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 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

Birthstone Jewelry - A Perfect Gift

Picking out jewelry for someone special doesn't have to be an arduous task. If the decision seems too great, know that you can always turn to birthstone jewelry for the perfect, well-thought out gift. Choosing a piece of jewelry with that special someone's birthstone makes the gift that much more personal. And, while there are the traditional stones associated with each month, you don't necessarily have to go with the person's birth month. Instead, choose a stone of the month of your anniversary, or another extraordinary moment like the birth of your first child. A gift of this caliber is always sure to please.

Let's start with January and February. The birthstone for January is garnet. This is typically a beautiful deep red stone but, it possible to find garnet in shades of green, yellow and orange as well. Garnet is the perfect choice for a January stone because the color red represents strength, energy and new life. The birthstone for February is amethyst. Compared to the fiery boldness of the garnet, amethyst is a much more calming gemstone. Its rich purple color varies from a very light purple to deep, dark shades of plum. Also quite fittingly, amethyst represents February well as it symbolizes healing, wisdom and spirituality.

March's birthstone is the tranquil aquamarine. This is a beautiful stone ranging in color from light blue to blue to blue-green and resembles tropical blue waters. The word "aqua" in aquamarine literally means water and symbolizes youth, tranquility and confidence. Aquamarine is very readily available and therefore, affordable. When shopping for this stone however, don't mistake a blue topaz for an aquamarine as can look quite similar. The birthstone for the month of April is the diamond. In quite a sharp contrast to the aquamarine, this stone can often break the budget. It is possible to find a beautiful, clear looking diamond without spending a fortune and to the naked eye, it will look flawless. Diamonds are associated most times with weddings and engagements and represent purity, freshness and humility. It is often considered the ultimate in gemstones as white literally contains and reflects every color of the rainbow.

The month of May brings us to the regal Emerald. This stunning green stone can be very attractive to the eye and looks good in just about any sort of cut. This gemstone is both very beautiful and very rare. Again, this is the perfect stone for the month of May as the green represents fertility, growth and prosperity - just right to welcome spring. June's birthstone is the pearl. This is a beautiful, versatile stone available in many different settings. What's great about the pearl is the fact that you can find it in just about any color imaginable. Much like the diamond, the pearl represents purity and innocence and is another popular stone for wedding jewelry.

Now that we are into the summer time, July brings us back to bold, fiery color with the Ruby. This is another stunning red or pink stone that is well known in the jewelry world. The ruby is a fantastic stone because of the immense range of colors in which it exists. The ruby symbolizes love, compassion, energy and excitement. Keeping up with the brilliant colors comes August with its birthstone of peridot. This is a lesser known stone as it often times takes a backseat to the emerald. The peridot however, is a gorgeously understated gemstone with a fabulous yellow-green color that fits in perfectly with nature.

September brings us back to another brilliant blue stone - the sapphire. The sapphire comes in many shades of blue and is the most sought after blue gemstone. Because of the wide variety of color, it should be easy to find just the perfect one when out shopping. The blue sapphire represents harmony, stability and loyalty. Even if this isn't the birth month of your special someone, if you present them a sapphire with a note of how it represents your relationship, you have a sure-fire hit. The birthstone for October is the opal. This is a very unique stone as it comes in a multitude of colors. Similar to that of a pearl, many opals have an iridescent quality to them that flashes brilliant colors when the light hits it from different angles. Opals can be found in pretty much every color to yellow, orange, red, blue, green, brown and black and are very valuable.

The birthstone for November is the yellow topaz. This is a very creamy colored stone with soft coloring. The yellow topaz is the most valuable of all the colors of topaz. This yellow stone represents optimism, happiness and intellect. This could be the perfect stone for someone who appreciates soft, understated beauty. The final month of December has the blue topaz as its birthstone. The blue topaz has a very light, clear color to the stone and reflects light beautifully. This blue stone represents patience, refreshment and peace, making it the perfect stone to signify the end of one year and the start of another.

Ronnie Adolf is the president of Adolf Jewelers, a leading Richmond jewelry store offering Richmond diamond engagement rings, Richmond watches, and more. Adolf Jewelers can be found online at: AdolfJewelers.com.

Buying Birthstone Jewelry - Money Saving Tips

You have consulted birthstones charts and want to buy jewelry. Are you looking for some ways to save money? There are many factors that contribute to the cost. Some are obvious. Others may not have occurred to you.

Identity

The birthstones are gemstones. Some are obviously more expensive than others. The birthstones chart currently used in the United States contains less expensive alternates for most months. There are many other lists:

1. Astrological charts use different time periods that combine months.

2. Old historical lists often assign the gemstones to different months and may substitute a few different stones.

3, Different countries have their own lists.

You can find these different birthstone charts on many websites.

Quality

The term genuine gemstone simply means that the stone has the necessary characteristics for its identity. The quality of color and clarity affects the price. Inclusions of other materials can detract from the clarity and reduce the value.

Color

Today many gemstones are color enhanced. Heat treating, diffusion, radiation, oiling, and dyeing are means of improving color. The gemstone industry assumes that these processes have been used, and sellers often do not volunteer the information. Ruby, sapphire, topaz, tanzanite, aquamarine, citrine, and others are routinely heated. Emerald is oiled. Beads may be dyed.

Assuming other qualities equal, natural color gemstones will be the most expensive. Dyed stones will be the least expensive.

Size

Gemstones are sold by weight. The larger the stone, the higher the price per carat. For example, one carat total weight of several small rubies will cost less than a one carat single ruby. Do not compare weight of different kinds of gemstones. They have different densities. A 1 carat ruby is not the same size as a 1 carat diamond.

Beads

When rough gemstone material comes out of the mine, the highest quality is set aside for cutting into loose stones for settings. The lower quality is used for beads. Why? Because drilling a bead hole wastes valuable weight.

Beaded jewelry may cost less. The difference in quality is not always obvious. The best quality gemstone beads are often tiny faceted rondelle shapes. The more valuable gemstones, such as ruby, emerald, and sapphire are seldom made into large beads, unless they are dyed or contain many inclusions. If you want natural color birthstones, you can probably find them as beads at an affordable price.

Lab Created or Synthetic Gemstones

They have the same characteristics as natural gemstones, but not the same inclusions. The process contains similarities to the natural creation, but time and quality are controlled by man. These high quality stones are expensive, but should cost less than the same quality mined gemstone.

Imitation Birthstones

They may be other less expensive gemstones that are dyed. Howlite is used to imitate turquoise. Glass imitations were popular in the 1940s and 1950s. They were often set in 10k gold rings. You may find them in antique or vintage jewelry stores. Prices will vary and may be determined by value as a collectible.

Swarovski crystal is a popular substitute as a birthstone. The colors are named after gemstones. Imitations should cost less than genuine gemstones.

Pearls

Pearls are organic gemstones created by oysters (salt water) or clams (freshwater). Natural pearls found by diving are rare and most expensive. Today almost all genuine pearl jewelry is cultured on pearl farms. The clam or oyster is induced to create the pearl. Pearls are sorted according to quality, size, and shape. Lower quality freshwater pearls may be dyed. These characteristics determine price.

Imitations are man made, usually by coating glass, crystal, or plastic. Faux is a French word for false and indicates imitation. Again, quality will determine price.

Precious Metals

The cost of gold and silver has increased drastically. They are also sold by weight. Heavy ornate settings, clasps, or beads can increase cost. Different kinds of metal are priced from high to low in this order: 18k, 14k, 10k gold, vermeil (gold plated sterling silver), sterling silver, gold filled, gold plated, silver plated, gold or silver tone base metals.

Beaded Jewelry

Beaded birthstone jewelry has other options for lower prices. Tiny spacer beads reduce the number of birthstone beads needed. They can be silver, gold, inexpensive gemstones, or glass seed beads. Look for other less expensive beads in the design, or just a few birthstones as focal points.

Designer

This term can raise the price. Designer jewelry implies special talent, design experience or education. In reality, anyone can advertise as a designer. Jewelry that carries the name of a well known store, name brand, famous designer, or celebrity may cost more. Endorsements are expensive. If fashion jewelry containing imitation gemstones and base metal is sold in a well known or upscale clothing store, it can cost more than jewelry with genuine gemstones sold on a website.

Custom Made

Birthstone jewelry that requires extra time, new design, buying new or unusual materials can be expensive. Instead use the seller's existing design with substitution of in stock stones or beads.

Middlemen

The number between the mine and the jewelry seller is one of the biggest factors affecting price. A hobbyist who buys materials from a retail store adds a middleman. A seller who designs and makes jewelry and buys beads or loose stones directly from the cutter eliminates distributors. Ask questions. Today it is easy to buy from jewelry makers. Look for their websites. Attend craft fairs or gem shows.

Overhead

Does the seller have to pay any of these business overhead costs? Store, warehouse, office; employees; business records; website design, upkeep, hosting; photography; advertising; credit card processing. Buy from a business that is run from a home. Look for information on the About Us page.

Mass Produced Jewelry

Large volume selling can mean cheap prices. Materials are bought in large quantities. Even handmade items are produced by a large number of workers repeating the same design. Usually the jewelry is imported from countries where labor is cheap. You can find this jewelry in chain stores, large websites, discount stores. Quality may be affected by time deadlines, boring repetition, or inexpensive construction materials. Few or one of a kind jewelry cannot be offered.

Shipping and Packaging

It is never free. It must either be included in overhead or paid as added cost by the buyer. Actual shipping costs vary. You can check them on the shipping carrier's website if you know the location of the seller. First class mail is inexpensive for small, light weight packages.

If you buy directly from a country where labor costs are low, the savings may be offset by high international shipping. Returning an item would be expensive. Handling costs also vary. Fancy boxes and packing materials can raise the price.

Conclusion

If you do comparison shopping, be sure to consider the quality of the birthstone jewelry. Be suspicious of low cost items that cannot be returned easily, worthless guarantees, deceiving imitations. If the price is too low to be true, it probably is not a bargain.

Save money, but do it intelligently.

Nancy has been involved in the fields of gemstones and beads for more than 15 years. You can find birthstone lists and birthstone jewelry on her website.

http://www.handmadebeadedjewelry.org/

Birthstone Jewelry - Traditional Vs Modern

There are many different types of birthstone charts and those that you have become with traditionally probably have a modern version that is much different than the older one. A stone is associated with each month of the year and is often used to create jewelry for the wearer to use to signify their birth month. One of the advantages to the flexibility of the birthstones is that if you never really liked your birthstone color when growing up, the modern one that represents your birth month may be a better choice for you.

Birthstone jewelry is enjoyed by the young and the young at heart and makes wonderful birthday gifts since it is created especially for the occasion! Following are the traditional and modern birthstones associated with the twelve months of the year.

Traditional Birthstones By Month:

January-Garnet

February-Amethyst

March-Bloodstone

April-Diamond

May-Emerald

June-Alexandrite

July-Ruby

August-Sardonyx

September-Sapphire

October-Tourmaline

November-Citrine

December-Zircon, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli

Modern Birthstones By Month

January-Garnet

February-Amethyst

March-Aquamarine

April-Diamond

May-Emerald

June-Pearl, Moonstone

July-Ruby

August-Peridot

September-Sapphire

October-Opal, Tourmaline

November-Yellow Topaz, Citrine

December-Blue Topaz, Turquoise

As you can see, not all the birthstones were changed from their traditional stone but the modern stones were adopted officially in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers although many jewelers have used the traditional stones in many instances.

Often, birthstone jewelry is created with appropriately colored natural gems or synthetic stones in place of the real gems. Otherwise, jewelry that had the real stone for April (diamond) would be much more expensive than any other stone!

Some of the better brands of birthstone jewelry will include the appropriate gemstones and these are graded on quality in the same way as diamonds. The four C's which stand for color, cut, clarity, and carat weight will help you determine the quality of any of the gemstones.

o Color - relates to how rare the gemstone is as well as its value and quality.

o Cut - this is the way the stone is shaped including round, marquise, heart, and pear-shaped.

o Clarity - the clarity describes how clear the gemstone is and it is based on the number of inclusions, or flaws, that are visible within the stones as well as any blemishes that might occur on the surface.

o Carat Weight - this is the measurement used to determine the weight of the gemstone.

The color of the gemstone that is used in birthstone jewelry is important in two ways: It is important to represent the color of the stone that is designated for the recipient's birthday and it also helps to determine the value of the stone and, therefore, the value of the piece of jewelry.

The colors that occur in gemstones are the result of a variety of factors. The more rare the color, the higher the value of that particular gemstone. Some gemstones are found in a variety of colors and the presence of certain minerals or other elements can cause them to show in different colors. For example, purple color is caused by the presence of iron and/or manganese while green colors result from exposure to the natural radiation in the earth. Therefore, some colors may be found much less frequently than others.

Birthstone jewelry has been given traditionally to mark special occasions for many years and it remains a popular choice in jewelry today as well. When purchasing, consider the characteristics that determine the value of any piece.

Denise Sanger loves jewelry of all types and is the owner of ButterflyJewelryShop.com Denise is always looking for beautiful new sterling silver jewelry [http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/index.html] pieces including heart jewelry [http://butterflyjewelryshop.com/heartjewelry.html] to add to the company's unique jewelry catalog. Denise is located in Sunny North Florida and may be reached at 877-297-9050.