The 12 Birthstones: A Complete Guide to Their Meaning, History, and Beauty
Birthstones are not only stunning additions to your jewellery collection but also carry deep symbolism and historical significance. Let’s delve into the 12 birthstones, their stories, and what makes them the perfect gem for their respective months.
January: Garnet
Garnet, with its rich, deep red hues, is a gemstone of passion, protection, strength, and love. It is connected to the root chakra and is often used in crystal chakra healing and meditation. Garnets have a long and storied history, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. They were popular amongst royalty and warriors due to their perceived protective nature. While garnets are commonly red, they can be found in almost any colour, as reflected in our garnet collection, which includes pink, green and orange garnets.
Shop our January birthstone jewellery collection.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst has long been admired for its connection to calmness, clarity, and spirituality. In ancient times, it was believed to ward off intoxication and promote a balanced mind. It's the perfect gemstone to help you achieve balance. It's a favourite for those seeking balance, tranquillity, and wisdom and for enhancing your meditation practice.
Discover our February birthstone jewellery collection.
March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine, is believed to enhance communication by opening and balancing the throat chakra. It's also known to relieve stress and promote emotional balance. With its association with water, sea, and serenity, aquamarine has been a symbol of peace and tranquillity for centuries.
Explore our March birthstone jewellery collection.
April: Diamond & Crystal quartz
Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love, strength, and eternity. Renowned for their unparalleled brilliance and expense, diamonds have been cherished throughout history as tokens of commitment and power.
Crystal quartz is known as the master healer and is believed to enhance clarity, creativity, and focus. It can also help break the cycle of ruminating thoughts and overthinking. Additionally, crystal quartz is a more budget-friendly alternative for an April birthstone.
Shop our April birthstone jewellery collection.
May: Emerald
Emeralds, prized for their vivid green colour, has been known as the stone of truth, eternal love, and commitment. It's associated with the heart chakra and new beginnings, making it the perfect gift for a loved one or a special treat for yourself. Ancient Egyptians revered emeralds as a gift from the goddess Isis, while other cultures associated them with wisdom and foresight.
Discover our May birthstone jewellery collection.
June: Pearl & Moonstone
Pearls symbolise purity, femininity, love, wisdom, wealth, healing and protection. Pearls are classic and elegant, and have been used as adornments for centuries. They are often worn as bridal jewellery and are believed to have healing properties and protect against negative energy. Pearls are also associated with luck and good fortune when given as gifts.
Moonstone is a gemstone associated with fertility, emotional balance, new beginnings, protection, and healing properties. It is believed to possess a calming energy, promote growth and inspiration, and ward off negative energy.
Explore our June birthstone jewellery collection.
July: Ruby
Ruby gemstones are all about love and passion! They're believed to bring energy, courage, protection, prosperity, wisdom, and inner strength. Overall, rubies are packed with positive vibes and good feelings. Ruby is one of the most valuable and sought-after precious gems, alongside diamonds.
Shop our Ruby birthstone jewellery collection.
August: Peridot
Peridot is known for its distinctive green colour, ranging from yellow-green to olive green, with the most prized colour being lime green. Historically, the Egyptians used peridot in ornamental pieces and referred to it as the gem of the sun. Peridot forms deep within the Earth's mantle and is brought to the surface through volcanic activity. Peridot is often associated with strength, protection, prosperity, and growth and is believed to bring happiness and success to the wearer.
Discover our August birthstone jewellery collection.
September: Sapphire & Lapis lazuli
Sapphire is one of the most precious gemstones found today. The most highly prized sapphires are deep blue in colour and are known as cornflower blue. More recently, other colour sapphires have become popular such as the pink padparadscha sapphire, which is a gorgeous pink colour and obviously one of our favourites! Sapphires symbolise wisdom, virtue, good fortune, and holiness for royals. They are also believed to protect against envy and harm.
Lapis lazuli, simply called lapis, is a deep blue stone prized for its vibrant colour and historical significance. Lapis often contains flecks of golden pyrite, adding to its beauty and resembling the night sky. Lapis lazuli was highly prized by the Ancient Egyptians and was used in amulets, jewellery, and carvings. The famous burial mask of Tutankhamun contains lapis lazuli inlay. Lapis lazuli has long been associated with royalty, gold, and power. It symbolizes wisdom, truth, and enlightenment and has been used for protection and healing.
Explore our September birthstone jewellery collection.
October: Opal & Tourmaline
Opal is an enchanting gemstone renowned for its mesmerising play of colour, where dazzling flashes of rainbow-like hues come alive and dance as the stone catches the light. Opals are thought to symbolise creativity, inspiration, emotional healing, hope, and purity.
Tourmaline is a versatile gemstone that comes in a wide range of colours, making it one of the most popular and sought-after stones in the world of jewellery. It can be found in almost every colour, including pink, yellow, green, blue, red, and black. Tourmaline is associated with protection, grounding, and balance. It is thought to shield against negative energies and promote emotional stability. Black tourmaline is thought to offer protection, pink tourmaline is for love and compassion, and green tourmaline is used for healing and vitality.
Shop our October birthstone jewellery collection.
November: Citrine and Topaz
Citrine is a stunning yellow variety of quartz, highly prized for its warm colour. It is often linked with positivity, abundance, and creativity. The "Success Stone" is believed to bring prosperity and success, especially in business. It's also considered a stone of happiness, assisting in relieving stress and promoting optimism. Citrine is believed to enhance mental clarity and confidence, energize and rejuvenate the body, balance the solar plexus chakra, encourage self-esteem and personal power, and support emotional well-being by alleviating depression and negativity.
Topaz is a beautiful and versatile gemstone known for its wide range of colours and strong durability. It has been valued for centuries for both its aesthetic appeal and symbolic meanings. While topaz is naturally colourless, it can be found in many colours due to impurities or heat treatment. Blue topaz, achieved by heating colourless topaz, is especially popular today. Throughout history, topaz has been associated with balance, healing, and soothing. It is said to bring peace to those who wear it. In ancient Egypt, topaz was worn for protection.
Discover our November birthstone jewellery collection.
December: Turquoise & Tanzanite
Turquoise is one of the most ancient and revered gemstones, known for its captivating blue-green colour and historical significance. It has been cherished for thousands of years by many cultures for its beauty and symbolism. Turquoise is famous for its striking blue, blue-green, or green hue. Turquoise was highly prized in Ancient Egypt. It adorned the tombs of pharaohs, including King Tutankhamun, whose burial mask was inlaid with turquoise. Throughout history, turquoise has been associated with healing, protection, and good fortune. Many cultures believed it could ward off evil, ensure safe travels, and bring prosperity. Turquoise is believed to enhance communication, wisdom, and inner peace. It is also thought to boost intuition and protect the wearer from negative energy. Furthermore, turquoise is associated with the throat chakra, promoting clear communication and self-expression.
Tanzanite is a rare and precious gemstone known for its stunning blue-violet colour. It was first discovered in 1967 in the Mererani Hills near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, which remains the only known gem source. This discovery makes tanzanite about 1,000 times rarer than diamonds, adding to its allure and exclusivity. Tanzanite is associated with qualities like transformation, calmness, and spiritual growth.
Explore our December birthstone jewellery collection.
Final Thoughts
Birthstones are more than just pretty gemstones; they hold personal meaning and have rich histories. Choosing birthstone jewellery allows you to select something beautiful that also tells a story—whether it’s your own or someone else's. This choice adds meaning to your collection and makes gifts more special. Birthstone jewellery can remind you of important moments, personal traits, and valuable relationships, making it a cherished keepsake.
At Pink Vintage Jewellery, we take pride in our extensive collection of birthstones, all sourced from ethical suppliers in the UK. We are happy to discuss custom orders, so please feel free to contact us if you would like to create a unique birthstone piece of jewellery for yourself or a loved one.