The number of questions that surround birthstones are numerous.
What are birthstones and their properties? Why are they considered lucky? What are the legends and myths that surround different stones? And most importantly what do birthstones represent?
GARNET
It is easy to get lost amidst a sea of information, especially since the information is as diverse as the stones themselves. There are myths and legends and different meanings that were attributed to any given stone over the course of centuries. Some were used to protect against the evil eye, while some were favorites of royalty, who put them on their crowns and scepters. And a good few bishops wore them too (it is amethyst in case you were wondering, it was a symbol of purity and spirituality so it was only appropriate as a bishop's favorite).
If you are on the lookout for an engagement ring or even a Celtic engagement ring it does not mean birthstones cannot be incorporated. It is said after all that they bring good luck.
Find your birth month and your birthstone in the list below.
January - Garnet (Color - Red)
February - Amethyst (Color - purple)
March - Aquamarine (Color: Pale blue)
April - Diamond (Color: Clear, White)
May - Emerald Color: Deep Green
June - Pearl (Color: White)
July - Ruby (Color: Red)
August - Peridot (Color: Yellowish green)
September - Sapphire (Color: Deep Blue)
October - Opal (Color: Multi-colored)
November - Topaz (Color: Yellow Gold)
December - Turquoise (Color: Blue)
Some of these are quite popular choices (diamonds and emeralds come to mind) when it comes to engagement rings but some others like garnet or perhaps peridot you may have never heard of.
Truth of the matter is that even though rings with birthstones might be a relatively recent invention, birthstones and their meaning are as inseparable as Celtic knots on Celtic jewelry.
Ancient Egyptians believed that emeralds are a symbol of eternal youth and it is no wonder they were Cleopatra's favorites. Garnet on the other hand, even though relatively unknown, was not only considered a symbol of love but one legend has it that because of its deep red color Noah used it as a guide light on his arc during the storm.
For many of the birthstones it was considered that they not only bring good luck to whoever wore them, but they protected against evil spirits and could keep nightmares away and bring prosperity and wealth to the wearer.
Some birthstones like sapphires and peridot were ground to a fine powder and used as a treatment for different ailments.
The symbolism behind these precious stones is even more poignant - diamonds and rubies are symbols of everlasting love, pearls are a symbol of purity and not just good taste and style, while today's meaning of emeralds is that they symbolize wisdom, growth and patience which makes them a perfect anniversary present.
It has to be said that the idea of grinding any precious stone to a powder to help with an ailment sounds quite preposterous in this day and age. However it cannot be denied that the symbolism of everlasting love that diamonds represent, sounds romantic. Or the idea that sapphires represent faithfulness and sincerity.
If you are on the look out for an engagement ring and you would like to choose the appropriate birthstone, bear in mind, there are no rules and regulations, do what feels right. You can use the current list as guidelines, but you can always refer to other birthstone lists (yes there are plenty) or you can use color as a guideline when making your choice.
A Celtic diamond engagement ring does qualify as a birthstone ring for anyone born in April. Remember that although they are precious stones, nothing is written in stone. It is your engagement ring after all.
Birthstones - Some of Their Symbolism and Properties GARNET
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