Birthstones By Month——Meaning & Knowledge Guide ( Last Part )
Sequel to the blog on birthstones of January to June, is this one on July to December birthstones. Check out your month if you were born on the second half of the year, and see what your birthstone brings you.
July Birthstone - Ruby
Historical tradition: Hindus claim that rubies are the king of gems. For centuries, exquisite ruby earrings have been the most preferred choice for Indian jewelry. The name ruby comes from the Latin word “ruber”, meaning red. It is a symbol of power and love.
Utility: Ruby is associated with the sun, and is believed to help maintain physical and mental health. Physically, rubies are thought to stimulate and balance, it restores the heart and the enthusiasm to live. Emotionally, people believe that rubies can promote positive dreams and clear visualizations, and that it helps preserve wealth and passion.
Place of origin: Traditionally, India is considered to be the source of all rubies. The best rubies come from the Mogok region of Myanmar, but many beautiful rubies are also found in Thailand, which is the main source of rubies today. Pakistan also offer rubies of great color.
Maintenance: it is not recommended that you wear ruby for any intense or rigorous physical work, or when using irritating chemicals. Store in fabric-lined boxes away from other jewels as they easily get scratched. Clean using soapy water and a brush, or a commercial jewelry cleaner. It is important to thoroughly rinse the stone after cleaning and dry it.
Birthstone in August - Peridot The 16th Anniversary of Marriage
Historical tradition: the “jewel of the sun” it was called in ancient Egypt. Named after the French word “peridot”, meaning gold. In ancient times, olivine were used to engrave amulets. It is the national gem of Egypt.
Utility: For a long time, olivine has been considered a friendship aid, and is said to release the thought of ideology. It also protects the wearer from evil eyes. Because it is yellowish green, it is believed to cure liver diseases and digestive difficulties. In the treatment of mental illness, olivine is also potent for restoring people who have suffered depression.
Place of origin: The main source of the olivine in the ancient world is the island of Topazo in the Red Sea of Egypt. Most of the olivine mined today are from China, Pakistan and Arizona, and most of these gems are found below 3 carats.
Maintenance: Use warm soapy water. Avoid severe temperature changes and scratches as well as severe blows, and contact with chemicals. Olivine should not be cleaned with an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.
September Birthstone - Sapphire
Historical tradition: hailed as a great gemstone since 800BC, the name “sapphire” comes from the Latin word "saphirus" and the Greek word "sapheiros", both of which are blue. In the 12th century, sapphire was called the most apt stone for church rings.
Utility: In the Middle Ages, people believed that wearing sapphire could suppress negative thoughts. It has always been considered to possess the ability to cure natural diseases. The most important attribute of sapphire is that it destroys evil spirits and reverse negative spells. Physically, sapphire is said to have the ability to reduce fever, prevent mental illness and sharpen vision.
Place of origin: Blue sapphires come from Myanmar and Kashmir, blue tones are true spectral blue, and the stones tend to have a unique velvety luster. The sapphire from Sri Lanka is of varying shades and is almost pale blue. Sapphire is also found in Australia, they are dark blue, though with a slightly greener background than those found in Thailand, also cheaper than in Myanmar, Kashmir and Sri Lanka.
Maintenance: It can be cleaned in almost anyway. However, using warm, soapy water is best. If you have cracks on your sapphire, do not use mechanical cleaning methods. As with most valuable gems, avoid heavy work or chemicals when wearing these stones as they can be damaged.
October Birthstone – Opal, The 14th Anniversary of Marriage
Historical tradition: the desire of every blonde in the middle ages, as it was thought to prevent against hair darkening and fading. The term was coined from the Sanskrit “upala”, meaning "gems", and the Greek derivative "Opallios", meaning "to see the change in color." Opal has a long history, and several myths related to it.
Utility: In the ancients, opal was a symbol of loyalty and assurance; in later history, it was associated with religious and emotional prayers. It is considered to have a strong therapeutic value for eye diseases. When worn, it protects the wearer from diseases, and increases the power of the eyes and mind.
Place of origin: The most valuable opals are from Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. They have been the main source of opal since it’s discovery in the 1870s. Today, opals are mainly found in Australia, Mexico, the United States, South America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Maintenance: If you take good care of it, your opal will last a long time. These stones should not be stored in oil or any other chemicals, which may cause them to lose some or all of their firepower. Because the opal contains a certain amount of moisture (up to 20% water), avoid placing the opal in dry areas, otherwise it may crack. Immersing it in water for hours can help preserve the stone.
November Birthstone - Citrine (Topaz)
Historical tradition: Respected in ancient times for its rarity, it was very popular in the 19th century. However, Citrine, which is not uncommon today, is no longer exclusive to the wealthy and luxurious.
Utility: It is believed that citrine is valuable in treating mental illnesses because it is a powerful regenerative. It is said that this stone helps with urinary, kidney and digestive diseases. It is considered to be a tonic for the circulatory system, and helps cleanse the blood.
Place of origin: The largest suppliers of natural citrine is the Rio Grande do Sol state in southern Brazil. The American citrine mines are found in Colorado, North Carolina and California. This gem is also found all over the world, including Spain, Brazil, Africa, South Africa, France, the United Kingdom, Madagascar and the Soviet Union.
Maintenance: keep citrine away from the sun if you value it’s continuous glow. The color of the stone fades when it is exposed to intense heat. You can wash your citrine with any commercial jewelry cleaner or with regular soap and warm water (using a soft brush). After cleaning, be sure to rinse thoroughly. Ultrasonic cleaners can be used to clean stones, steam cleaning is not recommended.
Birthstone in December - Tanzanite (Blue Zircon, Turquoise), The 4th and 19th Anniversary of Marriage
Historical Tradition: discovered in 1967, in Tanzania. Women who had just given birth wear blue beads and fabrics to provide a healthy and active life for their newborns.
Utility: Tanzanite changes color when viewed from different directions. It is said that this shift in color helps to raise awareness. Physically, tanzanite is a good tool to help recover from serious illnesses or stress.
Place of origin: tanzanite is very rare gem. The only place of production is under the Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, close to the Merelani hills, where the main sediments are almost exhausted. However, a small amount of tanzanite has also been found in Sweden, New Hampshire, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, Norway, Austria and Italy.
Maintenance: handle this stone with utmost care as it is soft and brittle, it will break if you are not careful, you wouldn’t want to lose your precious rare tanzanite die to carelessness. It is also important to avoid exposure to sudden temperature changes or heat. Tanzanite is also very sensitive to pressure, it has low resistance to ultrasound, so it should not be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners commonly used by jewelers as it can suffer irreparable damage. In general, tanzanite should be worn with care.