McGowans specialise in coloured gem stone jewellery of all shapes, sizes, types and colours. From rubies to sapphires to emeralds, there’s a wonderful spectrum of colours available, but what do they all mean? Each stone has historically been associated with a month and attached to certain meanings. So, what is your birthstone and what does it symbolise?
January – Garnet
January’s birthstone is Garnet. Garnet is a deep red in colour and is associated with properties of love, faith and courage. It has been said that wearing garnet can prevent children having nightmares, and could even protect vital organs. It’s also said to evoke romance!
February – Amethyst
February’s birthstone is Amethyst. Amethyst is a gorgeous purple colour and has been associated with properties of protection. It has been said that the Pope wears an Amethyst ring!
March – Aquamarine
The birthstone of March is aquamarine, a stunning pale blue gemstone. It holds meanings of creativity, hope, self-expression and courage. It has been said that wearing aquamarine brings good health and overall happiness.
April – Diamond
April’s birthstone is Diamond, which is of course the most sought after and popular birthstone of all! It is connected to eternal love and is known to symbolise romance, courage, strength and purity. Diamond’s are a girl’s best friend!
You can view a selection of McGowans Diamond products here.
May – Emerald
The birthstone for May is Emerald. The rich, deep green of emerald makes it a popular gemstone and is often associated with health, fertility and wealth. Although Emeralds are highly popular, they are in fact one of the rarest of gem stones.
You can view a selection of McGowans Emerald products here.
June – Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone
June has 3 birthstones, pearl (pictured in pendant above), alexandrite and moonstone. Pearl’s are associated with purity, and it is said that the Ancient Greek’s believed they were the hardened tears of joy from Aphrodite (the Goddess of Love).
Alexandrite is a mystical stone with colour changing properties. For example, it can appear green in daylight, and change to red/purple in darker lighting. Truly magical and unique! It has been said that alexandrite encourages romance and promotes self-esteem.
Moonstones tend to be white/blue in colour and can hold visual similarities to pearls. They vary in opacity and have a unique shimmer to them which creates a magical glow. Moonstones are said to protect when travelling at night and help with sleep problems.
July – Ruby
The birthstone for July is ruby. Coloured in a gorgeous, deep red, the ruby represents love, health and wisdom. It has been said that wearing Ruby jewellery can bring the wearer good fortune! It is one of the most valuable gem stones and the value of the stone increases based on quality and colour.
You can view a selection of McGowans Ruby products here.
August – Peridot & Spinel
If you were born in August, lucky you! August has two birthstones, Peridot (pictured in ring above) and Spinel. Peridot is lime green in colour and is believed to represent power and influence for the wearer.
Spinel, which is available in a range of different colours, is associated with protection and is also said to soothe sadness. Red spinel is the most desirable of the colours, followed by blue, hot pink and orange stones. The violet and purple spinel stones are in less demand, although equally beautiful.
September – Sapphire
September’s birthstone is sapphire. Typically known to be a gorgeous blue colour (the word ‘sapphire’ means ‘blue’ in Greek), it is in fact available in a range of other colours including pink, green and yellow. Sapphire is said to protect your loved ones from harm, as well as representing loyalty and trust.
You can view a selection of McGowans Sapphire products here.
October – Opal & Tourmaline
October is another lucky month to have two birthstones, Opal and Tourmaline. Both beautifully unique, each stone possesses a spectrum of unique colours and no two stones are identical, adding to their charm. Opal can be a variety of colours, with flickers of rainbow coloured flashes throughout creating a mystical appearance. It is associated with faithfulness and confidence.
Tourmaline is also available in a range of magical colours, including light pink (in image above), mint green, blue, orange, yellow and more. It lives up to its name, which means ‘mixed stone’. Certain tourmaline stones can display more than one colour, which are visually stunning and highly desirable. Tourmaline has said to bring courage and strength and vitality to the wearer.
November – Topaz
The most well-known birthstone for November is Topaz, however Citrine also features as a birthstone for the month. Topaz has mass appeal as it is available in a range of colours, most popularly shades of blue and amber, and pink as pictured above. A blue shade was once the rarest of topaz, however is now widely available as the colour can be enhanced. A naturally vibrant blue topaz is in fact very rare. Topaz has said to represent good fortune and love and can aid with healing, re-charging and revitalisation.
December – Tanzanite & Turquoise
December’s birthstones are tanzanite and turquoise. Tanzanite can only be found in one place in the world – the bottom of Mount Kilimanjaro. It possesses a rich blue colour with beautiful tones of purple, creating a truly unique colour. Smaller tanzanite stones are said to typically be more violet and purple in colour, where-as larger stones tend to have more blue tones. Tanzanite is said to unite the mind and heart and represent compassion.
Turquoise is of course, turquoise in colour. It is intense and opaque in colour and can range from light to dark turquoise shades. It is said to bring good luck and protect the wearer from evil.
Pop in store to view our full range of coloured gem stone jewellery. We have a wide range of bracelets, earrings, pendants, rings and more and our friendly staff are always on hand to help find you the perfect piece.
View our store details here.