Pearl Teardrops of the Moon
Ancient Japanese legends told stories of mermaids and nymphs crying tears of pearls. When the Greek gods wept, they shed pearls. Even the moon allegedly shed tears of well…you know. There are many pearl myths, and not all pearl folktales involve crying.Early Chinese civilization believed that dragons carried pearls between their teeth. If you were brave […]
Happy Birthday November!
By Amanda L. Colborn November has two beautiful birthstones associated with the month. If you’re a fan of color or variations of colored stones, than November is the perfect month for you. Both Topaz and Citrine shine in popularity because of their outstanding colors. They both also have a very special place in history! Learn more […]
Unique Birthstones for October Birthdays
By Amanda L. Colborn Happy birthday to all the October babies out there! October features two very unique and different birthstones. Tourmaline and Opal, two of the most gorgeous and diverse birthstones make beautiful and vibrant jewelry. Let’s explore them individually: Tourmaline Tourmaline has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designers, and gem collectors the […]
Celebrating September with Sparkling Sapphire
We’re getting a jump-start on September! September’s birthstone is the sapphire, a beautiful gemstone that has been popular since the Middle Ages. According to folklore, sapphires bring wearers good fortune, spiritual insight and provide them with protection from envy and harm. Blue sapphires range from very light to very dark greenish or violet-blue, as well as […]
Special Birthstones for August Birthdays
By Amanda L Colborn With tomorrow marking the first day of August, we’d like to wish all the August babies a happy birthday! You have two special birthstones associated with the month of August. Both of which are not only unique and beautiful, but very representative of power and courage. Read on to learn more about […]
Rah! Rah! Rubies!
By Amanda L. Colborn There’s no better way to demonstrate your love than by giving a ruby in celebration of a July birthday. Rubies arouse the senses, stir the imagination, and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love. Ruby is a variety of the gems species corundum. It is harder than any […]
Pearls of Wisdom for June 2015
By Amanda L Colborn Happy birthday to all the June babies out there! You’re all very lucky in that you have three very unique birthstones commemorating this special month! Unfortunately, I am not creative enough to also be able to work “Alexandrite” and “Moonstone” into this blog’s title. But, let’s jump right into pearls! PEARLS Historically, […]
Celebrating May Birthdays with Emeralds
By Amanda L Colborn As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. According to Almanac.com, “The emerald, was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. It has long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love. Ancient Romans went so far as to dedicate this […]
Happy Birthday April! It's your time to shine!
By Amanda L Colborn At the American Gem Society and especially in AGS Laboratories, we look forward to April all year long! With the diamond being April’s birthstone, it’s yet another opportunity to celebrate our favorite things: bright, shiny diamonds! Don’t get us wrong, all other months and their birthstones are just as special! However, being […]
March birthstone: Aquamarine
By Amanda L Colborn Aquamarine The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and […]