Birthstones

Garnets were once carried to prevent accidents and believed to protect the wearer from nightmares.

Garnet is well known as a red stone, but it also comes in gold, red-gold, red, and green hues. The green varieties, tsavorite and demantoid, can get expensive but the other varieties, almandine, pyrope, rhodolite, hessonite, and spessartite are very affordable and just as beautiful

Amethyst was once believed to prevent drunkenness and inspire a somber way of thinking

Amethyst was once believed to prevent drunkenness and inspire a somber way of thinking

Throughout the ages, diamond has been associated with eternal love and historically has also been a symbol of courage and honor.

Emerald was thought to strengthen the intelligence and memory. The ancient Egyptians buried mummies with emeralds to signify eternal youth and emerald was a favorite gemstone of Cleopatra.

Alexandrite received its name from the Russian Tsar Alexander II after it was discovered in 1834, the day the young Tsar came of age.

In both Hindu and Roman legends it is said that moon beams or drops of the moon formed the gemstone, moonstone.

Pearls dropped from the sky, according to an ancient Chinese legend, when dragons fought among the clouds.

Ruby, the sister of sapphire, has been a symbol of the heat and associated with love, passion, and bravery.

Peridot was once believed to fortify the power of any medicine.

Legends of sapphire say it is a symbol of vision, clarity, even divine sight. Though sapphire is most associated with the color blue, it is found in almost all colors, except red.

Ancient Greeks and Romans believed opal symbolized hope and purity.

A legend says that tourmaline is found in all hues because it traveled along the rainbow gathering all of its colors.

During the Middle Ages, topaz was believed to heal one's body and mind and prevent death.

During the Middle Ages, topaz was believed to heal one's body and mind and prevent death.