Blingology

Ruby: The July Birthstone

The red hot month of July is almost upon us and with it comes a new birthstone.

Partly because of their red color, rubies have always been associated with romance, love and red hot passion.  Ancient people believed that they were also a symbol of courage and bravery.

The finest rubies are rarer than diamonds. You'll probably only see them on celebrity July babies like Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson.

Rubies rate a 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (Diamonds are a 10), so it is one that can be worn everyday without too much worry about damaging it.

Click here for some ruby jewelry ideas.

Poll: Do You Like Your Birthstone?

None of us gets to choose the month we're born in. That means, of course, that we don't get to choose our birthstone.

Do you like your birthstone? Our very first Blingology Poll asks this very question. You can cast your vote near the top of the sidebar on the right. So don't wait, let your voice be heard!

Pearl: The June Birthstone

For thousands of years, pearls have been thought of as the ultimate symbol of luxury. In some countries during The Renaissance, only royals were allowed to wear them. Much later in  history, they became a staple in the jewelry collections of well-to-do women around the world. However, what exactly are pearls?  Just where do they come from and what makes them so special?

Unlike other birthstones, pearls are not found in the earth. A pearl is made when a foreign object works its way into an oyster. In order to protect itself from the object, the oyster secretes layers of a substance called nacre. After many layers of nacre: ta da! We have a pearl.

When this process occurs on its own, the pearl that is made is called a natural pearl. Man-made pearls, made on pearl farms, are called cultured pearls. Two other terms that are thrown around a lot are freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls come from freshwater mussels and tend to be irregular in shape. Saltwater pearls are farmed in saltwater, grown in oysters and are rounder in shape.

If you own genuine pearls you know that  you have to be very gentle with them. They are very fragile and great care must be taken with them. Avoid using things like hairsprays and perfumes around them. In fact, pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off!

Of course, you can avoid all of this drama by wearing imitation pearls. I like Holsted Jewelers' selection of imitation pearls. They have some real ones, too. Check them out when you have a moment.

Sources: Jewelry.com and Wikipedia

Emerald: The May Birthstone

Its green color brings to mind new grass on a Spring day.  Thousands of years ago it was thought to symbolize eternal hope and rebirth.  It is Emerald, the May birthstone.

Ancient Romans thought that emeralds soothed the soul. There is some truth to this: Modern scientists have found that our eyes are more sensitive to the color green than to any other color.

Emeralds are part of the beryl family of gems. Depending on the source you read, it ranges between a 7 and 8.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. (Diamonds, are a 10.)  As a result, it is a somewhat fragile stone. If you're lucky enough to own a piece of emerald jewelry, do not subject it to extremes in temperature or you will risk cracking the stone.

Do you want to soothe your soul without upsetting your wallet?  Click here.

Next Month: Pearls

Source: Jewelry.com

Diamonds: The April Birthstone

Ah, diamonds. They are the hardest substance known to man, "a girl's best friend," the most precious gem and the birthstone for the month of April.

The Greek word "adamas" is where this brilliant stone gets its name. "Adamas" means unconquerable. Unconquerable, everlasting love perhaps, or unbreakable stone? In any case it's clear that diamonds do indeed last forever.

They say that if you're looking to buy real diamonds, you should consider The Four C's: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. I don't know about you, but I'll just have to hold onto that information for another time far into the future. Today, (from left, below) white topaz, clear crystal and Cubic Zirconia suit my budget just fine:

Need more choices? Check them out here. Happy birthday and happy shopping.

Next month: Emeralds

Sources: Jewelry Central and Jewelry.com

Acquamarine: The March Birthstone

The word acquamarine makes me think of crusing along calm seas on a luxurious yacht. No wonder this birthstone is known as the "gem of the sea."

Part of the beryl family of gems, acquamarine is usually greenish-blue to pale blue in color. It is a very clear stone and, when worn as jewelry, it resembles droplets of water from a Carribean sea. Ancient lore has it keeping sailors from harm while at sea, relieving headaches and other ailments and helping to restore harmony to couples with relationship problems.  Acquamarine rates an 8 on the Moh's Hardness Scale, making it a great stone for everyday jewelry.

Holsted Jewelers has a beautiful high-end acquamarine set, as well as some great affordable alternatives. Check them out here.

Next month: Diamonds!

[Sources: Jewelry.com and Jewelry Central ]

Amethyst: The February Birthstone

What do the British Crown Jewels, Catherine The Great and Egyptian Royalty have in common? A purple gemstone called amethyst. Known as the royal gemstone, it was worn by both Catherine and the Egyptians and today it can be found in the Crown Jewels.

Amethyst is a form of quartz, one of the earth's most abundant minerals. It's found in many places in the earth, in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

In ancient times, wine goblets were made from amethyst because it was considered to aid against drunkenness. In fact, the word "amethyst" is derived from the Greek "amethystos," which translates loosely to "not drunken."   The gemstone was also thought to encourage celibacy, so it was used by churches in the Middle Ages. Amethyst is still worn by some bishops today.

Amethyst rates a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. (Diamonds are a 10.) It's durable enough for everyday wear, but try not to expose it to excessive sunlight or its color could fade.

Need some amethyst ideas? Click here to see what Holsted Jewelers has to offer.

Next month: Aquamarine

Sources: Jewelry.com and Jewelry Central

Garnet: The January Birthstone

Happy New Year! Now that 2008 is here, it's time to start a regular feature here on the blog. Each month I'll be sharing what I know about a particular birthstone. This month, of course, it's all about garnets.

Depending on what you read, the word garnet was derived either from the Latin word granatus, meaning like a grain, or from the word pomegranate, a fruit whose color resembles the stone. There are many different varieties of garnet, but the most common variety is almandine, a dark red to brownish red colored stone. In ancient times, garnet was thought to protect the wearer from ailments, evil spirits and nightmares. Supposedly, Noah used a garnet lantern to navigate the Ark during those 40 days and 40 nights of rain.

On the Mohs Hardness Scale garnet ranks around a 7 out of a possible 10. (Diamonds are ranked at 10.) This means you should be careful with your garnet jewelry, because there is a slight possibility for nicks and cracks to occur. To clean your garnet jewelry, simply use warm soapy water and a soft brush.

Is garnet your birthstone? If it is, happy birthday! But even if you're not a January baby, a piece of rich, red garnet jewelry can still contribute to a great look.  Want some garnet ideas? Click here.

Next month: Amethyst.

Sources: Jewelry.com, Jewelry Central