January – Garnet

The Romans named this deep-red stone granatum, or pomegranate, because of its resemblance to the fruit’s rare, jewel-like seeds. Symbolizing faith and courage, garnets are believed to intensify affection and nurture the imagination.

February – Amethyst

A symbol of peace since ancient times, amethyst was once used to decorate the British crown jewels. Believed to promote tranquility, the stones are revered for their soothing characteristics.

March – Aquamarine

Named from the Latin words for water and sea, aquamarines were once worn by sailors to protect against seasickness. Today, the translucent blue stone is a symbol of courage and everlasting youth.

April – Diamond

During the Italian Renaissance, diamonds came to represent divine love from the translation dio (God) and amante (love). Today, diamonds remain the ultimate symbol of everlasting devotion.

May – Emerald

Due to its rich green hue, the ancients equated emeralds with spring and prized them as symbols of rebirth. The vibrant stones are believed to quicken the intelligence as well as the heart.

June – Pearl

According to Arabic legend, pearls are formed when dewdrops fill with moonlight and fall into the ocean. The world’s oldest known gem, pearls are believed to promote prosperity and long life.

July – Ruby

Believed to promote balance in love and all spiritual endeavors, the ruby is not only the world’s rarest gemstone, but also the one many consider to be the most passionate.

August – Peridot/Sardonyx

Ancient Romans called peridot the “evening emerald”, since its vivid green color does not darken at night. Once believed to drive away evil spirits, the stone is still considered a symbol of good luck.

September – Sapphire
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Platinum has become a popular choice for jewelry due to its strength, durability, and marketing efforts of the platinum industry in recent years. Platinum is three times more expensive than gold. Jewelers aggressively market it because they make three times the profit on every platinum item they sell compared to gold. Platinum is a naturally white, lustrous metal that is long lasting. Sometimes the claims of strength and scratch resistance are overstated. Like all precious metals, platinum will scratch. A platinum scratch is different from white gold because it simply plows the metal instead of removing it.

Traditionally, jewelry manufacturers used platinum alloyed with metals from the platinum group metals (iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium). With the proper mix of these platinum group alloys, platinum becomes one of the hardest metals making it a strong and durable jewelry metal. Platinum will not rust or corrode and the platinum family metals make it hypoallergenic and ideal for persons with sensitive skin.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for platinum jewelry state that only items consisting of 950 part per thousand of pure platinum can be marked stamped PLATINUM or PLAT without more alloy information. From 750-950 Platinum, the platinum group metals must also be indicated. For example, PLAT900IRID for 10% Iridium alloy. Historically, the most common alloys in America were 95% Platinum with 5% Ruthenium or 5% Cobalt and 90% Platinum with 10% Iridium.

There is a misperception that the 950 platinum is better than the 900 platinum. However, pure platinum is very soft and the right alloy mix is what is important. Different alloys and different percentages produce better results for different jewelry purposes. Some alloy mixes work better for casting and some are better for handcrafting like bending the prongs over fragile diamond corners. Many artisans feel that PLAT900IRID is the best general-purpose alloy for diamond rings.

While platinum is best known for its use in jewelry, more than 60% of platinum is used for other industrial purposes such as catalytic converters in autos and pacemakers in the medical field. Because of its rarity and the rapidly increasing demand for this versatile metal, the price has soared in recent years.
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If you are still young enough to admit you have birthdays and your birthday falls in April then you already know the diamond is Aprils birthstones. Celebrities who already have a love affair with diamonds are even more apt to be seen wearing diamonds if their birthday is in April. There are many April celebrities that share the diamond birthstone with you.
But did you know that the diamond is also deep in mystical powers from ancient times? It is said to enhance ones competence, trust and love relationships.

Diamonds also have a long history in their medicinal qualities. During ancient times diamonds were believed to heal illness. Diamonds were first placed into the bed to warm the diamond to enhance their healing qualities.

It is even said that over the centuries Cupids arrows were tipped in diamonds and thus it earned its reputation as the perfect gift of love.
The white and brilliant hues diamonds signify life, joy and innocence. But really diamonds come in a wide range of colors other than white which includes shades of gray, brown, yellow, blue, red, and green.
Pre 1400s diamonds were only available to those of royal blood who were the only people able to wear the symbol of courage and invincibility. During the mid 1400s The Archduke Maximillian gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy beginning the long tradition of diamond engagement rings which is still carried on today.
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Diamonds are timeless representations of special events and unforgettable moments in our lives. We give and receive diamonds as gestures of love, trust and friendship. They are symbolic of strength, virtue, wealth, and eternal love throughout history.

The diamond is used to commemorate a sixty-year anniversary, and is recognized as the birthstone for the month of April. Available in a variety of lustrous colors, they lend theme to many fictional stories as well as renowned historical events.

The first documented diamond Engagement ring was presented to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 preceding her marriage to Maximilian, the Archduke of Austria. This custom lives on in Western societies and traditions today. While this is the most widely known association with diamonds, they can also be given for other reasons and in different forms of jewelry.

The diamond anniversary ring is given to renew vows or restate ones unconditional love after a period of time. The more recent introduction of the right had ring is more commonly purchased as a gift to ourselves as something weve always wanted. A diamond ring can make a wonderful Mothers Day gift, or upon the arrival of a new baby. Some people also present children with small diamond rings as a coming of age, bat mitzvah, sweet sixteen, or Quinceanera.
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