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Birthstones are gemstones that are associated with each month. They may be precious stones, such as diamonds, or semi-precious. The beauty and durability of coloured gemstones make them a sensible investment while the romance and legend associated with these stones give them a universal fascination.

There are several hundred gemstones with some of the most popular ones allocated to the 12 months of the year. The variety of colours and qualities of these valuable gemstones is almost limitless.

Since many different cultures have their own list we have listed the two common ones the modern and the traditional.

January - Modern Garnet * Traditional Garnet The gemstone Garnet is the birthstone for January. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign Aquarius.

Garnet occurs in many colours. The most popular being a warm reddish/brown. They have a glowing cinnamon color. Tales of Garnet date back to the time of Noah who is said to have steered the ark by a lantern made of this dazzling gem.

Garnet's legendary powers include healing, strength, and protection and it is often worn to relieve inflammations of the skin.

The major source for Garnet is various parts of Africa
 
February - Modern Garnet * Traditional Amethyst Amethyst is the birthstone for February. It is also the birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Pisces.

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and the most valued member of the quartz family. It must be purple to be Amethyst, but can display a range of shades including deep purple, light lilac, lavender and mauve.

Amethyst is worn to make the wearer gentle and amiable. Amethyst's suggested powers include: dreams, healing, peace, love, spiritual upliftment, courage, psychism, protection against thieves, and happiness. Major sources for Amethyst are Brazil, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Madagascar, Zambia, U.S., Canada, and India.
 
March - Modern Aquamarine * Traditional Bloodstone The gemstone Aquamarine is the March birthstone. It is also the birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio.

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, which also includes emerald and ranges in colour from an almost colourless pale blue to a very light sky blue. It gets its name from Latin words meaning water and sea. Accordingly Aquamarine has been a favoured talisman for sailors, swimmers, divers and fishermen.

The major sources of Aquamarine are Brazil, Kenya and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia.
 
April - Modern Diamond * Traditional Diamond The birthstone for April is diamond. To make it more affordable some use natural White Zircon. Blue Zircon is also an alternate birthstone for December.

Diamonds are forever and are a woman's best friend. They're the hardest substance known, yet can be easily cut into incredibly beautiful gems. The more perfect the cut the more dazzle and the higher the price. If you cannot afford Diamond then White Zircon is a great alternative and it is 100% natural and real it looks more like a diamond than any other natural stone due to its brilliance and dispersion.

Diamond is supposed to strengthen the planet Venus to increase luxury and enjoyment in your life. If you are a Virgo then according to Vedic astrology Diamond is the right gemstone for you.

Diamonds are found all over the world, most notably in South Africa where you'll find the most famous diamond mines, but also other places in Africa, as well as Australia, Arkansas, Africa, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Russia etc. The sources for Zircon are Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Australia.
 
May - Modern Emerald * Traditional Emerald, Agate Emerald is the birthstone for May. It is also listed as a birthstone for the Zodiac signs for Taurus and Cancer.

Emeralds, among the rarest of gems, are almost always found with birthmarks, known as inclusions. These inclusions are referred to as an internal garden "jardin". Inclusions are expected in Emeralds and do not detract from the value of the stone as much as with other gemstones. However, emeralds with many inclusions should be treated with some care and be protected from impact.

Because the rich green colour, emerald is the colour of spring, it has long symbolized love and rebirth. Cleopatra prized Emeralds above all other gems. As the gem of Venus, it was also considered an aid to fertility. The major sources for Emerald are Colombia, Brazil and Zambia
 
June - Modern Pearl, Moonstone * Traditional Alexandrite Pearl and Moonstone are the birthstones for June. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl became a metaphor for something very rare, very fine, very admirable and very valuable. The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the lustre, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendant

Major source of natural pearls are seas off Bahrain and Australia
 
July - Modern Ruby * Traditional Ruby Throughout most of recorded history, Ruby has been the world's most valued gemstone. Even diamond was considered common in comparison to the supreme beauty and value of this glowing red gem.

Around 1550, Italian goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini reported that the finest one-carat Ruby cost eight times more than a comparable-quality one-carat diamond. Even today Ruby costs more than its diamond equivalent.

Named from the Latin word for its hue, Ruby is the epitome of the boldest of colours: the gem of desire, passion, courage, and emotion.

In the ancient language of Sanskrit, Ruby is called ratnaraj, or "king of precious stones." In the Bible only wisdom and virtuous women are "more precious than Rubies.

Major sources of Ruby are Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya and Madagascar.
 
August - Modern Peridot * Traditional Sardonyx Peridot is birthstone for the month of August. It is also the stone for the Zodiac sign of Libra.

The pronunciation of Peridot is often confused; it is actually pronounced pear-a-doe instead of pear-a-dot.

Peridot is the gem variety of olivine it is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace, and success. Its powers include health, protection, and sleep. Legend says that Peridot was one of the favourite gemstones of Cleopatra and that some of the "emeralds" worn by her were actually Peridot.

Gem quality Peridot comes from Arizona, Burma, Norway, islands in the Red Sea, Hawaii and is sometimes found in meteorites.
 
September - Modern Sapphire * Traditional Sapphire Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September. It is also one of the birth stones for the Zodiac signs of Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius.

Sapphire comes from the Greek word for blue, sappheiros, and this gem provides the most beautiful blues of the gem kingdom. The ancient Persians believed the earth rests on a giant Sapphire. Its reflection, they said, made the sky blue.

Sapphire also comes in beautiful pinks, yellows, oranges, and peach and violet colours. These other colours are often referred to as fancy Sapphire. In fact, Sapphire comes in every colour but red, because a red Sapphire would be a ruby: both are the mineral corundum.

Its powers include spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. Significant sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, East Africa and in the United States at various locations (Gem Mountain) and in the Missouri River near Helena, Montana.
 
October – Modern Pink Tourmaline, Opal * Traditional Tourmaline Pink Tourmaline along with Opal is the birthstones of October.

Tourmaline's name comes from the Sinhalese tura mali, which means "mixed stone." Available in a rainbow of colours and colour combinations, Tourmaline lives up to its name.

In addition to unusually varied beauty, Tourmaline has unusual electrical properties. Crystals acquire a polarized electrical charge when heated or compressed. This property has also made Tourmaline the latest miracle ingredient in moisturizers: manufacturers claim the gem helps pull pollutants from your skin.

Legend says Tourmaline inspires artistic expression and enhances your intuition.

Major sources of Tourmaline are Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and California and Maine in the United States.
 
November – Modern Yellow Topaz, Citrine * Traditional Citrine The gemstone Citrine is the birthstone for the month of November. It is also the planetary stone for the Sun Sign of Virgo.

Topaz is a variety of quartz ranging in colours of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown, reddish-brown.

Most Citrine comes from Brazil and can also be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, in Dauphine, France, and in Madagascar
 
December – Modern Blue Topaz * Traditional Turquoise, Zircon Blue Topaz is the birthstone of December it is a talisman for the sign of Sagittarius.

The name Topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire.

The most famous Topaz is actually a colourless Topaz that was originally thought to be a diamond. It is a 1680 carat stone known as the "Braganza Diamond" set in the Portuguese Crown Jewels. Another beautiful Topaz is in the Green Vault in Dresden which has one of the world's most important gem collections.

During the middle Ages, Topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death. The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight.

Topaz occurs in a wide range of colours including red, orange, peach, pink, gold, yellow, brown and clear and is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Russia.