January

Garnet

Garnets represent healing, protection, strength, heart, passion, constancy, and truth.  Garnets are a great addition to eveningwear, and they come in all colors, with red being the most common.  The ancient Greeks came up with the name Garnet since the color reminded them of the pomegranate seed.

February

Amethyst

Amethyst, a variety of quartz, is thought to bring stability, strength, peace, healing, and inspiration to its possessors.  This purple color is very tranquil, and it is a great look with bright whites or pastels.

March

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is known for its spiritual properties.  The fairly transparent aquamarine is a variety of the mineral species beryl, and it ranges from bluish green to greenish blue.  Some people believe that wearing this stone brings out intuition, sensitivity, and even one's inner spiritual side.  This light blue shimmering stone goes well with pastels.

Bloodstone

The bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony (kal-SED-uh-nee) that has a green body color with red spotting and ranges from semi-translucent to opaque.  In the Middle Ages, bloodstone was attributed special powers as the spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ.  In ancient times, bloodstone was thought to be able to stop hemorrhages by touch.  Bloodstone relieves stomach pain, and it strengthens blood-purifying organs to improve blood circulation.

April

Diamond

Diamonds are a symbol of success and love.  Many people give diamonds to express their love and commitment.  This birthstone also symbolizes faith, and it is thought to ward evil from its possessor.  Often colorless, diamonds make a striking addition to any wardrobe.  However, depending on the impurities present, there is a range of color within diamonds: brown, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, red, gray, and black.

May

Emerald

Emeralds are thought to be lucky in love, offer good fortune, and bring tranquility to the soul.  Also in the beryl family, they are highly valued, and it is the anniversary gemstone for the 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage.  Emerald is extensively used for physical and emotional healing, and it also represents fertility and rebirth.  It is also said they drive away evil spirits.  These beautiful green stones look best worn with bright colors.

June

Pearls

Pearls worn by brides on their wedding day are used to accent the bride's beauty.  They bring life to love and display the inner beauty of a person.  People believe wearing pearls will restore a person's youth and strength.  Some also believe that pearls eliminate emotional imbalances.  Pearls go well with gray tones and pastels and add flare to business wear.

Moonstone

Moonstone comes in every color, and it varies from translucent to opaque.  Named for its resemblance in color to the moon, it is thought that moonstone aligns vertebrae and is a good digestive aid.  Moonstone also soothes and balances the emotions, and it is said to balance yin and yang.  Moonstone is believed to be protective for women and babies.  The stone has a rainbow-like array of colors and will pick up colors you wear.  The best moonstone has a blue sheen, perfect clarity, and a colorless body.

Alexandrite

Alexandrite is the third option for June birthdays.  It is a variation of the mineral species chrysoberyl (KRIS-oh-bare-ul), and it is color-changing; it looks green in daylight and reddish purple in artificial light.  Alexandrite is named after Czar Alexander II, and it is a stone of good omen.  It can assist one in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem, and increasing one's ability to experience joy.  Some people believe that it improves central nervous system disorders and relieves spleen and pancreas problems.  Alexandrite is a beautiful rare stone, which is quite expensive as it is very difficult to find natural alexandrite.

July

Ruby

Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, and it can vary from transparent to opaque.  In color, it varies from orangy-red to purplish-red, brownish-red.  The bright red Ruby is a symbol of passion and glory, and it brings freedom from care.  The fire in the red accents both bright colors and black wardrobes.

August

Peridot

Peridot is a stone that ranges in color in levels of green: lime, yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green hues.  Peridot ranges from transparent to translucent, and it is said to display kindness.  Many believe that wearing this stone increases strength and physical vitality.  Peridot protects against nervousness and aids in healing hurt feelings.  It is also thought to protect lungs, sinuses, and wrists from illness and injury.  This glimmering green is a great addition to a wardrobe of earthy tones and soft pastels.

September

Sapphire

Sapphire is also in the family of corundum, and it is often blue.  It ranges from transparent to opaque.  When sapphire occurs in other colors, it is called a fancy sapphire, unless it is red, which is a ruby.  It is a precious stone believed to bring hope and romance in relationships.  Wear this stone with cool colors and eveningwear.

October

Opal

Opal comes in virtually any body-color, and it ranges from transparent to opaque.  It is given as a symbol of hope, happiness, and truth.  Opals are thought to have the power to reveal all of one's moods and emotions.  In ancient times, opal was accepted as a symbol of faithfulness and confidence.  It has reputed healing properties, especially to increase mental capacities such as creative imagination.  With so much color and fire within it, people feel relaxed and more confident when wearing it.  Add an opal to earthy tones and soft colors.

Pink Tourmaline

Tourmaline can be any color, and it actually gets its name from the Sinhalese word turmali, meaning multicolored.  It ranges from transparent to opaque.  Tourmaline calms nerves, regulates hormones, fights against genetic disorders, and induces a tranquil sleep.  Tourmaline is said to dispel fear, negativity and grief.

November

Citrine

Citrine is a variety of quartz, and it is transparent.  It ranges in color from yellow to orange to brownish orange.  Citrine is said to have been a gift from the sun, and it gets its name from the French word citron, meaning lemon.  It symbolizes light-heartedness, joy, and happiness, and it is a great protective talisman.  It calms and soothes, and it is said to stimulate memory.  Citrine is the signature of wisdom and peace.

Topaz

Topaz is transparent and pure topaz is colorless, but it also occurs in a broad range of colors: yellow, blue, pink, peach, gold, green, red, orange, and brown.  Topaz is a stone of strength, and it is said to stimulate the endocrine system.  Topaz balances emotions and calms passions.  It releases tension and gives feelings of joy.  Topaz is known as spiritual rejuvenation gemstone.  Pure topaz, when brilliant-cut, sometimes is mistaken for a diamond.

December

Blue Zircon

Blue Zircon can range from light to dark, and it is transparent.  It is said to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor, and riches.  Zircon relieves pain, and it is said to whet one's appetite.  Zircon also prevents nightmares and ensures a deep tranquil sleep.  Zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace with oneself.  Blue Zircon can be worn well with pastels and creams.

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is the purplish blue variation of the mineral zoisite, and comes from Tanzania, Africa.  Tanzanite is thought to help the wearer exude confidence and individuality.  It is also thought to elevate one's mood and is believed to bring the wearer luck and fortune.  Tanzanite was used for healing purposes, and is still used in crystal healing in both India and Thailand.

Turquoise

Turquoise ranges from semi-translucent to opaque, and it can be any variation of blue or green.  Turquoise is said to guard against all diseases, as well as assist in tissue regeneration, subtle body alignment, and strengthening.  Turquoise has been thought to warn the wearer of danger or illness by changing color.  In the 13th century, turquoise was thought to protect the wearer from falling, especially from horses.  Turquoise is also believed to bring happiness and good fortune to all.  It is said that turquoise attracts healing spirits, making it a premier healing stone.