Choosing Your December Birthstone

For those with a December birthday, a birthstone is always a perfect and safe choice for a gift, specially if one is left clueless as to what the celebrator would want or need for a present.

Birthstones are actually precious and semi-precious stones which have been associated with birth dates for centuries. They come in varying colors, textures, sizes and shapes.

Different cultures assign specific gemstones for each month based on the zodiac until there came a time when a specific gemstone was assigned for each of the month. Different cultures have different sets of twelve semi-precious and precious stones. Although the choice of stones to represent each month differ from culture to culture, one thing is certain- wearing birthstones effectively bring good luck and health. Some even believe that these stones have "powers".

Birthstones, as a tradition, is deeply embedded in modern culture and birthstone jewelry is widely gaining popularity nowadays.

However, here in the United States, there is not a single gemstone for a particular month. In fact, there are numerous birthstones for each of the twelve months! And so, choosing a December birthstone, for one, will not prove to be a very easy task.

Turquoise may be the most popular of all the December birthstones, owing to its value and unique color. Often referred to as the modern December birthstone, turquoise actually happens to be one of the most valuable non-transparent minerals often used in making jewelry.

Its value was first discovered by Egyptians in 6000 BC. Turquoise is considered sacred by the North American Indians and Tibetans. These stones are used in rituals and ceremonies officiated by shamans because it is believed to promote spiritual and mental clarity. These stones are also believed to enhance one's trust, understanding, kindness and wisdom.

Although turquoise literally means stone of Turkey in French, turquoise of finest quality are sourced from Iran. However, high-grade stones can also be found in the southwestern parts of United States such as in Arizona and New Mexico. Turquoise of poor quality is often dyed or applied with coatings of various resins.

Turquoise usually come in hues of green blue and light sky blue. Hardness of turquoise stones is between 5- 6.

Another December birthstone would be the zircon which could be mistaken for a diamond due to its luster and fire. Generally, zircon is in hues of browns and greens. However, it can be heat-treated to attain a beautiful blue or golden hue.

Blue topaz is another modern December birthstone. Topaz, the hardest of silicate minerals, came from the Sanskrit word "tapas" which literally means fire and symbolizes love and fidelity.

It is believed to possess healing powers. When in its pure form, Topaz appears colorless. However, with minor treatments, it can turn into a variety of colors such as pink, red, green, yellow and blue. This mineral can be mostly found in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.

Less popular December birthstones would be the tanzanite, lapis or lapiz lasuli, ruby, onyx and chrysoprase.

When shopping for birthstones, make sure it is the real thing. There are many categories of gemstones. They are either called genuine, natural, synthetic, simulated, treated or a combination of these. A genuine gemstone is real. If a genuine gemstone is in the same state it was found, it is called a natural gemstone.

On the other hand, the chemical characteristics of some gemstones can be reproduced in laboratories. These are called synthetic gemstones. Synthetic gemstones cost less than natural gemstones. Those who are made to look like genuine stones in color and texture, but are actually made of a different material, are called imitation stones.

Remember that birthstones of low quality, when treated, can look like stones of high quality due to enhanced color and clarity.

Read as much as you can about birthstones before making a purchase and compare prices. Comprehensive information that you will need are available on the internet.

Ask for a jeweler or gemologist you trust to guide you in assessing and evaluating the quality of birthstones you are going to buy. Genuine natural birthstones, in particular, are expensive investments and extra caution must be taken in purchasing them.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.artisan-jewelry-online.com where you can learn more about jewelry and find out about Decembers Birthstone.

Why Is Birthstone Jewelry Special?

There are literally millions of individuals around the world who wear one type of jewelry or another. Jewelry is often purchased and given as a gift for almost all occasions such as Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, weddings, new baby, graduations, and birthdays. There are more and more people opting to purchase birthstone jewelry because of the beauty and uniqueness that it offers.

Birthstone jewelry is made with a variety of gemstones based on each month in the calendar year. These stones may be semi-precious or precious. Many people choose to wear them for prosperity, luck, protection, and good health. There are some superstitious individuals who believe that by wearing the birthstone jewelry during the month you were born in that the pieces hold healing power.

If you plan on purchasing this kind of jewelry for someone special make sure to find a quality stone by checking the brilliance, color, clarity, and cut especially for diamonds. This type of jewelry is very special so you don't want to sacrifice the specialty of it by purchasing a bad or defective stone or band. Many jewelry stores will try to sell you low value pieces for high prices so make sure you do your research before making your final decision on the piece that you will go with. You may not be aware of this but this jewelry that has a deeper color will often be more expensive than those pieces with lighter colors.

So why is birthstone jewelry a bit more special than normal pieces? This is because when purchasing a regular piece of jewelry you can have it customized by adding a birthstone to it. For example if you are purchasing a diamond bracelet you may choose to have their birthstone set in the center of all of the diamonds giving it a bit of color and uniqueness. Most women enjoy receiving birthstone jewelry especially when it comes in the form of a mothers ring or necklace. This particular piece of the jewelry holds the mothers birthstone as well as all of her children and her husband if desired. This is one of the biggest sellers for jewelry stores that make birthstone jewelry.

Always remember that when you are purchasing birthstone jewelry to research the birthstones before making your selection so you know that when you receive your order that its correct. At times you will receive your jewelry and it may consist of the wrong stone. A few of the birthstones have similar shades so without knowing what you are looking for you may actually overlook that the jewelry has been done incorrectly.

This type of jewelry is normally very beautiful in color and design which makes it an awesome gift choice.

Birthstone jewelry is made with a variety of gemstones based on each month in the calendar year. Birthstone jewelry is normally very beautiful in color and design which makes it an awesome gift choice.

The Beauty of Birthstone Jewelry

Birthstones are gemstones that are associated with each month of the calendar year. The stones can either be precious stones or semi-precious. They are worn for good health, luck, prosperity, and protection. Many people believe that when wearing them during the month that they are associated with, the birthstones have increased healing powers. For instance, if you were born in April, then your birthstone is the diamond. Therefore, you will be benefit by wearing the diamond in April.

There are a number of different birthstone lists. For instance, the Mystical Birthstone list originates from ancient Tibet dating back over a thousand years, the Ayurvedic Birthstone list originates from Ayurvedic Indian Medicine dating back over one thousand years. The Traditional Birthstone list originates back to the 15th century, and the Modern Birthstone list was adopted in 1912 and is the accepted list of the American National Association of Jewelers. The birthstones have been assigned to the 12 Zodiac signs and the 12 months of the year. The birthstones are as follows: January - garnet, February - amethyst, March - aquamarine or bloodstone, April - diamond, May - emerald, June - pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite, July - ruby, August - peridot or sardonyx and sapphire, September - sapphire, October - opal or tournaline, November - topaz, and December - blue topaz, turquoise, lapis lazuli, or zircon.

For centuries, birthstones have been worn as jewelry. Wearing birthstone jewelry is so popular not only because of their mystical appeal, but also their beauty. They will complement any outfit in any social setting. There are many different types of jewelry that contain birthstones such as necklaces, pendants, earrings, watches, and rings. You can get your own birthstone jewelry or buy all 12 birthstones and wear them each month. You can also buy a jewelry item that contains several birthstones such as a birthstone bracelet. The metals used in this jewelry include: gold, white gold, yellow gold, silver, sterling silver, and platinum. There is a rainbow of colors available that will add sparkle and create a unique jewelry fashion statement.

When shopping for birthstone jewelry, to find a quality stone, just look at such features as the color, brilliance, color, and clarity. A birthstone with a deeper color tends to be more valuable than a lighter color birthstone. You can buy birthstone jewelry for your own jewelry collection or buy this beautiful jewelry as a special gift for a loved one, such as for Graduation, Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas, childbirth, Valentine's Day, or any other significant time. The best part of buying birthstone jewelry is that when you shop for this beautiful fashion accessory online, you can find jewelry sites offering discounted prices without having to sacrifice quality.

Save on gorgeous birthstones and birthstone jewelry on sale at Ice.com.

Tips on Birthstone Jewelry Gifts

The month of a person's birthday has a gemstone associated with it called a birthstone. The sort and shades of these rocks vary. These stones are common in various types of jewelry; we see them in rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants. A popular family tradition is birthstone jewelry, which can become a cherished heirloom for many generations to come. Wearing jewelry featuring your birthstone is often thought to bring good luck to the wearer. In addition, they are known for their ability to remove negative energy. But, have you ever considered purchasing some pieces of birthstone jewelery items as a present for someone special? Because of its personalized nature, it would certainly be a perfect gift for anniversaries and of course for birthdays.

Here are the calendar months with their birthstones and meanings:

January

Garnet (deep red color) - love, passion

February

Amethyst (purple color) - luck, good health

March

Aquamarine (pale aqua color) - happiness, understanding

April

Diamond (clear color) - eternal love

May

Emerald (deep green color)- love, fidelity, goodness

June

Pearl (lustrous white color)- peace, beauty, nobility, purity

July

Ruby (red color) - love, strength, devotion

August    

Peridot (pale green color)- success, dignity, protection

September

Sapphire (blue color) - purity, truth, sincerity

October

Opal (rainbow color) - beauty, success, happiness

November

Citrine (yellow color) - hope, fidelity, health

December

Topaz (orange/brown color) - wisdom and courage

The ladies in your life, wife, mother, sister, girlfriend or grandma, will find this to be the perfect gift. Women will certainly enjoy it and be thankful for it. It is a great jewelry idea to use when you are having a hard time choosing what to give as a gift to your friends and loved ones. You just can't go wrong with a birthstone jewel.

In addition to the lovely gift of the birthstone, you could personalize your gift by adding a card with a sentimental saying, a description of the birthstone's meaning and symbolism, a joke, or even purchase gemstone care products, so your loved one can keep the gift always looking its best. All you have to do is pick a style that would suit the person you are giving it to. In order to choose the perfect gift with the correct style and color, you must consider the person's personality and preferences.

Find out that special person's birthday so you can surprise them with the gift of birthstone jewelry. These items are available from several types of stores including department stores, stores in malls, jewelry stones and boutiques. You can get information when you check out the Internet.

Renata Lavlor writes about birthstone jewelry and other fashion and personal care tips as a staff writer for HowToDoThings.com.

Birthstone Inspired Bridesmaid Gifts

Bridesmaids are an important part of any wedding. Their support and friendship mean so much to the bride. That is why it is traditional for brides to show their appreciation with thoughtful bridesmaid gifts. A really fun idea is to choose birthstone inspired bridesmaid gifts for your wedding party.

A neat thing about birthstone inspired gifts for bridesmaids is that you can choose one category, but then personalize each gift within it. That will make each of your friends see that you put in the time to select something especially for her. It also makes each woman feel like an individual, which is important. Birthstones are traditionally jewelry, of course, and bridesmaid jewelry is always a favorite gift idea. But keep in mind that you can also get creative, and choose gifts which are inspired by each bridesmaid's birthstone, but that are not actually gems.

First things first: the list of gems for each month. January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is pearl, July is ruby, August is peridot, September is sapphire, October is opal or tourmaline, November is citrine or topaz, and December is tanzanite or turquoise. If you would like to give each of your friends bridesmaid jewelry made in her birthstone color, it couldn't be easier. While some of the gemstones are prohibitively expensive (diamonds for those born in April, for instance), you can simply substitute beautiful Swarovski crystals in the appropriate hue. Crystal bridesmaid jewelry can be custom made in any of the traditional colors for the birth months; they even make opal colored crystals and pearls.

If your bridesmaids already have their jewelry, you can take the concept and choose other gifts created in their birthstone colors. Let's say that your bridesmaids are wearing black dresses for your wedding. Add a fun dash of color by giving each one a wrap to wear done in her birthstone hue. Of course if you want your attendants to wear their wraps for the ceremony, make sure that you will like the way all of their birth month colors look together. Just think how pretty it would look to have March, May, August, and September colors together!

Another really cool idea is to give each bridesmaid a little jewelry box in her birthstone color. You can find gorgeous leather boxes in every imaginable color, and there are also colorful lacquered boxes available. To make the gift complete, consider slipping a pair of pearl earrings into the jewelry box as part of this unique bridesmaid gift idea. Special boxes are a neat way to personalize the present when you want to give each attendant jewelry in the same color like pearls or clear crystals. The jewelry boxes will look beautiful on display, and they are also very useful, which is a great combination.

There are many other creative ways to use your attendants' birthstones as the inspiration for your gifts to them. From monogrammed luggage or totes to elegant journals, the possibilities are endless. Your friends are sure to adore your very clever and thoughtful bridesmaid gifts.

Read Guy's other articles on weddings,society and fashions and let us know what you think. Visit us at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ for help with your wedding jewelry or bridesmaid gifts. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter to receive special offers, exclusive previews of new jewelry, fun news about weddings, and more!

Birthstone Jewelry For June - Alexandrite

Alexandrite, which is used in June birthstone jewelry, is one of the uncommonest of gems to surface on the earth. It is recognized as the June birthstone and is the gemstone used to commemorate both the 45th and 55th wedding anniversaries. It belongs to the chrysoberyl family and made of a mix of iron, chromium, titanium, aluminum and chrysoberyl mineral.

Color Changing Properties of Alexandrite

This June birthstone is greatly valued because of it's capacity to significantly change colors. In comparison with other gem for example diamonds and sapphires, alexandrite is a fairly new gem to the market, having only been  found close to 150 years ago. The Alexandrite gemstone was first discovered in the Russian Ural Mountains around 1830 and was named after Alexander II the Czar of Russia. This precious stone was given the name "magic gem" because of it's mystical display of colors.

The color of this gemstone depends on the wavelength of the illuminating light and the chemical bonds that exist in the gem. In sunlight alexandrite displays a a color that is blue green like moss but when seen under incandescent light from a candle or lamp the color transforms to a lovely raspberry hue. This transformation is referred to as the alexandrite effect. It's a result of the chemical mixing of chrysoberyl, which is a rare oxide mineral, and chromium. the lovely color of Alexandrite come from chromium.

Alexandrite Gemstone Quality

It is important to consider the strength of the color change when evaluating an alexandrite. The precious stone is considered rarer and of higher value if the color change is more complete and intense. A further factor to bear in mind is the clarity and cutting quality of the gem. Alexandrites that are found in Russia are believed to be of better quality and color, consequently making them more expensive. The majority of the alexandrites on sale are below 1 carat since larger sizes are too expensive by most people.

Caring for Your Alexandrite Jewels

it is best to keep alexandrites away from extreme heat as this can impinge on their color change effect. When cleaning these gemstones soapy warm water may be used or alcohol or any commercially available products. If ultrasonic or steam cleaning are necessary properly skilled jewelers should be used.

Sources of Alexandrite

The original source of alexandrite in Russia has now virtually been mined out, though the mines are still working and produce a small number of tiny stones every year. These days there are two chief sources of alexandrite gemstones, Brazil and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). In the 1990's Alexandrite stones were also found in countries such as Zimbabwe, India, Burma and Madagascar. Sadly, none of these new sources has managed to produce as intense and vivid colors as the gemstones produced in Russia. Stones from these sources have their own characteristics: for example the grayish hues of Ceylon stones and Brazil stones having yellow tones on the green color.

Conclusion

Despite the relatively short history of this attractive gemstone it has already been attributed with a variety of mystical and magical properties. It is a rare and gorgeous gemstone and makes a wonderful June birthstone jewelry gift for a loved one with a June birthday.

For more information and some good deals on birthstone jewelry visit June Birthstone Jewelry or Gold and Silver Birthstone Jewelry

February and March Birthstone Charm Necklace

All months in a year have different stones that represent them. Those stones are also ways for people to gauge one's personality and destiny relevant to their birth date. Birthstones are also said to have good luck for a person wearing it, especially if that is the person's birthstone.

In jewelry, birthstones add color and personality that suits the one wearing it. Most of the time, especially in personalized jewelry, birthstones come with charms. You can see it in necklaces and bracelets, normally for women. But there are also birthstone charm necklaces or bracelets for men, though they are rarely produced because men are not the type to wear jewelry with many embellishments.

For women born in the month of February, their birthstone is Amethyst. Its color can be related to the color of wine which is purple. This gemstone is very abundant in many different places such as Mexico, Russia, United States, and Canada, making it less inexpensive than other stones in the market. It earlier times, Amethyst is believed to be used as a defense or protection against the effects of alcohol to an individual. It is usually worn by royalties because of its purple color which signifies authority and power.

As for women born on March, their birthstone is Aquamarine. Its color ranges from light blue to blue green or aqua green/blue. Just as its name says, aqua, it resembles the color of water, specifically seawater. In ancient times, people use aquamarine as a protection against the danger that awaits them in the sea. It is mostly used by seafarers and fishermen for luck and protection. Many also say that Aquamarine may be used to heal different ailments. Aquamarine also does magic for relationships as it adds more romance and harmony among couples for a long lasting relationship. This gemstone may be found in China, Africa, United States, Australia, and India.

Here are great birthstone charm necklaces for women born in February and March.

Mom's Birthstone and Charm Necklace

It is made of Italian rolo chain. This birthstone charm necklace may be personalized by hand engraving Mom's name on the charm. This necklace is accented with any chosen birthstone for Mom.

Open Heart Pendant with Birthstones Necklace

This sterling silver necklace has two heart charms. The smaller one is a polished heart with the birthstone of the person to whom you're giving this necklace to. The bigger one is an open heart where the birthstones of her loved ones are attached too.

Daisy Charm with Gem Necklace

This pure silver necklace makes use of sterling silver ball chain, with a flower shaped charm hanging on it. But the gems or stones attached to it are lab-created because the natural gemstones cannot stand the heat of the jewelry as it is made.

Gold Feather Heart Charm Necklace

This necklace includes a very attractive heart charm that is made of sterling silver and 22k gold. The heart pendant has intricate designs of feathers. It also has two circular charms where the name of the person you are giving it to may be engraved together with the names of important people in her life. Aside from the birthstone attached to it, you may also add other semi-precious stones to make it more attractive and creative.

Kate is a mother of two and is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on birthstone charm necklaces, I recommend you visit the website BlissLiving.Com and choose from their huge selection of birthstone charm necklace!