Birthstones – Shira Diamonds

The History and Meaning Behind November’s Birthstone

Shira-Diamonds — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 08:05:37 +0000

Each birthstone has a unique significance. The meaning behind these stones generates strong interest, as many people relate to the qualities and traits of their respective birth gems.

November has two birthstones that have an interconnected charm. Both the stones’ color has shades related to this month’s color.

Being under the same month, the two stones’ symbolic meanings are often associated with one another.

If you were born in November, you might find this Shira Diamonds‘ article about this month’s two birthstones interesting.

November’s Original Topaz Birthstone

The word “topaz” was derived from the Sanskrit word “tapas”, which translates to fire.

Some believed the gem has the power to cool water. It was also used to allay anger as well as cure ailments such as fever.

The most common shade of topaz that people see in pictures is gold, which is interesting because this gem is often colorless.

You can also find topaz in shades of va rious colors, including red, brown, green, blue, and black.

The colors often occur due to small changes within the composition of the gem along with environmental influence.

Brazil is the largest source of topaz in the world. Other countries that also significantly produce this gem are the US, Japan, Scotland, Pakistan, and Ukraine.

The gem comes in many sizes, with the most massive uncut stone found in Brazil weighing almost 600 pounds (ca. 272 kg).

This stone is now on display at New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

Topaz In History

Clergies and royalties use this stone and there’s a belief that the stone helped cultivate goodwill among those in power.

The crown jewels of Portugal have one of the most famous topaz gems in the world.

People also believed that topaz has medicinal properties. They believed that when you mix powdered topaz with wine, it can treat insomnia and asthma.

Some people even thought that it can cure poor vision and mental illnesses.

Topaz is one of the hardest among silicate minerals, which makes it ideal for jewelry. Its durability allows it to remain pristine as bracelets, brooches, and necklaces.

Red topaz is the rarest and most valuable among all shades.

Due to the variety topaz appears in, nearly all its colors command high prices, which is further raised when the gem is of high quality.

Citrine: The Sun’s Gift

Citrine is named after an old French word citron, which meant lemon. It is a variety of quartz that is often associated with the sun due to its golden hue—a lot of people like it because of that reason.

Like topaz, it also shares a very detailed history among royalty.

During the height of Egypt’s power, Egyptians used citrine to guard the mind and prevent poisons from coursing through the body of the ill. It’s also worth knowing that they were also among the first people to use the gems in their talismans.

In medicine, citrine helped combat various afflictions. Many believed that it can alleviate digestion problems and improve blood circulation. Some used it to combat degenerative diseases.

Later on, the Greeks would put citrine within their ornaments. On the other hand, the Romans used the stones in crafting rings for their priests.

Citrine is well known for its decorative value.

Unearthed artifacts and weapons in Scotland have citrine embedded for decorative purposes.

Experts also believe that it was attached to those items because ancient folks believed that the stone can grant protection.

Merchants also bartered and used the stone as its golden color symbolizes wealth.

A Common and Rare Gem

A natural citrine with clear and radiant color fetches a high price because of its high rarity.

This stone can be created synthetically by heating other quartz. The process results in various shades, such as amber or lemon yellow.

Most of the natural stones available today came from mines from Brazil, Bolivia, and Madagascar.

It is also mined in the US, Uruguay, Spain, Mexico, Russia, and France. Due to how common it is, citrine is one of the more affordable gems.

There are rare and expensive versions of it as displayed by royalty and celebrities. One of the most popular ones is a large citrine necklace that was previously owned by Angelina Jolie.

The necklace featured 64 cushion-shaped citrine gems with a 177.11-carat pear-shaped citrine center. She donated the jewelry to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Gem Collection.

Both topaz and citrine November birthstone meaning are gems that have a lot of intrinsic and perceived value.

They are highly distinguished gems centuries ago, and they are still regarded as precious gems worthy of praise and adornment.

Their warm colors make out for the perfect thoughtful gift. The November’s birthstone meaning adds more details which you can share with your November-born friends.

Contact Shira Diamonds now and your own Birthstone jewelry now!

The History And Meaning Behind October’s Birthstones

Shira-Diamonds — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 01:29:13 +0000

A birthstone is a gem that is associated with a particular month. Each gem has its unique meaning and history, and a lot of people find an interesting link between their lives and what their gemstones say about them.

In the past, gemstones were always synonymous with good health, prosperity, and fortune. Now, we have different and complex interpretations and understanding of what our birthstones mean. Shira Diamonds focus this time on the history and meaning of October’s birthstone.

October’s Two Stones

Like several other months, two stones represent October, Tourmaline and Opal. They both have distinct looks but have a commonality: both represent a mix of colors or gems encompassing many colors. Gemologists usually identify them by their unique combinations, and these make them highly prized.

Opal

Experts speculate that this gem’s name originated from India, where locals called opals as upala or “precious stone.” The Romans later gave it the name opalus. Currently, Australia produces the most opals.

A town in Australia discovered the most expensive opal called the black opal. Ethiopia has also produced the most when it comes to the variety of gems. Mexico has helped in the discovery and production of the fire opal.

In history, people considered opal birthstone meaning as the queen of gems because of how they show different colors. Some civilizations believed it to embody all kinds of powers and virtues.

A high-quality opal is one capable of showcasing broad patterns in all colors of the rainbow. An opal always has a predominant color, but it will also have traces of the other colors underneath. Each one presents a unique color combination.
Tourmaline

Tourmaline means “mixed stone,” and it literally is a stone of mixed colors. Many often mistake it for a pink gem because it is represented alongside opal for October’s birthstones. Like the opal, it has a variety of colors. Some of these include ocean blue, cranberry, bubblegum pink, and mint.

Due to its many colors, people often mistake the tourmaline for other stones. Some gems found by royalty were later discovered to be tourmaline. Gems that explorers took back to their homelands would later identify as tourmaline birthstone. It was only during the 1800s that this gem had a classification of its own.

Tourmaline is often found in Brazil though it is also mined in various parts of Africa. Trace amounts of copper are the cause of the intense colors found in this gem. Subterranean incursions of magma contribute to its production. Two children found one of the first significant deposits of tourmaline in 1820 at France’s Mount Mica.

Like opal, tourmaline is capable of displaying several colors at once. Unlike opal, tourmaline usually shows 2-3 dominant colors compared to opal’s rainbow. Due to the different combinations, an excellent multi-colored gem fetches high value.

Watermelon tourmaline is one of the most popular combinations. As the name denotes, it contains green, pink, and white color bands.

The Rarest Birthstone

The title of the rarest birthstone is one that is often in contention among experts. Some believe that the rarest gemstone would be the one that is rarely for sale. Others believe it to be the most flawless expensive gems that rarely see the public eye.

Price can be misleading. The value of gems usually comes with supply and demand. Even precious diamonds are in abundance in the market. For this title, we choose the gemstone that is the hardest to find.

Alexandrite

Russians discovered alexandrite in the 1830s at the Ural Mountains. They are exceptionally rare and valuable. Other locations that produce the gem include Brazil, East Africa, and Sri Lanka.

Czar Alexander II is the gem’s namesake. He became the emperor of Russia in 1855, staying in power until his assassination in 1881.

Alexandrite is capable of changing colors, which is a rare characteristic. Gem aficionados often identify alexandrite as the “emerald by day, ruby by night.” Alexandrite changes its colors depending on the light around it. It can be green in sunlight but red in lamplight.

This gem is the stone birth of June, and due to its rarity, jewelers often cut it to save weight. High carat alexandrite sells for exorbitant amounts.

The Most Expensive Birthstones

When it comes to value, there is no simple answer for birthstones. While diamonds fetch a high price, there are also other sought-after gems. These gems, when found in the best quality, can command prices higher than diamonds. The quality can depend on the 4 Cs: Color, Clarity, Carat, and Cut. Here are the four most expensive birthstones:

Diamond: since diamonds have become associated with engagements, it has been a gem of high value. The highest quality diamonds can sell for millions—some of the most influential people on Earth sport diamond jewelry.
Ruby: while rubies are more common than diamonds, a high carat ruby is very rare. A three-carat ruby occurs less often than a diamond of the same size. If a high carat ruby shows excellent clarity and color, then it will be very expensive.
Emerald: emeralds can grow to large sizes, so their carat isn’t much of a factor than rubies’. What is common about them are visible inclusions. An emerald with fewer inclusions means that it sparkles with color. These are rare, and as such, their value is high.
Sapphire: sapphires are second in hardness next to diamonds and are also rare gems. They are desirable because of their royal blue color and luster. The closer a sapphire is to pure blue, the better. Those that show vivid saturation will fetch high prices. The most valuable colors include cornflower blue and orange-pink.

Gems come in all shapes and sizes. Their value varies with their beauty and rarity. The birthstones of October have been prized throughout history, matching with the likes of other gems. We hope that you learned a lot about the history and meaning of October’s birthstones.

Call us now to get a birthstone of yours!