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

GARNET

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?

GARNET

The Colorful Semi-Precious Stone - Garnet

The term for the semi-precious stone garnet comes from the Latin word 'Granatum' which means pomegranate. This is because the seeds and pulp of the fruit is actually similarly colored to garnet. Garnet crystals are also similar to the shape and size of pomegranates.

garnet necklace

Garnet is actually a group of minerals which have been used by many ever since the Bronze Age as abrasives and as gemstones. They most often come in red; however, they are available in a lot of colors that could span the entire spectrum.

GARNET

The six most common garnet species are essentially recognized on the basis of their chemical composition. These species are almandine, pyrope, spessartite, grossular (which includes tsavorite and hessonite or cinnamon-stone), andradite and uvarovite. They are comprised of two solid solution series. The first one being uvarovite-grossular-andradite and the second one pyrope-almandine-spessarite.

Garnets are found in most colors which includes red, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, blue, black, pink and even colorless. The most rare one would be the blue garnet, which was discovered in Bekily, Madagascar during the late 1990s. It could also be mined in several areas in the United States, Turkey and Russia. This garnet can change its color from blue-green during the day into purple when under incandescent light. This effect is basically a result of having relatively high amount of vanadium. Some other kinds of garnets which have the ability of changing color do exist as well.

Garnet is the birthstone of those individuals who have been born in the month of January. Some of its holistic benefits include its power to regenerate the bloodstream, give assistance for accepting love and provide courage. It is also believed to be a creativity stimulant.

The Colorful Semi-Precious Stone - Garnet

GARNET

Semi-Precious Stones - What You Need to Know

A semi-precious stone is just another word for a gemstone. These gems, like opal or quartz, are cut and polished to make jewelry. While semi-precious stone can mean any gemstone, right up to diamonds and emeralds, the term typically refers to gemstones like scapilite, peridot or quartz topaz that tend to have a lower value, though still exhibit brilliant beauty. In this article, we'll cover some basic semi-precious stones, including how to recognize them.

garnet engagement rings

Amber: Amber is not technically a stone; it's an organic gem derived from fossilized tree sap. Amber ranges in color from a honey yellow to an almost chocolaty orange-brown. While amber is often faked using high-quality plastic, it can be easily tested with intense heat. True amber will produce a white smoke, while plastic will simply smolder or melt.

GARNET

Amethyst: Very popular thanks to its tranquil purple tones, this quartz-based stone is very versatile and durable. Amethyst is typically mined in Russia, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Madagascar, Namibia, Sri Lanka, the United States, Uruguay and Zambia. Fine amethysts are also produced using synthetic lab-based methods.

Peridot: As the birthstone for August, this beautiful and transparent stone comes in a range of colors from a yellowish green to a deep chartreuse shade. The remarkable Peridot was originally believed to free the mind from jealous thoughts and was seen as an aid to friendship. Though not exceptionally brilliant, the Peridot stone is prized for its rich color. Today, Peridot is mined in Arizona, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Garnet: Depending on the type of garnet, its quality, color and size, a garnet can range anywhere from a carat to over 00 per carat. These remarkable stones are found in all colors and shades, but are best known for their deep, blood red variety. Today, the rare green garnet (tsavorite) is mined in Kenya and Tanzania, while orange and red garnet can be found in Madagascar, Namibia and Pakistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Lapis is the birthstone for December and was traditionally prized as a powerful amulet. Genuine lapis is an opaque, blue stone that exhibits an intense, brilliant and very deep blue coloration. Some types of lapis exhibit small, gold flecks, but these varieties tend to be less valuable. The best lapis in the world come from Argentina and Afghanistan, but the unique stone can also be found in Chile, Russia, the United States and Canada.

Semi-Precious Stones - What You Need to Know

GARNET