Click on a month to see it's birthstone.

Garnets were used as ammunition in 1892 by the Hanza tribe against the British in Kashmir. The tribesmen thought a bullet made of garnet would attack the bloodstream. Unfortunately, the garnets were probably shattered by the black powder. In effect they were shooting blanks at the British, who replied with volleys of lead bullets. It was a tradition that died hard.

Emeralds make beautiful pieces of jewelry but they require extra care as they are more fragile than most birthstones.

Ancient peoples believed that the God inscribed the original Ten Commandments upon tablets made of sapphire. (This was the set Moses threw at the Israelites) The sapphire was believed to grant its owners the ability to foretell the future.

A sapphire dipped in cool water and placed on the eye was believed to cure eye problems. If powdered it was used to stop bleeding, or as an antidote to poison.

Of all the lore of the sapphire, I find the belief that the sapphire could tell whether married couples were faithful to one another most intriguing. The sapphire was believed to lose its luster if worn by an unfaithful or impure person. In ancient France, such evidence could be used. (No wonder the royalty of France were great patrons of jewelers. It was the jeweler who could clean or recut the sapphire at a strategic time)

Sapphires are beautiful in jewelry. They are one of a few birthstones that, in my opinion, look great in both yellow or white gold.

The opal is history's most misunderstood stone. How often have you heard an opal brings bad luck when worn by people not born in October?

In Roman times Nonius, a senator, possessed an opal that was legendary for its fame and beauty. When Mark Antony became Emperor he demanded the opal. Rather than part with the stone, Nonius went into exile. Romans believed the opal the king of gems, because of its many colors. In the Arab culture it was believed that opals fell from the sky when lightning flashed and that the stone contained the lightning itself. In Northern Europe women wore opals in their blonde hair because it was believed the stone would keep the hair blonde. (Only their jeweler knew for sure.) In the Middle Ages, an opal was said to improve its owner’s eyesight.

So why do opals get a bum rap? The English author Sir Walter Scott is to blame. In 1820, Scott wrote a novel in which the heroine, Lady Hermione, wore a mystic opal. When she passed away, the stone was blamed for her death. The book must have been a best seller because the opal became infamous after centuries of being treasured.

The opal is the most fragile gemstone. Avoid hitting this stone against anything but feathers. (Soft feathers.) Do not clean this stone in an ultrasonic cleaner, or for that matter in regular jewelry cleaner. If the stone needs cleaning mix rosewater and glycerine, in equal parts, for best results. Once a year, apply a bit of mineral oil should to the stone to prevent it from becoming more brittle.

This stone has incredible beauty and carries the fire of the heavens.

The Egyptians thought the topaz symbolized Ra, their sun god. In the Middle Ages, the Topaz was believed to strengthen the mind and prevent mental illness. A topaz was also believed to prevent sudden death, so men wore them into battle. If the battle went badly, the topaz was said to make the wearer invisible at times of emergency. (I guess if you can't beat them, become invisible.)

St. Hildegard's prescription for poor vision involved soaking a topaz in wine for three days and three nights. Before the patient went to sleep, the eyes were to be rubbed gently with the wine- soaked topaz. The patient should drink the wine over a five-day period. (If the topaz was soaked in a full barrel of wine, the patient may not have experienced improved vision, but probably did not care.)

Whichever color you choose, the topaz makes a nice addition to any collection of jewelry.

During the Depression, zircons were also used in place of the diamond in many engagement rings.

If you pick the blue zircon as a piece of jewelry you will find a gem that has few flaws and a lot of sparkle.