November Birthstone: Topaz

How is it that it’s already November?! I truly don’t know where the time goes. November is another month that has two birthstones — topaz and citrine. In this article, I’m going to focus on topaz. Many of you are likely familiar with this stone, as both blue and smoky topaz are very popular in the marketplace. But they can come in a wide range of colors, from colorless to orange, yellow, pink and purple. The word topaz comes from the Sanskrit word for “fire” although it’s popular meaning, being know as a calming stone, is certainly the polar opposite of fire! Perhaps the fire element was referring to the color of certain stone specimens.

Regardless, topaz can help you with many things, such as:

-it heals and energizes
-balances emotions
-brings synchronicity to your life
-helps with love and hope
-brings good fortune

Going on yet another one of my virtual shopping sprees, I discovered some lovely topaz designs. Do any of them pique your interest?

Armenta blue topaz and diamond ring

armenta blue topaz and diamond ring
Larkspur & Hawk Lily Riviere gold-washed topaz necklace

larkspur & hawk lily riviere gold-washed topaz necklace
Gurhan Willow London Blue topaz and 24K earrings

gurhan willow london blue topaz and 24K gold linear leaf drop earrings
Rosa Maria Olfat smoky topaz and grey diamond ring

rosa maria olfat ring in smoky topaz and grey diamonds

Loren Stewart topaz and diamond pin and stud set

loren stewart curved pin and stud set
Emily and Ashley 18K blue topaz bangle

emily and ashley 18K blue topaz bangle
Ray Griffiths white topaz earrings

ray griffiths white topaz drop earrings
Anaconda pink topaz Leona ring

anaconda pink topaz leona ring
Elizabeth and James Windrose pave white topaz cuff

elizabeth and james windrose pave white topaz cuff
Kelly Wearstler mariposa white topaz sunburst earrings

kelly wearstler mariposa white topaz sunburst earrings
And because I’m truly a princess at heart….I just NEED this Ray Griffiths Regency tiara in 18K yellow gold, white topaz and diamonds! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!

ray griffiths regency tiara
Best wishes to you November birthday readers out there. I will have an article about your other birthstone coming soon.

October Birthstone: Opal

I apologize for the delay in my monthly birthstone report, but I just returned from a family vacation at the beach where the Internet was spotty, to say the least. (Did you see any of my beach pix on Instagram?) I was just forced to take some time off the computer. 😉 But I’ve just returned, and the writing resumes.

Now I must say that opals have been and continue to be one of my favorites stones. The only downside I’ve discovered over the years is that they are quite fragile, so the opal eternity band I once purchased quickly had two stones break. I find them better suited to rings with the opal featured on the top, as well as in earrings, necklaces and bracelets, of course.

Opals come in a wide range of colors, from white to orange to green and more. There are also many different varieties. Some you may have heard of are Peruvian, Black, Boulder and Fire. (If you’d like to read more about the different types, you’ll enjoy this detailed article I found on CrystalVaults.com) The name opal comes from the Sanskrit word “upala” which translates to precious stone. Sometimes referred to as the “eye stone,” opals are known for inspiration, hope and optimism. They are purported to aid with:

-memory
-self-esteem
-inspiring love and passion
-centering the mind
-protection from negative energy

I like it! And I also like so many of the stunning pieces of opal jewelry I found this month. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites.

Katherine Jetter Opal Corner Ring

Katherine Jetter Opal Corner Ring
Jane Taylor Boulder Opal and Diamond Bracelet

jane taylor boulder opal and diamond bracelet
Pippa Small Fire Opal Eleven Stone Pendant

pippa small fire opal eleven stone pendant
Communion by Joy Warrior of Life Opal Ring

communion by joy warrior of life ring
Variance Australian Opal earrings

variance austrailian opal earrings
Nan Fusco Australian Boulder Opal and Diamond Necklace

nan fusco australian boulder opal with diamonds
Brooke Gregson Diamond Band Boulder Opal Cuff Bracelet

brooke gregson diamond band boulder opal cuff bracelet

Peppina Fire Opal Ring

peppina fire opal ring
Misa Jewelry Compass Earrings (They come in 4 different stones)

misa jewelry compass earrings
Irene Neuwirth Opal Necklace

irene neuwirth opal necklace
Elizabeth Bell Jewelry Ammonite and Opal Cuff

elizabeth bell jewelry ammonite and opal cuff
I actually had to call “time” and stop searching, or this list would be endless. And…in case you didn’t know, October has TWO birthstones. While opal is the one traditionally associated with the month, tourmaline is also an October birthstone. Who knew?!

September Birthstone: Sapphire

A new month is upon us, and with it brings a new birthstone to explore. (Click here if you missed my article about peridot last month.) Though traditionally people think of sapphires being blue, the fact is that they come in every color but red. Why not red? I learned that a ruby is technically a blue sapphire. What?! They are both made of the corundum mineral, but when it’s true red, it’s a ruby. There seems to be a blurry line between sapphires that are pinkish-red or reddish-orange and a ruby, so be aware. I’m going to have to investigate this more.

But on to the meaning of sapphires. Known as a symbol of faith, goodness, wisdom and purity, sapphires also provide protection of loved ones and from evil. Here are some of the other qualities associated with sapphires:

-mental clarity
-creativity
-inspiration
-prosperity
-fulfillment of dreams
-aid in meditation

Given that sapphires come in so many colors, I’m including some non-blue pieces that really pique my interest.

Jemma Wynne bangle with geometric purple sapphires

jemma wynne closed bangle with geometric purple sapphires
Clare Ullman lariat from Manika Jewelry

Clare Ullman Lariat
Finn blue sapphire thread earrings

finn blue sapphire thread earrings
Ileana Makri “wisdom eye” ring

ileana makri diamond, sapphire & white gold wisdom eye ring
Rina Limor wavy sapphire drop earrings

rina limor wavy sapphire drop earrings
Armenta sapphire and diamond open cluster ring

armenta old world open clster diamond & sapphire ring
Ela Rae Noa necklace

ela rae noa necklace
Deanna Hamro sapphire, boulder opal and diamond cuff

deanna hamro sapphire slice and boulder opal cuff with diamonds
Ileana Makri sapphire deco column ring

ileana makri deco coumn ring
And not to ignore the birthday boys out there….

Todd Reed sterling belt buckle with sapphire cabochons

todd reed sterling belt buckle with sapphire cabochons
Stephen Webster sterling silver and sapphire cufflinks

stephen webster sterling silver blue sapphire cuff links
So how many of you reading this have September birthdays? I hope you have a wonderful celebration and treat yourself to a new sapphire piece of jewelry!

August Birthstone: Peridot

Since August began, my Instagram feed has been full of sparkling peridot jewlery, honoring the birthstone for the month of August. Around August third I had one of those “Doh!” moments. Here I’ve been blogging about jewelry for over four years, and never have I written a series of articles about the birthstones for each month. (Sometimes my blondness amazes me.) So I’m very excited to explore the gems for each month, and we start with the peridot, which I learned is one of the few gems that comes in only one color. Ranging from a lighter yellow-green to a dark olive, the depth of the green is determined by how much iron is in the stone.

Known as “the gem of the sun” and “the emerald of the evening,” the peridot apparently has many benefits to its wearer, including the following:

-Happiness
-Prosperity
-Peace
-Enhances harmony in relationships
-Strengthens intuition
-Slows aging
-Attracts love into your life

What’s not to love about this list?! With that in mind, I started my search to see what fabulous peridot designs I could find. In no particular order, here’s eleven pieces that I would wear in a heartbeat.

Mayson peridot and diamond earrings via Zaver and Mor

mayson peridot and diamond earrings from zaver & mor
Ippolita five-stone peridot bangle

ippolita five-stone skinny bangle
Amrit birthstone necklace via Broken English

amrit birthstone necklace from broken english
Anne Sportun peridot wrap bracelet via Quadrum

anne sportun peridot wrap bracelet from quadrum
Carved peridot cameo with diamonds via Lang Antiques

lang antiques carved peridot cameo and diamond brooch pendant
Judy Geib peridot and emerald drop earrings

judy geib emerald, peridot and gold drop earrings
Jennifer Dawes square peridot stacking ring

jennifer dawes stacking square peridot band
Sydney Lynch Strata cuff with peridot, andalusite, tourmaline, and Umba sapphire

sydney lynch moss green strata cuff
Gabriella Kiss oval peridot ring via Quadrum

gabriella kiss oval peridot ring from quadrum gallery
Vintage peridot Jannecke ring via Brilliant Earth

vintage jannecke ring from brilliant earth
Melissa Joy Manning peridot earrings

melissa joy manning gold and peridot earrings
So what do you think? Is peridot a stone you can see yourself wearing? Happy birthday to my August birthday readers! I hope all your birthday wishes come true.