Silver Gem Jewellery

          JANUARY                    GARNET              

 
                                                   
          

Garnet is January's Birthstone. They are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black and pink.

Garnet is known to have been used since the Bronze age as a Gemstone and the name is thought to possibly come from Latin for Pomegranate [ Punica Granatum], which has red seeds similar in shape to Garnet crystals.

  
     FEBRUARY                  AMETHYST



                                          

Amethyst is February's Birthstone. Its has long been treasured as a Gemstone and has featured in many a King and queens Jewellery collection. Its name comes from the greek [Methustos] meaning "Intoxicated" and referred to the belief that Amethyst protected the wearer from drunkenness.


    MARCH                             AQUAMARINE

                          

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and is a member of the Beryl family.
It has been called "Water of the Sea", because of its  Blu Green colour. The aquamarine is the stone of sailors, as they believed it would be protection for them on water. In folklore it's said that  aquamarine will protect the wearer against gossip.


APRIL                                DIAMOND

                             

Diamond is the birthstone for April and the hardest natural substance known. Historical records show that Diamonds were used some 3000 years ago for decoration and to ward off evil. In the middle ages diamonds became very popular as more and more were discovered.
Today there are over 30 diamond mines producing over 130 million carats a year at a value of around US$9.00 Billion.
 

MAY                                         EMERALD

                                  
Emerald is the birthstone for May. Emerald is part of the Beryl family and gets its beautiful green colour from tiny amounts of Chromium or Vanadium.
Emeralds have been highly prized over the centuries and are one of the few gemstones that are accepted for their inclusions which increase their character and individualism.
Their history has be traced back 4000 years with the original mines of Egypt.
In Folklore emeralds were worn to enhance Love, promote contentment and aid healing. 


JUNE                          MOONSTONE

                                                 

Moonstone is the birthstone for June. It is part of the Feldspar family of gemstones. It is called the "gemstone of hope" and not surprisingly has long been associated with the moon and in Folklore was said to relieve tension of the mind, ease nervous conditions and relieve stomach problems.
It is an iridescent stone and is distinguished by its bluish shimmer that can be seen when it is moved.

JULY                            RUBY

                                                       

Ruby is the birthstone for July. It is part of the Corundum family of gemstones and gets its beautiful red colour from small amounts of Chromium.
The mining of Ruby goes back around 2500 years with early mines found in Sri Lanka.
 Folklore says that Ruby was worn to protect from illness and misfortune and bring the wearer friendship, courage and romance. hindus thought the Ruby burned with an internal fire and named it "The King of Precious Gemstones". 


AUGUST                              PERIDOT

                   

Peridot is the birthstone for August. It is a type of Olivine and gets its green colour from small amounts of Iron and is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one colour.
In Folklore Peridot was said to bring the wearer peace, success and good luck.
 It is also said that Peridot reduced anger, attracted love and dispersed negative emotions.

SEPTEMBER                    SAPPHIRE 

                                             

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. It is part of the Corundum family and comes in many colours including Black, Blue, Purple, Yellow, Orange and White and their different colours arise from varying small amounts of Iron and Titanium.
Sapphires have always been sought after and prized.
In history they have been traced back to 800BC.
Sapphires with inclusions of rutile needles exhibit the optical property called Asterism and are called star Sapphires.
In Folklore Sapphires were worn to ward off illness and protect the traveler.

OCTOBER                   TOURMALINE


                                              

Tourmaline is the birthstone for October. Its name comes from the Sinhalese [now Sri Lanka] word "Tura Mali" which translates as " The Stone Of Mixed Colours".
 From this there is no surprise then that Tourmaline comes in many colours which include, Lime to Dark Green, Black, Brown, Blue, Red, Pink and Colourless.
In Folklore the person that wore tourmaline was said to promote their friendships and was deeply compassionate. 


NOVEMBER        CITRINE  TOPAZ

                  

Citrine and Topaz are both the birthstones for November.

Starting with Citrine, it is part of the Quartz family of gemstones and comes from the old French word "Citrin" meaning Lemon.
In Folklore Citrine it is said to promote success, abundance, confidence and happiness.

Topaz is part of the silicate family of minerals and its name comes from the Greek word "Topazion".
Topaz was highly valued by the Ancient Greeks and Roman's as a gemstone.
Folklore says Topaz balances emotions, brings joy and relieves tension.

DECEMBER                  TANZANITE

                                    

Tanzanite is the birthstone for December. It is a form of Zoisite and is a relatively newly discovered  gemstone, being discovered in 1967 in Tanzania.
 It is only found in one place and that is in the foot hills of Mount Kilimanjaro. 
Tanzanite is said to be 1000 times rarer then diamonds and that the mine will be exhausted within the next 20 to 30 years.
Tanzanite is such a new gemstone that no real Folklore exists other then the story of it's discovery.
 The most widely accredited story says that Ali Juyawatu,
 a Massai tribesman, while herding his goats found a piece of translucent blueish violet crystal.
 He showed this to Manuel D'Sousa who was prospecting in the area. He examined the crystal further and found it to be an entirely new gemstone.
This was passed on to the famous Tiffany & Co and from there the phenomenal success story began.