birthstone
12 pieces touching this thread.
Crystal GuidesDecember Birthstone, Turquoise Tanzanite and Blue Topaz in Cold Light
The December birthstone is not one stone but a small family. Turquoise carries the oldest tradition, tanzanite the newest, with blue topaz and zircon between them.
Crystal GuidesNovember Birthstone, Citrine and Topaz in Their Honey-Yellow Range
The November birthstone is two stones, citrine and topaz. Both run through honey-yellow into golden-orange, and both have older histories than the modern jewellery calendar suggests.
Crystal GuidesSeptember Birthstone, Sapphire the Velvet Blue of Wisdom
The September birthstone is sapphire, the deep blue corundum carried through medieval cloisters and royal regalia. A grounded guide to its colours, sources, meaning, and how to choose a piece worth keeping.
Crystal GuidesAugust Birthstone, Peridot the Olive-Green Gem of Late Summer
The August birthstone is peridot, a gem-quality olivine that holds its glow into the evening. A careful look at the stone, its sources, and why some peridot fell from the sky.
Crystal GuidesJuly Birthstone, Ruby and the Quiet Authority of Red Stones
The July birthstone is ruby, the red corundum that has held its place in royal courts and modern jewellery cases for two thousand years. A careful guide to the stone and its alternatives.
Crystal GuidesMay Birthstone, Emerald and the Green Family of Stones
The May birthstone is emerald, a chromium-green beryl with a long history and an honest reputation for inclusions. A careful guide to what to look for and what to avoid.
Crystal GuidesApril Birthstone, Diamond and the Quiet Case for Clear Quartz
The April birthstone is diamond, the hardest natural material on Earth. Clear quartz is the quieter alternative, and there are good reasons to know both.
Crystal GuidesFebruary Birthstone, Amethyst the Stone of Clear Thinking
The February birthstone is amethyst, a violet quartz tied for centuries to sober judgement, quiet sleep, and clear thinking. A careful guide to choosing one.
Crystal GuidesJanuary Birthstone, Garnet in All Its Quiet Resilience
The January birthstone is garnet, a deep red silicate older than most jewellery traditions. A careful guide to its meaning, mineralogy, history, and how to choose a piece that lasts.
Crystal GuidesOctober Birthstone, Opal and Tourmaline Across Their Wild Colour Range
October has two birthstones, opal and tourmaline. A careful look at the mineralogy, the colour ranges, sources, and how to choose a piece worth keeping.
Crystal GuidesJune Birthstone, Pearl Moonstone and Alexandrite in Quiet Detail
June carries three birthstones, pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite. A careful guide to what each one is, what they mean, and how to choose well.
Crystal GuidesMarch Birthstone, Aquamarine and Bloodstone in Their Honest Tradition
The March birthstone is two stones, not one. Aquamarine for the modern calendar, bloodstone for the older one, and good reasons to know both.