A Guide To Birthstone Jewellery
Meaningful and personal, birthstone jewellery makes a perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.
This guide takes you through the history, meaning and science behind the birthstones of each month, as well as how to care for them.
An Introduction
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An Introduction To Birthstones
Imbued with mythology, the origin of birthstones can be traced back to ancient times – when 12 stones were associated with the 12 signs of the zodiac.
The list of birthstones as we know it today was created in 1912 by the National Association of Jewellers in America.
Legends speak of the healing, protective powers and spiritual symbols of each birthstone, and it’s believed that wearing a birthstone during its assigned month heightens these powers.
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What is the Mohs scale of hardness?
Created in 1812 by scientist Friedrich Mohs, the Mohs hardness scale rates 10 minerals based on the ability of one mineral to scratch another, 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest.
1
Talc2
Gypsum3
Calcite4
Fluorite5
Apatite6
Orthoclase7
Quartz8
Topaz9
Corundum10
DiamondSoftest
Hardest
This scale gives you an idea of how hard other gemstones are, including the gemstones mentioned below.
Birthstone By Month

Garnet
January
Most commonly a deep red gemstone, January’s birthstone garnet makes a beautiful gift for January birthdays.
SHOP GARNET
Amethyst
February
Coming in a beautiful pale lilac or deep purple shades, amethyst is the birthstone for February and also makes a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.
SHOP AMETHYST
Aquamarine
March
A beautiful blue birthstone for the month of March, aquamarine exudes the tranquillity of the ocean.
SHOP AQUAMARINE
Diamond
April
One of our favourite gemstones, diamonds are the birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in April.
SHOP DIAMOND
Emerald
May
One of the most highly prized gemstones, the birthstone for May is the emerald – a striking green stone and coveted amongst royalty.
SHOP EMERALD
Pearl
June
Adored for its pearly and iridescent lustre, pearls are also the anniversary gemstone for 30 years of marriage. June has two other birthstones; alexandrite and moonstone.
SHOP PEARL
Peridot
August
With a unique lime green glow, peridot is one of August’s three birthstones – the others being sardonyx and spinel.
SHOP PERIDOT
Sapphire
Septemeber
A favourite of royalty, sapphires are also the gemstone for 45th wedding anniversaries.
SHOP SAPPHIRE
Topaz
November
Coming in shades of brown, green, red, pink, yellow or blue, topaz is November’s birthstone – with blue topaz being the most popular in jewellery.
SHOP TOPAZ
Tanzanite
December
Tanzanite is a magnificent gemstone found in only one part of the world; Tanzania.
SHOP TANZANITEBIRTHSTONES BY ZODIAC
Birthstones are actually historically linked to the zodiac, not the months; as there were 12 stones for the 12 signs of the zodiac during Roman times. Choosing a birthstone by zodiac is another way to find a personal and meaningful piece of jewellery for yourself or a loved one.
We’ve listed the below zodiac birthstones, but there’s often alternative stones for each sign. Align your stars and heighten your powers with your zodiac birthstone.
Zodiac | Date Range | Gemstone |
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Aries Birthstone | March 21 – April 19 | Diamond |
Taurus Birthstone | April 20 – May 20 | Emerald |
Gemini Birthstone | May 21 – June 21 | Pearl |
Cancer Birthstone | June 22 – July 22 | Ruby |
Leo Birthstone | July 23 – August 22 | Peridot |
Virgo Birthstone | August 23 – September 22 | Sapphire |
Libra Birthstone | September 23 – October 22 | Opal |
Scorpio Birthstone | October 23 – November 21 | Topaz |
Sagittarius Birthstone | November 22 – December 21 | Turquoise |
Capricorn Birthstone | December 22 – January 19 | Garnet |
Aquarius Birthstone | January 20 – February 18 | Amethyst |
Pisces Birthstone | February 19 – March 20 | Aquamarine |
LOOKING AFTER YOUR BIRTHSTONE
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Caring
As with all precious items, you should take care to avoid scratches, sharp blows and extreme temperature changes.
Also be careful with chemicals and prolonged exposure to sunlight. Examples of gemstones which can become paler after prolonged sunlight include amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, rose quartz and smoky quartz.
Some gemstones are fairly porous and shouldn’t be submerged in water for too long, for example opal, pearl and turquoise.
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Cleaning
To clean diamonds, you can use warm, soapy water or you can use the Connoiseur Diamond Dazzle stick.
1
Clean your birthstone with warm, soapy water and wipe with a soft, dry cloth. This is an effective and safe way to clean gemstones, as some jewellery cleaning solutions have chemicals which can damage gemstones.
2
Don’t use jewellery cleaning solution with emerald, pearl, opal, coral, tanzanite, peridot and turquoise.
3
Ultrasonic cleaners can also damage gemstones, so only use one when you know which gems it can safely be used on. Emerald, turquoise and pearl are a definite no-go.