Why Choose Birthstone Jewelry?

Astrology, Chinese Zodiac, birthstones having meaningful properties, these aren’t new concepts in the least but their timelessness should be demonstrative of how incredibly popular and unwavering these stones are. When birthstone earrings have meaning, the meaningful thing is tenfold more attractive. It’s one thing to like to sparkle; it’s another to attach meaning to a thing like the meaning behind engagement ring makes it infinitely more important than another piece of jewelry a woman could wear. With that being said the appeal of birthstone earrings lies in not only the beauty but the connotation.

January – Garnet: This stone is best for businesses, helpful in creating a successful business environment. Stone of purity and truth.
Healing Properties: Good for spleen and thyroid.

February – Amethyst: Helps reduce negative emotions like anger, jealousy, hatred, guilt. Overcoming addition especially alcohol addition. Good for stress, protection, and spirituality.
Healing Properties: Boosting hormones, balances moods, good for metabolism and general body balance.

 March – Aquamarine: The stone is for safe travel so it may be an excellent gift for someone who boats. Releases anxiety, restlessness and combats depression.
Healing Properties: The thymus gland is associated with this stone, which helps reduce fluid retention.

 April – Diamond: The meaning of diamonds outside of being symbolic of marriage is generally unknown. Diamonds are good for keeping a positive attitude, increase energy, slow down the aging process (albeit not a large amount).
Healing Properties: Diamonds are good for stomach ailments and memory loss. It also reduces physical tiredness.

May – Emerald:  Good for a troubled mind, Emerald is a great ‘wisdom’ stone and faithfulness in love.
Healing Properties: Best for the heart.

June – Pearl: The oldest and formerly the most valuable birthstone, this ‘teardrop of the moon’ is the symbol of innocence and purity, often sewn onto garments worn by brides.
Healing Properties: Good to wear when having digestive issues. Relieves bloating and biliousness; also good for easing childbirth and increasing fertility.

July – Ruby: Apparently one of the most powerful gemstones in the universe, owners of rubies have a lot of contentment and peace.
Healing Properties: Blood circulations and removal of infections from bugs.

August – Peridot: Also known as chrysolite in the bible, Catholic Bishops in particular don this kind of crystal. Peridot is considered a gift from Mother Nature
Healing Properties: Good for the gall bladder and liver

September – Sapphire: Is symbolic of sincerity, truth, and faithfulness. Sapphire used to be the gemstone that was used in engagement rings.
Healing Properties: Thyroid and throat, good with the nervous system

October – Opal: Enhances ability to communicate your heart with words, overcoming harmful things, and maintaining a strong connection with the animals of the sea.
Healing Properties: Linked to the heart and stimulates the glands as well as regulates metabolism.

November – Topaz: White topaz is said to increase awareness of karmic deeds and thoughts, purify emotion, and remove stagnant energy.
Healing Properties: Ideal for those suffering from bulimia or anorexia.

December – Turquoise: One of the oldest types of protection amulets used, it protects against negative energy and brings good fortune. It’s also symbolic of friendship and peace in the home.
Healing Properties: Good for the immune system and regeneration of tissue. Anti-inflammatory and detoxifying.

Eco Friendly Green Fashions

Recently, there has been a large movement towards purchasing more eco friendly products.  The same is true in the jewelry industry.  We want the best styles, but we also want to protect the planet.  You can go green while adding the glam.

While the world prizes the beautiful diamonds, precious metals and colorful gemstones produced naturally by the earth, many are concerned about the repercussions for mining these valuables.  Though practices remain much the way they have for hundreds of years, there has been progress towards less invasive ways to mine the glorious minerals.  In addition, organizations like Earth Works Action and the EPA are working to put new technologies in place to effectively reduce emissions, leaching and unfair work practices within the industry.

Today, mining with organizations like these ordaining their practices are much more envirmentally friendly than they were just several years ago.  But for those who still want to further protect the earth which has provided this beauty, there are other options.

Alexandrite & Diamond Ring

In addition to purchasing natural gemstones, you can look for created gemstones.  Created gemstones are exactly the same as a natural gemstone in every way from color, hardness, composition and appearance but is formed in a lab able to reproduce the exact conditions needed in nature (heat and pressure) to create the real thing.  Since they’re made by man above the ground, there is no mining.  Another positive with created gemstones is the price.  Since there is much less labor involved, they’re priced much lower than their verified natural cousins.  And since there are no surprises when creating a gemstone in the lab, created gemstones don’t have inclusions the way real gems do.  They’re effectively a perfect representation of the original, free from defects yet they retain the stones’ core qualities in color, hardness and composition.  Some of the most common created gemstones on the market today are sapphires and rubies from the corundum family, alexandrite and aquamarine.

Pearl & Diamond Ring

Another option, similar to created yet entirely different, is purchasing pearls.  Almost all of the pearls on the market today are cultured meaning they are effectively “planted” into an oyster and raised through aquaculture.  They still undergo the same process as natural pearls, but get a simple push at the start and are kept safe by their keepers.  Since the oysters that produce pearls are quite picky, the water is kept free of pollutants and is stringently monitored for cleanliness.  In addition, once a pearl reaches the intended size (often several years), the oyster shell that produced it is used for mother of pearl jewelry, buttons or art work.  Little goes to waste, the water is kept clean and a beautiful pearl results.  Whether you choose saltwater Akoya pearls or freshwater pearls, it’s a win-win.

The Girl and the Sea

I had a dream last night.  I was on a beach.  It was dark but the stars were so bright I could see everything.  The only footprints on the sand were my own.  A sail boat bobbed in the distance and it was slightly windy.  The air smelled so sweet.

I want to go to the sea – not the crystal clear waters in the tropics but the dark, cold violence of a northern ocean.  It always seems saltier there.

Fashion tells a story.  What’s yours?

Cataclysm of Color

Spring – believe it or not – is almost here. Reward yourself for making it through those harsh winter months with a cocktail of color.

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Anniversary Gift Giving Guide

Certain gifts have always been associated with certain anniversaries, but there was no “traditional gift” for any particular year until  Emily Post – etiquette guru – published a list of suggested anniversary gifts and their corresponding years in her 1922 publication, “Etiquette.”  While Post’s list is one of the most well known anniversary gift guides today, it may not be as traditional as it seems.

For thousands of years, couples have received precious gemstones from their loved ones as anniversary gifts.  The stones weren’t just given as congratulatory baubles, but as talisman.  The Romans wore them as symbols of love, protection, and status.  The Egyptians gave amethyst, turquoise and lapis lazuli. These gifts were meant to bring the couple through the coming years safely together, and if all went well – some of the gemstones were said to bring fertility, prosperity, and spiritual guidance.

For this reason, there is now a respected Anniversary Gemstone List.  It is not only endorsed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) but also the American Gem Society, the American Gem Trade Association, and the Jewelers of America. Each year, as love grows and the relationship builds, the gifts are said to correspond accordingly with a couple’s needs and symbolize the bond of two as one. Below is the accepted Gemstone Anniversary Gift Giving Guide. You will notice that some (like with Ms. Post’s gift giving guide) offer two or three different options.

Anniversary Stones Gift Guide:

Anniversary Year	Gemstone Gift	Anniversary Year	Gemstone Gift
1	Gold or Freshwater Pearls	18	Cat’s Eye or Opal
2	Garnet or Rose Quartz	19	Aquamarine or Topaz
3	Pearl or Crystal	20	Emerald or Platinum
4	Blue Topaz or Amethyst	21	Iolite
5	Sapphire or Turquoise	22	Spinel
6	Amethyst or Garnet	23	Imperial Topaz or Sapphire
7	Onyx, Copper or Lapis Lazuli	24	Tanzanite
8	Tourmaline or Bronze	25	Sterling Silver
9	Lapis Lazuli or Tiger’s Eye	30	Pearls, Jade or Diamonds
10	Diamond	35	Emerald, Coral or Jade
11	Turquoise or Jade	40	Ruby
12	Jade, Agate or Pearl	45	Sapphire or Alexandrite
13	Citrine, Malachite or Moonstone	50	Gold
14	Opal, Ivory or Moss Agate	55	Alexandrite or Emerald
15	Ruby or Crystal	60	Diamonds
16	Peridot	65	Star Sapphire
17	Amethyst or Citrine	75	Gold and Diamonds