Birthstones Archives

November Birthstones: Falling in Love with Citrine and Topaz

November 10, 2023

By Avery Quigley, American Gem Society People born in November are blessed with two beautiful birthstones: Citrine and topaz. These two dazzling gemstones have rich histories and folklore. Continue reading to learn more. History of Citrine The name “citrine” was used to refer to yellow gemstones as early as 1385. However, because the gemstone’s color resembles topaz, the two November birthstones have a history of being mistaken for each other. In the mid-18th century, mineralogists realized that amethyst and smoky quartz could be heat treated to produce golden honey hues of citrine, contributing to an abundance of affordable enhanced gemstones

Fun Facts About December Birthstones

November 3, 2022

December is a month known for celebrations and gifts. If you were born in December, you have the fun of choosing between three beautiful birthstones. The December birthstones are turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Each has a distinctive beauty that makes them special. Here are a few December birthstone facts. Fun Facts About Turquoise Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones, making it a popular choice for jewelry for centuries. Queens and the ancient Egyptians enjoyed them. The word “turquoise” dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression “pierre tourques,” which referenced the “Turkish stone,” brought to Europe

Fall Jewelry Trends You Won’t Want To Miss

September 23, 2022

By Kimberly Tate, Content Specialist, American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories Fashion trends during the fall season often incorporate warm colors and heavier clothing to stay cozy in the cold weather. When transitioning from short sleeves to sweaters, you might want to update your daily jewelry selection or even create a personalized jewelry capsule. Birthstone jewelry is always a great place to start but if you aren’t sure where to go from there, keep reading to stay on top of what’s trending and gaze at inspiring designs by American Gem Society (AGS) members! Birthstone Jewelry There are many beautiful birthstones

Four Fun Facts About Sapphire

September 6, 2022

By Kimberly Tate, Content Specialist, American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories A new month means we have a new birthstone(s) to celebrate! Sapphire, the birthstone of September, has been a cherished gem for thousands of years. In honor of this breathtaking gem, we’ve listed four fun facts about sapphire so you can learn more! 1. A Birthstone with Many Hues Although typically thought of as blue, sapphires come in a rainbow of colors. Its hues vary from violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hues. Sapphires in any color but blue are called “fancies.” However, red is an exception

Tips from Jewelers Mutual Group: August’s Birthstone—Peridot in the Limelight

August 19, 2022

Peridot’s signature lime green glow looks good any time of day! It’s one of few gemstones that come in one color, though the green hue can vary from yellowish-green to olive to brownish-green, depending on how much iron is present. Interested in learning more about this beautiful birthstone of August? Click here to read Jewelers Mutual® Group’s August’s Birthstone: Peridot in the Limelight. Burmese Peridot by B & B Fine Gems

The Birthstone of March: Aquamarine!

March 11, 2022

March has historically been an unusual month. This is a transitional time, from winter blues to summer blues. It’s also a windy month, and the weather can be fickle as one day is cold and the next warm. It’s supposed to be the first month of spring, but it can feel like the last month of winter. Even literature views it as a conflicted month. Shakespeare warned Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March” in his eponymous play, “Julius Caesar.” Despite the ups and downs of this month, one element remains bright, shining, and beautiful: the March birthstone, aquamarine. A

October Birthstone Options

October 20, 2021

The birthstones for October are opal and tourmaline. Yes, October has two birthstones, offering a broad range of choices to mark this special month. If you are celebrating an October birthday or even an October milestone, you have a unique opportunity to choose jewelry that aligns with your style, as there are so many intriguing options available in both opal and tourmaline. Why October has two birthstones Opal has long been the traditional October birthstone, celebrated for its iridescent beauty. The American National Retail Jeweler’s Association created the standard list of birthstones, one for each month, in 1912. Forty years later,

Everything You Need to Know About the Spinel Gem

August 2, 2021

Spinel has often been confused with ruby. It comes in a variety of colors, including red, black, blue, and purple. Learn more about this August birthstone.

The Beauty of Opal

July 23, 2021

With its amazing display of colors and kaleidoscopic patterns, opal is a unique and spectacular gemstone. They’re stunning as rings, pendants, necklaces, and any other jewelry style you can think of! As one of the two birthstones representing October, and the gifting gemstone for 14th wedding anniversaries, there is more to opal than one might think. If you have ever wondered what makes opal special beyond its eye-catching colors, keep reading! Opal and diamond earrings by Lightning Ridge Collection by John Ford Each opal has its own uniqueness, but many might not know how they developed. Seasonal rains soaked the

The Power of Pearls

June 7, 2021

We’ve heard that history repeats itself. Pearls embody that saying as they are a timeless trend, again and again. They’ve grown from a symbol of status to a status of style. Over the past few years, pearls have remained a trend with different shapes, colors, and sizes. AGS members like Krainz Creations have kept up with the latest! These earrings have been described as a pearl with ocean colors. You can find these button-shaped earrings from Krainz Creations and so much more on our Trending Now page. As we look forward to the newest trends, we can also look back

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