January - Garnet
The history of Garnet dates back to the Bronze Age (more than 5,000 years ago), when it was a very popular gemstone. According to Christian and Jewish mythologies, during the Great Flood a radiant red Garnet guided the way for Noah, ultimately leading his ark to salvation. Garnets are available in a wide range of "warm" tones such as reds, oranges, yellows and burgundies, as well as greens and some rare color-change varieties.

February - Amethyst
Amethyst's intense purple color and relative availability have ensured its popularity throughout the millennia. A popular gem since Pre-Roman times, the wine-loving Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle.  

March - Aquamarine
For centuries, many believed that oceanic energy was captured within the delicate semblance of aquamarines. When amulets made of this precious gem were worn, sailors believed that unmatched bravery would be instilled in their souls. Made of beryl, aquamarine is a hard gem variety, making it a good choice for frequently worn jewelry, especially in earrings and pendants where its delicate color and clarity can be predominately displayed.

April - Diamond
"Diamonds are Forever," sang Shirley Bassey, while Marilyn Monroe insisted they were "A Girl's Best Friend". Celebrated in song, diamonds have long reigned as the ultimate statement of ardor and affection. The hardest, rarest and densest natural substance known to man, diamonds have been a source of fascination (and misinformation) since around 800 BC when they were first presented to royalty in India. The only diamond producer for an astounding 2,500 years, Indians once believed that diamonds were created when lightning struck rock.

May - Emerald
Emeralds were first mined more than 3,000 years ago, during the time of the Ancient Egyptian Empire. Emeralds are said to have a powerful effect on the conscious and unconscious mind, strengthening memory and increasing psychic awareness. Emeralds are actually a green form of beryl and range in color from light lime green to deep forest green.

June - Pearl
Aphrodite's tears of joy, dew drops filled with moonlight, Krishna's wedding gift to his daughter and Cleopatra's love potion, the legends abound but one fact is undeniable, pearls are the oldest known gem and for centuries were considered the most valuable. So valuable that the Roman General Vitellius allegedly financed an entire military campaign with just one of his mother's pearl earrings. Believed to symbolize the moon, the oldest known pearl jewelry is a necklace found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died in 520 BC.

July - Ruby
Rubies were first mined more than 2,500 years ago in Sri Lanka. Historically, many believed that mystical powers lie within this intensely colored red gemstone. The ancient Burmese believed that when inserted beneath the skin, rubies generate a mystical force that protects the wearer from accidents and attack. Rubies were also once believed to contain prophetic powers, enabling wearers to predict the future based on changes in their ruby's color intensity.

August - Peridot (pronounced "pear' uh doe")
Common in early Greek and Roman jewelry, Peridot has been popular since about 1500 BC when the Egyptians started mining it on Zebirget (St. John's Island), a Red Sea island about 50 miles off the Egyptian coast. Known by the ancient Egyptians as the "gem of the sun", Peridot was believed to possess the power to break evil spells. During the Middle Ages, people wore Peridot to gain foresight and divine inspiration.

September - Sapphire
Prized since ancient times, sapphire has been called the "gem of the heavens". Ancient people believed that the power of wisdom is contained within this precious gemstone, enabling the wearer to find the correct solution to challenging obstacles. Sapphires come in all spectrums of color, except for red. Often when people simply refer to sapphires, they mean blue sapphires. Other color sapphires are correctly referred to as fancy sapphires.

October - Opal
With "the fire of the carbuncle, the brilliant purple of the amethyst and the sea green color of the emerald, all shining together in incredible union" opal clearly impressed Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), Roman historian and author of the world's first encyclopedia. The Romans had been wearing opals for centuries and considered them a symbol of hope or purity, while for the early Greeks they embodied the powers of foresight or prophecy. The more fancifully minded Arabs thought that opals must have fallen from heaven in flashes of lightning thus achieving their unique play of color or "opalescence".

November - Citrine
One of the most affordable gemstones on the market, citrine is a golden yellow form of quartz which takes its name from "citron", the French word for lemon. In former times citrine was used as a protective talisman against the plague, bad skin, evil thoughts and as a charm against snakebites. It is also believed to symbolize happiness, aid digestion, remove toxins from the body, and be useful in the treatment of depression and diabetes.

December - Zircon
The name "zircon" is believed to have derived from the Arabic words, "zar", meaning gold, and "gun", meaning color. For many centuries, the brilliance of zircon has captured the hearts of those who gazed upon this magnificent gemstone. Zircon's popularity began to grow in the sixth century when Italian artisans featured the stone in jewelry designs. During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to contain curative powers, protecting the wearer from diseases and banishing insomnia.

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