Gemstones

Gemstones - also known as precious or semi precious stones - are highly attractive and valuable pieces of minerals that, when cut and polished, are often used in jewellery.

Certain gemstones represent birthstones - the month in which a person is born. These are outlined below -

JANUARY - GARNET - "CONSTANCY" - Used as a gemstone since the Bronze age, garnets come in many colours. Mostly found in Madagascar, the USA, Russia and Turkey, the garnet is a key mineral in interpreting the genesis on many ingeous and metamorphic rocks. A garnet can be given to celebrate a 2nd or 6th wedding anniversary, and is commonly worn for healing, strength and protection.

FEBRUARY - AMETHYST - "SINCERITY" - Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, and was used during Greek and Roman times to protect against drunkeness. Amethysts are mainly found in the USA, some areas of Canada, Brazil and South Korea. An amethyst can be given to celebrate a 4th, 6th and 17th wedding anniversary and is often worn to aid hearing disorders, insomnia, headaches and other pains.

MARCH - AQUAMARINE - "COURAGE" - An aquamarine is a transparent variety of "beryl", and can be found most commonly in Africa, Russia, Sri Lanka and Brazil. Aquamarines can be given for the 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries, and are commonly worn to increase intelligence, and to make one youthful.


APRIL - DIAMOND - "EVERLASTING LOVE" - The diamond (everybody's best friend) is one of the hardest known natural minerals and derives from the Greek word "adamas", meaning invincible, and has been treasured as gemstones since their use in ancient India. Approximately 49% of the worlds diamonds originate from Southern Africa, Canada, India, Russia and Australia. A diamond is given to celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary, and was previously worn as a talisman to ward off evil, or to provide protection in battle.

MAY - EMERALD - "HOPE AND SUCCESS" - Emeralds, coming from the Sanskrit word meaning "green" are commonly found in Africa, Brazil, India and Russia. the rare "trapiche" emerald, found in some areas of Columbia, command the highest prices. An emerald can be given on the 20th, 35th or 55th wedding anniversary, and has been used to ward off epliepsy, or to prevent diseases of the eye.

JUNE - PEARL or ALEXANDRITE - "HEALTH" - Alexandrite tens to exhibit green, red and orange-yellow colours, and tends to change colours in artificial light. Typically, alexandrite has an emerald green colour in daylight, but exhibits a raspberry red colour in incandescent light, and are mostly found in Russia and Sri Lanka. Pearls are primarily produced by molluscs such as "pearl oysters". Most often white in colour, they can actually be found naturally in any colour. Most freshwater pearls come from China, and saltwater pearls are harvested in southsea protected lagoons. Pearls can be given on the 1st, 3rd, 12th and 30th wedding anniversary, and are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection and luck.

JULY - RUBY - "CONTENTMENT" - Rubies vary from light pink to red in colour and are commonly found in Africa, Asia and Australasia. Most rubies sold on the common market are "heat treated", and the "pigeon red" ruby commands the highest prices. Commonly given to celebrate a 40th wedding anniversary, the ruby - when worn - is said to provide the gift of confident self-esteem.

AUGUST - PERIDOT - "MARRIED HAPPINESS" - Peridot, believed to be named for the Arabic word "faridat" meaning gem, is considered to be the poor mans emerald. Commonly found in most parts of the world, the largest peridot ever found, at 310ct, is on display in the Smithsonian Museusm in Washington DC. Peridot is given for a 16th wedding anniversary, and is said to offer the wearer health, protection and sleep.

SEPTEMBER - SAPPHIRE - "WISDOM" - A sapphire is a non-red variety of the mineral "corundum" and, when found with other trace elements, can be found in almost any colour. Most popular is the blue sapphire which is most commonly found in Africa, Asia and Australasia. A sapphire can be given for the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversary, and the Star Sapphire is given on the 65th wedding anniversary. A sapphire is often worn for spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.

OCTOBER - PINK TOURMALINE - "HOPE" - Tourmalines are commonly distinctful by their three-sided prisms, which is not found in any other "common minerals". Tourmalines are mined in Brazil and Africa, and the dravite tourmalines of Yinnietharra, Australia, are the rarest and finest on today's market. Tourmalines can be given on an 8th wedding anniversary and are said, if worn, to strengthen body and spirit.

NOVEMBER - BLUE TOPAZ - "FAITHFULNESS" - The topaz is admired for its pure, transparent quality. Its name is derived from the Greek word "topazios", an island in the Red Sea, and is the State Gem of Utah. Topaz can be given on the 4th, 9th or 23rd wedding anniversary, and the Greeks believed that the wearer would increase in strength and become invisible.

DECEMBER - TURQUOISE - "HARMONY & PROSPERITY" - Turquoise is an opaque, blue to green mineral, ands has been prized as an ornamental gem for thousands of years. The region known as "Persia" has been the main source of turquoise but it is also sometimes also found in the USA. Turquoise is also a planetary stone for Taurus, Aquarius and Saggitarius starsigns, and supposedly, when worn, attracts money, success and love.