Birthstones Archives

Rah! Rah! Rubies!

July 2, 2015

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 natural gemstone except diamond, which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday wear. Fine-quality ruby is extremely rare, and the color of the gem is most important to its value. The most prized color is a medium or medium dark vivid red or slightly purplish red.

Pearls of Wisdom for June 2015

June 5, 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, pearls have been used as an adornment for centuries. They were one of the favorite gems of the Roman Empire. Later, during the Tudor period in England, the 1500’s were known as the Pearl Age. Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living

Celebrating May Birthdays with Emeralds

May 1, 2015

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 stone to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience.” Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning “green” in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world’s emeralds

Happy Birthday April! It's your time to shine!

April 2, 2015

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 part of an organization that offers you the highest quality diamond grading reports…we do have a special soft spot for diamonds. History of the Diamond as the April Birthstone Diamonds are a thing of beauty and the ultimate gift for a loved one. Thought to

March birthstone: Aquamarine

March 6, 2015

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 levelheaded. Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the color usually is more intense in larger stones. This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but also is found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia,

Celebrating the birthstone of February – Amethyst!

February 5, 2015

By: Amanda L. Colborn Amethyst, the gemstone believed by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, also is said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted. Throughout history, the gemstone has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous cultures. English regalia were even decorated with amethysts during the Middle Ages to symbolize royalty. Amethyst is purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth. Historically, the finest amethyst were found in Russia and were featured in much royal European jewelry. Today, while Brazil is the primary source of this gemstone, fine

Pantone announces the 2015 Color of the Year!

December 5, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn You’ve likely heard that Pantone has released their Color of the Year for 2015, a warm and spicy shade called “Marsala!” Upon its release, the team at AGS noticed something very familiar about this shade…it perfectly matches the red garnet gemstone! Because the colors match so perfectly, we wanted to show you some jewelry options that would pair perfectly with Pantone’s Marsala. First is a gorgeous red garnet and 14 karat yellow gold ring from Parlé Jewelry Designs. This ring features a stunning, oval-cut center stone, surrounded by yellow gold and diamonds. Next, also from Parlé Jewelry Designs,

Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise – Oh my!

December 4, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn Happy birthday December! We’re thrilled to feature three beautiful birthstones and talk a little bit about just what makes them so special. Tanzanite Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, and found exclusively in this tiny area of the world, tanzanite exhibits a rich violet-blue color for which the gemstone is treasured; often it is heat-treated to achieve this color. Colors range from blue to purple, and tanzanites that are medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation, and slightly violet blue command premium prices. As tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire, it often was purchased as

Celebrating the Birthstones of November!

November 7, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn, Marketing Coordinator at AGS Topaz Topaz is a gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several thousand years in antiquity, at the time — all yellow gems were called topaz. Often confused with citrine quartz (yellow) and smoky quartz (brown), quartz and topaz are separate and unrelated mineral species. The most prized color of topaz is called Imperial topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s and features a magnificent orange body color with pinkish undertones. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones. Citrine Citrine, the other birthstone for

October – celebrating the month of TWO birthstones!

October 10, 2014

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 The first October birthstone is tourmaline. It has become a favorite gemstone among jewelry designers, and gem collectors the world over. Since it is available in a wide variety of colors, it is ideally suited to almost anyone’s taste. Tourmaline also is known for displaying several colors in the same gemstone. These bi-color or tri-color gems are formed

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