Article: Discover Your Birthstone
Discover Your Birthstone
Did you know that your birth month is tied to a specific gemstone? Just like your zodiac sign, your birthstone reflects a unique gemstone that corresponds to the month you were born in. These gemstones are not only beautiful but also carry symbolic meanings. Let’s dive into the birthstone chart and explore the gemstone associated with each month.
What Is the Mohs Scale? Understanding Gemstone Hardness
To fully appreciate the birthstone chart, it’s important to understand the Mohs scale. This scale measures the hardness of minerals, or their ability to resist scratching. The Mohs scale helps determine the durability of the gemstone, which is especially important when shopping for jewelry. The harder the gemstone, the more durable it will be for everyday wear. Hardness and toughness are different, toughness is the ability of material to resist cracking or breaking under stress. Whereas the hardest gemstone is a diamond, the toughest is jade. For more information, please consult with our Ex Aurum specialists.
January: Garnet
Garnet is a vibrant red gemstone, known for its durability and toughness, scoring between 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale. While red is the most common color, garnets can also be found in shades of orange, brown, yellow, pink, green, blue and even colorless. Garnets symbolize faith, fidelity and friendship.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst is a beautiful gemstone that ranges from light to deep purple. A type of quartz, amethyst is durable with a Mohs hardness of 7, making it perfect for everyday jewelry. Amethysts represent sincerity and security.
March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a stunning light blue to greenish stone that belongs to the Beryl family. It is believed to have calming and healing properties, promoting inner peace and tranquility. With a Mohs hardness rating of 7.5-8, aquamarine is highly durable. Aquamarines embody honesty, loyalty and beauty.
April: Diamond
Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of commitment and love. As the hardest gemstone, rated a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, diamonds are incredibly durable and can only be cut or chipped by another diamond. This makes them an excellent choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry. Diamonds are associated with love, strength and eternal commitment. This, combined with its astonishing hardness and durability has made them the most popular choice for engagement and wedding rings.
May: Emerald
Emeralds are stunning green gemstones, ranging from deep, vivid greens to lighter, paler hues. Known for their beauty, emeralds symbolize rebirth and are believed to bring foresight and good fortune to their owners. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, emeralds are durable but still considered fragile compared to other gemstones. They often contain natural inclusions, making them more susceptible to breaking. Emeralds are symbols of rebirth and renewal, making them a popular choice for celebrating wedding anniversaries. They are also believed to bring wealth and prosperity.
June: Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare and captivating gemstone that shifts in color, ranging from vivid green to bluish-green depending on the light. This unique color-changing attribute makes it highly sought after and valuable. Alexandrite ranks 8.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable, though its rarity adds to its allure. It belongs to the chrysoberyl family. Alexandrite's are known for bringing good fortune, prosperity, and intellect, making them a powerful symbol of luck and success.
June: Pearl
Pearls are the second birthstone of June and are revered for their symbolism of purity, innocence, humility and friendship. Pearls rank about 2.5 on the Mohs scale, making them relatively soft, which makes them easy to scratch. For more information, check out our detailed blog post all about pearls!
July: Ruby
Rubies come in various shades of red and pink, with the most prized hue known as "Pigeon Blood." These gemstones are made of corundum and rank 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamonds in hardness! Rubies are believed to embody power, youthful energy, and the life force of blood. In Medieval Europe, they were thought to bring health, wisdom, success and love.
August: Peridot
Peridot is a vibrant yellowish-green gemstone that belongs to the olivine mineral family. Known for its density, peridot is believed to have formed deep within the Earth and been brought to the surface by volcanic activity. They rank between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale. Peridots symbolize strength and balance, and is thought to bring peace, health, and rest to its wearer.
September: Sapphire
Sapphires have been treasured for centuries, with their iconic blue hue belonging to the corundum family. However, sapphires come in a stunning array of colors beyond the familiar blue, including yellow, pink, orange, and even red! They rank 9 on the Mohs scale, just like rubies. Sapphires are traditionally associated with royalty, nobility and spirituality, symbolizing wisdom and inner peace.
October: Opal
Opals are associated with love and passion. They rank 5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. They are also believed to inspire loyalty. Opals often display an array of beautiful colours, which make them so captivating.
November: Citrine
Citrines are powerful, generally yellow gemstones, associated with prosperity and success, which is why they earned the nickname of "merchant's stone". They rank 7 on the Mohs scale.
December: Tanzanite
Tanzanites are a blue-purple stone associated with intellect. Their distinct colour makes them highly desirable. They rank between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale.
Considering Wearing Your Birthstone? Shop at Ex Aurum
Gemstones are a popular and personal option for jewellery. If your birthstone doesn't resonate with you, don't let that stop you from choosing the stone that speaks to you. Some months even have alternative stones: June - moonstone, August - spinel, October - tourmaline, November - topaz, December - turquoise. Contact us or visit the Ex Aurum Showroom to learn more about all your options when selecting jewellery, including custom projects.
