was intensely popular during third and fourth century Rome. Medieval warriors also believed that garnet protected them against wounds, but they also believed that garnet brought victory! Chinese and Japanese warriors made bullets out of garnet because they believed that these would inflict more damage on their intended victims. As recent as 1892, during skirmishes in Kashmir, Hanza warriors fired garnet bullets at British soldiers!
Garnet was not only favored for its beauty, but also for the powers it was believed to have. Many Native American tribes used garnet in jewellery and to decorate shields, dreamcatchers and many other things. But their uses went much deeper than decoration. It was believed that garnet had strong medicinal powers. Garnet was thought to protect its wearer against poisons and wounds. It was also believed by some to help cure depression and to prevent nightmares. Red garnets in particular was believed to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.
Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. Some attributes are still associated with this gemstone however. Garnet is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendships. Garnets are not all that difficult to find if you know what you are looking for, though gem quality garnets are more rare. They can be found in many places around the world including the US, South America, Australia, India, Asia and Spain. Most often garnet can be found in small rocks in streams where the surrounding rock has been eroded away.
Amethyst is February's Birthstone By: Sam Serio
February's birthstone: Amethyst; Birthstone powers: Brings peace and calm to your life; Alternative Birthstone: Bloodstone
Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the sixth of marriage. Once considered more valuable than diamonds, this member of the quartz member occurs naturally as crystals within rocks. The stones are mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and in the mountains of Russia. American amethysts are mined in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado. Amethyst from Maine is usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having a bluish tint unique to that area. Amethyst can lighten if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560 Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown. (They are then called citrines. These are more richly colored and more expensive then natural citrines)
Ideally deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range in hue from pale lilac to nearly black purple. Since purple has always been the color of royalty, amethysts abound in the ornaments of in the British Crown Jewels and in the adornments of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well.
They have been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning royal jewelry, scepters, and crowns. The intense violet hue of February's birthstone appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color…as a symbol of their elevated position. Purple dye was once scarce and expensive, so it was reserved for the garments of royalty, and the color came to symbolize power and status.
Sobering Thoughts with Amethyst - The Greeks believed that whoever wore an amethyst or drank from an amethyst cup would not become intoxicated. In fact, the word amethyst is derived from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. It was also claimed that amethyst had a sobering effect on those "drunk" on love’s passion. Even today, amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors. In general, the gemstone is believed to be a calming, tranquil influence that symbolizes peace.
Amethyst and Prayer - Amethyst is symbolic of piety, spirituality, and a devotion to God. The rich purple gemstones are used worldwide to ornament churches and crosses used in religious ceremony, and they frequently found in the rings and on the rosaries worn by bishops and priests.
It is also believed that amethysts bring on pleasant dreams because they allow you to "channel" positive universal energy. As a result many people place an amethyst under their pillow before going to sleep at night to enjoy "sweet dreams" throughout the night.
Aquamarine is March's Birthstone By: Sam Serio
March Birthstone: Aquamarine; Birthstone Properties: Bestows courage, insight, and victory; Alternative Birthstone: Bloodstone
Aquamarine is the traditional birthstones for March. It is also the accepted anniversary gem for the 19th year of marriage. Aquamarine is mined primarily in Brazil, Nigeria and Zambia.
Water Baby - Created by combining Latin words for water (aqua) and sea (mare), aquamarine does indeed resemble the bottomless blue of seawater. Like Emerald, aquamarine is a variety of beryl (a mineral that crystallizes within large rocks on the earth's crust). Aquamarine varies in color from blue-green to a light sky blue, and for generations, those stones containing green are often heat-treated to remove this less desirable color. Surprisingly, unlike other coveted gemstones, the majority of aquamarines are flawless. As a gift, aquamarine is unsurpassed in its legendary abilities to preserve and enhance mutual love, to ensure truth in relationships and to maintain a good marriage
When In Rome…- Ancient Romans believed the magnificent gemstone was sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea. Some legends say that it was gift from mermaids, while others suggest that Neptune retrieved it after it fell from the jewel boxes of sirens and washed onto shore. Early sailors wore aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea.
The association with water led to the belief that the Aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed. Water in which this gemstone had been submerged was used in ancient times to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat. Aquamarines were also used to reverse poisoning and to aid in fortune telling.
Heal Me - Many believe that aquamarine helps dependence on drugs, is an aid in digestion, and can be used as remedy for swollen glands and to maintain the health of the jaws and teeth. On the non-physical plain, aquamarine is believed to release anger and negativity replacing them with mental peace and clarity, providing emotional and mental balance. It has been used as an aid in meditation and to assist in self-expression.
A Gift of Love - To dream of aquamarine signifies the making of new friends. To wear aquamarine brings love and affection. To give aquamarine is to offer the gift of knowledge, foresight and individual inspiration. It is a universal symbol of youth, fidelity, hope and health. Ideal for carving into cameos and beads, the "blue sea" stone is said to aid seafarers so it is a wonderful gift for sailors, fishermen, and everyone who spends time at sea. A a gift of aquamarine symbolizes safety and security, especially within long standing relationships.
Caveat Emptor (Buyer beware):- The beautiful light blue to blue-green color of aquamarine may fade upon prolonged exposure to light, so it is especially important to purchase this gem from a reputable source.