Do You Know Your Birthstone? Is Yours a Precious Or Semi-Precious Stone?

I say all girls should be showered with diamonds, you won't find a more brilliant precious gemstone than the diamond. The Ruby is second after the diamond in hardness, so cheer up July babies! The Sapphire family, also as hard as the Ruby, and Emerald are considered Precious stones. All gemstones other than the Diamond, Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire are called Semi-Precious, this doesn't necessarily mean less expensive, take the very popular and rare Tanzanite, for example, which can cost as much as a diamond depending on its quality. In my opinion, all precious and semi-precious stones are beautiful and valuable for different reasons and in the end which ever one you are drawn to is the one you will love to wear.

garnet bracelet

There are different charts for birthstones, here's a traditional one:
January: Garnet February: Amethyst March: Bloodstone April: Diamond May: Emerald June: Alexandrite July: Ruby August: Peridot September: Blue Sapphire October: Tourmaline November: Citrine (orange) December: Turquoise

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The more commonly known chart has birthstone changes to March, June, October, November and December:
January: Garnet February: Amethyst March: Aquamarine April: Diamond May: Emerald June: Pearl July: Ruby August: Peridot September: Blue Sapphire October: Opal November: Yellow Topaz December: Blue Topaz

The least popular color gemstone is the Peridot, the lime green color does not appeal to many and August born ladies seek out the deeper green Tourmalines. I personally like the Peridot, a fresh color to wear come Spring. Give Peridot a chance, when set in a beautiful piece, it can truly shine and make a strong statement.

There is also have a Zodiac Birthstone chart:
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20) - Ruby Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 21) - Garnet Pisces (Feb 22 - March 21) - Amethyst Aries (March 22 - April 20) - Bloodstone (Jasper) Taurus (April 21 - May 21) - Sapphire Gemini (May 22 - June 21) - Agate Cancer (June 22 - July 22) - Emerald Leo (July 23 - August 22) - Onyx Virgo (August 23 - Sept 22) - Carnelian Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 23) - Peridot Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 21) - Aquamarine Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21) - Topaz

Precious and Semi-Precious stones are naturally formed in the Earth, thousands of years in making, the endless process of geologic changes bring various stones into being. Just think about the time, the movement and force that gives birth to mountains and new lands, the displacement of rocks and continents, the hot magma and years of cooling, all these amazing earthly changes that is continuously occurring and that bring forth all these fascinating colorful Crystals and Rocks that we then take, cut and polish into beautiful Gemstones. It's no wonder they have exercised such power over the human race from the very start. Today, you will also hear about color enhancement and treatment, most gemstones have had some sort of treatment. Did you know that the Tanzanite that you see with its royal purple blue color is truly brown in its natural state? That beautiful hue comes forth from a special heat treatment. Treatment and enhancements are common and most gemstones have had some type of treatment. A treated or enhanced stone is still a natural stone.

However, not to confuse with synthetic stones which are grown in labs. What has taken millions of years for Earth to create, today humans can speed up the process in a lab. A synthetic stone will have identical composition as the naturally occurring stone, and will be a little less expensive. Earth's creations will always have greater value. Gemstones are used to adorn the body as well as heal the body, since the beginning of the human race these colorful mesmerizing rocks have never stopped being a source of great fascination.

Do You Know Your Birthstone? Is Yours a Precious Or Semi-Precious Stone?

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