Birthstones

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,

This overlooked spinel gemstone is a perfect beauty Spinel is a mineral with a lot of history. Long mined in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, spinel garnered deep appreciation for its beauty, even winning a treasured place in a number of crown jewels. Found in a variety of colors, including red, blue, violet, and dark green, spinel gemstones are regaining their popularity of old. Learn everything you didn’t know about this intriguing gemstone. What is a spinel gem? Spinel is a mineral that owes its beautiful color to chromium, much like rubies and emeralds do. What is the

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

Tourmaline history dates back to the 1500’s, and has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the gemstone has rich folklore and cultural significance. Tourmaline History and Beliefs Egyptian Legend An Egyptian legend explains this variety by saying the gemstone traveled along a rainbow, gathering the diverse array of colors as it went. Magician Legend One legend relates tourmaline to the world’s ancient knowledge. Magicians living in the Andes mountains used tourmaline to create magical staffs to access this resource. Indian Mythology Ancient Indian ceremonies used tourmaline for enlightenment and help in seeking good. Inversely, they felt

The folklore around opal gemstones has changed over the centuries. It has long been associated with hope, happiness, innocence, and luck. According to Arabic legend, opals fell from the sky in bolts of lightning. Greek mythology stated that opals originated from Zeus’ joyful tears after winning the battle against the Titans. Meanwhile, Australian aborigines believed that the Creator came to Earth on a rainbow, leaving these colorful stones where his feet touched the ground. Aztecs named fire opal after Quetzalcoatl, their feathered-serpent diety. They believed the “Stone of the Bird of Paradise” could foster creativity and beginnings. They felt it