Our Jewelry Blog
Learn about precious stones and how jewelry is made, featuring some of our favorite pieces from our collection!
FEBRURARY BIRTHSTONE - AMETHYST
Welcome to February! We are celebrating the start of the (shortest) month with a few fun facts about its birthstone : Amethyst!
Did you know:
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Amethyst is a quartz stone! When exposed to high temperatures (500+ degrees Celsius), it turns into the dark yellow or orange stone known as Citrine!
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Ancient Greeks and Romans believed this purple stone could help them avoid a hangover. Drinking cups carved from amethyst or decorated with it were standard in ancient times.
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Amethyst is said to hold the secret to love and beauty. Saint Valentine and Cleopatra were known to wear amethyst rings. Amethyst makes a great Valentine’s Day present, which is perhaps why it is February’s birthstone!
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Amethyst used to be considered a precious gemstone, in the same category Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies, and Emeralds. However, that changed in the 18th century once large amethyst deposits were found in Brazil.
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Now, it’s classified as a semi-precious stone with reserves in Russia, Zambia, Uruguay, South India, the United States, and South Korea.
JANUARY BIRTHSTONE: GARNET
The deep red stone that represents the month of January is often mistaken as a ruby, but it is in fact, a garnet!
What is garnet?
Though garnets come in many different colors, red is the most common. In fact, its name comes from the Latin “granatus”, which means pomegranate. This was primarily due to its similarity in red color and the formation and size of the commonly found gemstones. Garnets have been used since the ancient Egyptians, who adorned their pharaohs with garnet jewelry in their tombs. One of the oldest garnet necklaces was found in an Egyptian tomb and is believed to be over 5000 years old. The Crusaders used garnets as protection during battle and legends suggest that garnets were used to illuminate Noah’s ark from the Bible. By the 1500s, garnets became a staple for European royals and their fine jewelry collections, cementing its status as a regal gem.
During the late 19th century, Garnets were widely used in Bohemian jewelry design. Bohemian Garnet jewelry became immensely popular, and the intricate designs featuring these deep red gemstones are still admired today.
Where does it come from?
Garnets are found in various parts of the world, including the United States, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Brazil, to name just a few.
What is its meaning?
Garnets have long been associated with love and passion. In ancient times, warriors would wear Garnet amulets for protection and to fuel their courage in battle. The fiery red color was believed to stir the heart and kindle desire, making it a symbol of love and attraction.
Did you know?
Garnet holds a special place in the state of New York. It’s not only the birthstone for January but also the official state gem. The state’s nickname, the “Empire State,” is often associated with the deep red color of Garnets found in the Adirondack Mountains.
DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE: TANZANITE
​ Welcome to December! As we head into the icy-cold weather, we celebrate one of nature’s most beautiful icy-blue stones: Tanzanite!
What is Tanzanite ?
Fun fact – Tanzanite is one of the most recent gemstones known to man – discovered for the first time in 1967 by a Masai tribesman in the hills of Mount Kilimanjaro. He first believed it to be Sapphire, until this stunning blue-violet stone was further examined and discovered as a variety of the mineral ziosite. One year later, in 1968, Tiffany & Co. would lay claim as the sole distributor of the stone and shortly thereafter unveil the world’s newest gemstone: Tanzanite. Tiffany & Co. chose the name as a tribute to its country of origin. Tiffany & Co. advertisements for tanzanite quickly went multinational. All of which marketed the fact that tanzanite could only be found in two places worldwide, “in Tanzania and Tiffany’s.
Did you know?
54 years later and you might be wondering, where else is tanzanite found? To this day, northern Tanzania is the only known source of tanzanite raw and rough stones. What’s even more mind-boggling is that the global supply of tanzanite comes from a modest 14 square kilometer area. Due to the stone’s rarity, geologists estimate that the world’s supply of tanzanite will deplete within the next 20 years.
What is its meaning?
Like most blue gemstones, tanzanite symbolizes peace, calmness, and royalty — a darker stone alluded to higher value and therefore greater luxury. It is often associated with transformation and spiritual growth. Many consider tanzanite a stone of transformation, helping to dissolve old patterns and encourage new beginnings.
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In addition to Tanzanite, Blue Topaz, Turquoise and Blue Zircon are also considered December's birthstone.
November Birthstone: Topaz & Citrine
November is a month of warmth and golden hues, perfectly embodied by its two stunning birthstones: Topaz and Citrine.
Topaz, often found in a spectrum of colors, is most cherished in its golden-yellow form, symbolizing strength and resilience. Some believe that the word “Topaz” comes from the Sanskrit word Tapas, which means “fire,” while others trace it back to the Greek “Topazos.” Historically, it was believed to bring protection and healing, with ancient Greeks attributing it with the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of trouble. During the Renaissance, it was thought that wearing a Topaz amulet on your left arm would protect the wearer from dark magic. I wonder if this explains the choice of Topaz for November –the month of All Saints/Souls day, and directly following Halloween!
Citrine, on the other hand, is known for its vibrant, sunny disposition. This gem is often associated with prosperity and success, believed to carry the power and energy of the sun, bringing warmth, energy, and clarity to those who wear it. The word “Citrine” is thought to come from the French “citron” meaning “lemon”. Egyptians used Citrine as talismans, and the ancient Greeks would carve images into the Citrine stones. In the Victorian era, Citrine was a popular choice for Scottish jewelry.
Did you know?
The yellow-orange hues of Topaz that we often see in jewelry stores is known as “Precious Topaz”, whereas “Imperial Topaz” usually refers to pinkish-orange to pink and purpose to even red colors! It is believed that the Russian Royal Family insisted on keeping the finest, deepest of Topaz for their own exclusive use, thus coining the name “Imperial Topaz.”
Where is it Found?
Brazil produces more Topaz than any other country in the world; the state of Minas Gerais, has been mining Topaz for over two centuries! It is also found in Mexico, Colorado, California and Utah! Imperial Topaz was mined mostly in Russia’s Ural mountains, in the 19th century.
Citrine, on the other hand, is often a product of the heat treatment of amethyst (February’s birthstone) and smoky quartz. It is mined in Bolivia, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico, and Uruguay. Amethyst that’s typically heat treated to a Citrine color is mined mostly in…Brazil!
Price Points
Both Citrine and Topaz are considered “semi-precious” stones, and have a lower price point than diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Between the two stones, Topaz is considered rarer and more valuable, particularly in deeper shades.​