BIRTHSTONES BY MONTH: THEIR MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE
Plus a Few Fun Facts and How we like to use these stones at NIXIN Jewelry
(NOTE: This content is intended to share existing historical lore and belief systems and is not meant to be asserted as fact.)
Cherished for centuries, birthstones have long been admired not only for their beauty but also for their meanings and significance. Each month of the year is associated with a specific gemstone - even additional “alternate” gemstones - believed to confer a range of benefits and to symbolize different qualities. In this blog post, we’ll explore the primary birthstone recognized for each month of the year, and their generally accepted meanings along with the significance each one holds.
But we’ll explore more than just the meanings of the stones; we’ll also share some fun facts about each gemstone and its history. And we’ll convey how we do (or don’t) incorporate them into our own work. You might be surprised — though we’re very opal oriented, that doesn’t mean other gemstones haven’t found a way into our hearts…and into our fine jewelry.
January: Garnet
Meaning: Vitality and Protection
Traditional garnet, or almandine garnet, is easily associated with love and passion, given its deep red hue. Many believe it yields protection and self confidence to its wearers, making it an exceptional choice for new beginnings.
Fun Facts About Garnet
Not all garnet is red. In fact, garnet is one of the few gemstones that comes in a rainbow array of hues.
- Spessartine and hessonite garnet remain in the red, orange or even brown families.
- Demantoid and tsavorite garnets hit various shades of green.
- Rhodolite garnets are purple with pink or red undertones.
- And malaya garnets - our personal favorite - span a range from mostly pink to orange infused or even red-dominant hues.
How NIXIN Jewelry Uses Garnet
Here at NIXIN Jewelry, we’ve used an array of garnets in our work, though we tend to use tsavorite garnets (both dark and light) more than any other type. There’s something about the way they complement the various green tones in our opals, and work well together with emeralds, that keeps us returning to them over and over.
One more little secret about garnet: it’s Nicki’s birthstone!
February: Amethyst
Meaning: Peace, Healing and Luxury
Known for its soothing properties, amethyst is said to promote balance and clarity of mind, making it an ideal choice for those seeking tranquility. A beautiful shade of purple, it is also associated with wealth, as purple has long been the color of royalty.
Fun Facts about Amethyst
- Heard of Rose de France Amethyst? This is a real type of amethyst - it’s just a lighter shade of lavender or lilac.
- What about green amethyst - is it real?
Green Amethyst, Michelle Jo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Yes, it’s real, but it is created by heat-treating standard purple amethyst. Technically, it goes by the name prasiolite, but many know it only as green amethyst.
How NIXIN Jewelry Uses Amethyst
What have we used amethyst for in our jewelry? Not a whole lot - but there have been a few special Custom Commissions in years past, where we have incorporated them per Client request. Here’s a tourmaline necklace with two purple amethysts, commissioned by a treasured Client of ours:
March: Aquamarine
Meaning: Courage and Serenity
This beautiful blue gemstone swoons tranquil and calm as it (allegedly) soothes fear in those who wear it.
Fun Facts about Aquamarine
Interestingly, the word aquamarine is derived from the Latin word for seawater - which its color clearly resembles. And, in the ancient days of the Greeks and the Romans, they believed in the power of aquamarine to facilitate safe travel to sailors while at sea.
How NIXIN Uses Aquamarine
Given aquamarine’s beautiful shade of blue, and the wide range of blue hues we encounter in our Boulder Opals, we do find opportunities to incorporate the March birthstone into our work. Here are example of an opal pendant and an opal ring that both bear the beautiful blue stone:
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April: Diamond
Meaning: Strength and Eternal Love
- As one of the hardest naturally occurring substances on our planet, it’s no surprise that diamonds have been tied to a meaning of invincibility.
- Take that idea of unbreakable bonds one step further, and you have the marketing platform that DeBeers capitalized upon to sell diamonds as the gemstone of “forever.” They are widely used as the primary stone in engagement rings and have become an iconic way to represent love.
Fun Facts about Diamonds
The root of the word diamond, is adamas, which comes from ancient Greek and means indestructible. Ancient Greeks considered diamonds to be protective talismans and symbols of strength, and wore them in battle to render themselves invincible.
How NIXIN Uses Diamond
We find the April birthstone easy to work into our opal jewelry with its neutral color (though diamonds do come in shades beyond white) and range of cuts. The hardest part about incorporating it can be figuring out how to blend diamonds into our opal designs in truly unique and interesting ways. We love how this opal and diamond necklace , with art deco essence, turned out:
May: Emerald
Meaning: Rebirth and Prosperity
- Emeralds, with their vibrant green color, are associated with renewal, growth, fertility and spring.
- Along with cultivating healing and prosperity, it’s widely believed that emerald is a potent talisman for those desiring a positive change in their lives.
Fun Facts about Emeralds:
The popularity of this intense green gem is firmly rooted in the past with with seminal historical figures, such as Cleopatra and Elizabeth Taylor as prime enthusiasts of the luscious stone.
- Largely due to its rumored associations with renewal and fertility, Cleopatra is said to have been captivated by the gem. She wore it in her jewelry, crushed it into her cosmetics, gifted it, and believed in its abilities to cure ailments of the eyes. Beyond enjoying its beauty in this life, the Egyptians often buried their dead with the gem as a symbol of eternal youth.
- When Elizabeth Taylor filmed the movie Cleopatra in 1962, Richard Burton gifted her an 18ct emerald-cut Bulgari Emerald and Diamond Brooch, set in platinum, as an engagement gift. As a huge fan, not only of emeralds, but of fine jewelry in general (Taylor was an avid jewelry collector), receiving this emerald gift, on the set of Cleopatra no less, was quite apropos.
How NIXIN Uses Emerald
Here at NIXIN Jewelry we are also big fans of emeralds. Perhaps it’s because of their heritage, or because they are the birthstone of a number of our own family members…or maybe it’s simply because they’re beautiful. Regardless of why they strike such a chord, we absolutely love using them whenever we get the chance, whether they shine as the centerpiece of an emerald ring
...or a partner as an adjunct in one of our unique opal rings:
June: Pearl
Meaning: Wisdom and Purity
- Different from other gemstones, pearls are unique in that they form inside of another living organism, resulting in a distinct pure beauty — even if developed from an irritant (a grain of sand).
- Believed to symbolize wisdom and enhance one’s personal integrity, these qualities must be nurtured or they, much like the nacre of a pearl, can dull.
Fun Facts about Pearls
- Pearls play a fascinating role in one of the most interesting real estate transactions in history. In 1917, a time when pearls were considered the height of luxury, Pierre Cartier had a pearl necklace on display in his showroom, worth over $1 million dollars by that day’s standards (around $24 million by 2020 standards).
- When Morton Plant, an American financier, wanted it for his wife, Cartier proposed a swap; Plant’s mansion on the corner of 5th Avenue and 52nd Street, in exchange for the pearl necklace. Plant accepted the offer, and Cartier assumed ownership of the mansion, renovating it into a flagship for the brand — it remains their largest store today.
Cartier Building, Elbert Hampton, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
How NIXIN Uses Pearls
Though we appreciate the beauty of pearls, they are a gemstone we rarely incorporate into our work. That said, we wove them into the piece below, as we thought they made the perfect accent in this Custom Gatsby Engagement Ring commissioned by a dear Client:
July: Ruby
Meaning: Passion and Protection
Stunning, vibrant red gems, it’s easy to see why rubies are associated with passion, love, and courage. They are believed to provide protection against negativity and promote vitality, making them a favorite for those seeking strength and motivation.
Fun Facts About Ruby
- Did you know that the difference between a ruby and a sapphire can be…subjective? It can be hard to tell - even for certified gemologists - the difference between the two. This is because both are forms of corundum. The dominant undertone essentially separates the two, with red inherently dominant in a ruby.
- Chromium, along with some other trace elements, can impact the degree of red in the gemstone. But it’s still up to the stone grader to determine whether they perceive the stone as more or less red — enough to qualify as a ruby. Since interpretation of color is subjective, two different gem graders can assess the same stone differently; one calling it a ruby and the other, a sapphire.
- The largest ruby ever mined was discovered in East Africa in the 1950s and it weighed 8,500 carats — that’s more than 4lbs. Carved into the likeness of the Liberty Bell in honor of the bicentennial, 50 diamonds were set into the ruby bell to represent each of the 50 states.
- But what we find even more interesting than the existence of this 4+lb ruby, is its disappearance. Back in 2011, it rocked headlines in a highly publicized jewelry heist. Multiple suspects carefully planned and robbed a jewelry store in Delaware that had the Liberty Bell Ruby on display. Though the thieves were eventually caught and sentenced, the (then valued at) $2million Liberty Bell Ruby remains missing to this day.
How NIXIN Uses Ruby
Here at NIXIN Jewelry we are ruby enthusiasts. Yet given their similarities to sapphires when it comes to both color (in the pink-red hues) and hardness, we can often choose between using rubies and sapphires in our jewelry designs. The Regalia Gold Opal and Ruby Ring is an example of a piece where we didn’t have to pick - we used both regal gemstones to create this unique opal ring; ruby for the deep red hues and sapphire for the yellows and blues:
August: Peridot
Meaning: Healing and Prosperity
Linked to healing and prosperity, this light green stone is believed to promote emotional balance, reduce stress, and attract wealth, making it an ideal stone for those looking to improve their lives.
Fun Facts about Peridot
Can you imagine a gemstone beach? Well you don’t have to. Papakōlea Beach on the big island of Hawaii (also known as Mahana Beach and Green Sand Beach) has a shoreline filled with olivine crystals. When these crystals reach gem-quality, they are considered to be peridot. The sand on this beach - locally referred to as “Hawaiian Diamond” - is the result of an adjacent cinder cone that spewed olivine-rich lava 49,000 years ago.
In addition to this verdant Hawaiian coast, there are a few other olivine beaches around the world, including Talofofo Beach in Guam, Hornindalsvatnet in Norway, and Punta Cormorant in the Galapagos which served as part of the inspiration for these opal earrings:
Galapagos Green Sapphire Opal Drop Earrings
How NIXIN Uses Peridot
Though a beautiful shade of green, we rarely use peridot in our jewelry designs. Instead, when we seek a light shade of green, touched by a hint of yellow, we find ourselves trending toward light colored tsavorite, as used here in the Primavera Ring:
Or lime-hued sapphires (as in the Galapagos Earrings shown above), or even the occasional tourmaline, like the neon green round one in the Twilight Shores Australian Opal Earrings:
September: Sapphire
Meaning: Wisdom and Nobility
Although best known for their rich shades of blue, sapphires form in nearly every color of the rainbow, and have come to symbolize wisdom, nobility, and truth. The gemstone is considered a powerful ally in decision-making due to its alleged promotion of mental clarity and self-discipline.
Fun Facts about Sapphire
- We all know how beautiful sapphires are — they are colorful and with their reflective and refractive qualities, they disseminate tremendous sparkle. But what about their functional qualities?
- With their durable nature (they are 2nd on the Moh’s scale of hardness, just after diamonds), they lend themselves to many practical applications.
- Sapphires are used in watch crystals for many Swiss and Apple watches.
- They are used in smartphone lens covers and fingerprint sensors.
- Observation windows in space vehicles utilize sapphire material
- And they are applied in a range of other types of scientific instruments.
It’s no secret that we are big fans of sapphires here at NIXIN Jewelry. So much so that they play an integral role in our trademark style: NIXIN Opal Ombré. We are always experimenting with new ways to incorporate the beautiful range of sapphire hues into our unique opal jewelry. Sapphires open the doors to our creativity wide open. The Pigment Introspective Australian Opal Ring is our first ever petite NIXIN Opal Ombré piece, with an lively formation story, earning it a blog post of its very own:
October: Opal
Meaning: Creativity, Hope, and Good Luck
- Known for their mesmerizing play of color, opals are believed to enhance creativity and inspiration (something we can personally attest to).
- Opals are thought to foster emotional expression and are often associated with hope and protection. In addition, they are (nowadays) considered to be talismans of good luck.
Fun Facts About Opal
- If you’ve ever heard rumors of opals and luck - good or bad - there is much to unpack on the topic. In ancient times, dating back to the Greeks and Romans, opals were revered as the most precious of gemstones - tokens of great fortune. In fact, opal was even referred to as the Magician’s Stone throughout the Middle Ages, as it displayed a spectrum of color and was thought to encompass the powers of all the other gemstones.
- While opals have encountered intermittent PR obstacles over the years, it was in the year 1829, with the release of Sir Walter Scott’s novel, “Anne of Geierstein,” that favor shifted most heavily against the beautiful stone. A chapter of Scott’s story tells of a character who wore a very special - verging on magical - opal hair clip, and this character spontaneously combusts after the clip comes into contact with holy water. Following the book’s release, the opal market crashed - essentially overnight. This severely impacted the gemstone’s reputation.
- So how did opal revive itself? The royal throne came to the gem’s rescue via Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria, Alexander Bassano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- As an avid lover of opal, Queen Victoria regularly wore the gem and gifted it to others. Her influence upon society and culture was substantial, so not only her lack of superstition, but her ardent fervor in favor of opals, translated into a resurgence of popularity for the queen of gems (pun intended). This, along with the discovery of Black Opal in South Australia, couldn’t curb the revival of this breathtaking gem.
- Fun sidebar: we heard a rumor that Elvis Presley was also a big fan of opals.
How NIXIN Jewelry uses Opals
At NIXIN Jewelry, we are firm believers in the creativity and inspiration that opal sparks. It is from opal stones that we derive our design concepts; we literally study each stone, absorbing its idiosyncrasies to see what story the picture within it tells. The resulting piece we craft around it communicates the story of the stone.
The World in Her Hands Australian Opal Ring is an example of a striking Boulder Opal that inspired a piece designed around a mystical globe. By studying the design and reading its description, you learn more about the story of this opal ring. Our Insiders also receive emails that share the deeper inspiration behind our work. And one very special person - its intended owner - will also indulge in the secret inscription engraved upon this jewelry art. All of these components unite to tell the story of this extraordinary stone.
November: Topaz
Meaning: Calm, Joy and Generosity
Topaz comes in a variety of colors and is said to soothe the nerves and calm the soul. Also associated with joy and generosity, it is thought to promote positivity and enhance one’s ability to express love and kindness.
Fun Facts about Topaz
What if there was a magic rock that could detect poison by changing color in alarm? Well, we can't vouch for such magic, but we can tell you that the Ancient Romans believed in it. They were convinced that topaz could detect poison, and in response, change color to alert the wearer.
How NIXIN Jewelry uses Topaz
Topaz is a gem we rarely incorporate into our designs, however, there is one type of topaz we adore above all others; it’s Imperial Topaz.
Hailing from Brazil, this particular gem ranges from a deep orange to a softer pinkish-peachy hue (our personal favorite).
Imperial Topaz, Géry PARENT, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sometimes it even has golden overtones. Though not the same as a Padparadscha Sapphire (nor nearly as costly), they can have some overlapping qualities in their hues which we find entirely delicious.
December: Turquoise
Meaning: Protection and Healing
Available in a range of hues from the lightest greens to the deepest of blues, turquoise is revered by many for its ability to deflect negative energy and invite good fortune. It is treasured for these protective properties. It also symbolizes healing and tranquility, so those seeking peace and balance often reach for this stone.
Fun Facts:
- Turquoise is a highly regarded stone in many cultures. Native Americans have had a long standing tradition of incorporating the gem into all facets of their lives: ceremonial, medicinal, adornment, death and more. They consider it the stone of life as it represents both water and sky.
- Ancient Persia also had a fondness for turquoise, finding applications for it in their art and architecture, as well as wearing it as jewelry and protective talismans, in addition to using it in trade.
- Even the ancient Egyptians loved turquoise. Besides using it in jewelry and decor, it is said they even incorporated this hard-to-come-by material in their make-up.
How NIXIN Jewelry uses Turquoise
Though you’re not likely to find much turquoise jewelry in our shop these days, we’ve actually worked with quite a bit of this beautiful stone over the years.
If you like the idea of owning a piece not listed in our store, here’s a look at our Ethos Garnet and Turquoise Diamond Crescent Necklace:
We have just one. And to save you scrolling up to check, it incorporates birth months:
Interested? Send us an email!
Conclusion
Each birthstone carries its own unique story, meaning, and significance. Whether you wear your birthstone as an heirloom, keep it close for its meaningful qualities, or appreciate it simply for its beauty, these gemstones can inspire and uplift you throughout the year. By understanding the meanings behind each stone, you can connect more deeply with your birth month and its affiliated gemstone to harness the energy they offer.
Feel free to share your thoughts on your birthstone in the comments below. Which gemstone resonates with you the most?
