August's Birthstone - Scrumptious Bright Green Peridot!

Green is not my fave color, but I can say that I actually like Peridot more so than its green precious gem counterpart, the Emerald. Its brilliant lime green tone is perfectly refreshing for these steamy August days.

Peridot is the August birthstone and the gem designated for the 16th wedding anniversary. It ranges in color from light yellow-green to the intense bright green of new spring grass to olive. Because of the way peridot splits and bends the rays of light passing through it, it has a velvety appearance and a rich glow. Check out the brilliance of the Grade AAA peridot rondelles in my earrings. The purer green a peridot is the higher the value. Any tinges of brown or visible flaws greatly diminish the price.

Some of the properties with which the Peridot is associated - love, truth, faithfulness and loyalty. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the August Birthstone Peridot are fame, dignity, and protection. The healing properties of the August birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the lungs, lymph, breast and sinuses. The Peridot is also used to enhance prosperity, growth, and openness.

February's Birthstone - Amethyst

The ancient Greeks believed that this gemstone held many powers, among them protection against intoxication. In fact, the word Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober. In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence.

Even today, Amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors. Amethyst is thought to have powerful soothing effects on the wearer. It is believed to enhance a person’s ability to learn new ideas faster. It is can help you steady your mind and balance of emotional, mental, and physical states. The gift of Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the power to overcome difficulty.

January Birthstones

I have a birthday this month, and I love playing with gems, so I decided to provide a little information about January's birthstones. I will then subsequently create a similar post for each month this year. If you look up information about birthstones, you will learn that there are traditional and modern birthstones. For January, the traditional stones are garnet and rose quartz, and the modern birthstone is just garnet. Most people think of the color red with regard to garnet, but garnet actually comes in many colors. I sifted through my stash to give some examples. From top to bottom: traditional deep red garnet, rose quartz, mandarin garnet, hessonite (green garnet) and a brilliant Mozambique garnet. Garnet was once thought to be connected with the blood. This stone is supposed to protect the wearer from nightmares and offer guidance through the dark.