January - Garnet
Pronounced:
(gar-nit)
Though they have the same crystal structure--cubic, like diamond and spinel--garnets are an entire group of minerals that vary in their chemical composition, resulting in a variety of gems in different colors and with different qualities. Though some varieties of red garnet are common and found on every continent on Earth, other garnets like orange spessartite and hessonite, and green demantoid and tsavorite, are much less abundant. There are more than 20 garnet species, but the five most important garnet species include pyrope and almandite (the combination of which creates rhodolite), spessartite, grossular or grossularite (which includes hessonite and tsavorite), and andradite (which includes demantoid). Garnets of all species are the birthstone for January, so January babies aren't limited to the well-known red varieties.
Name Origin and Meaning:
The word "garnet" comes from the Latin word granatus, literally translated to mean "grain," but it's also thought to be derived from the latter portion of pomegranate because some garnet crystals bear a resemblance to pomegranate seeds.
History:
Garnets have been used in jewelry and for other decorative purposes for thousands of years, dating back as early as 3100 BC when Egyptians valued garnets as beads for pharaoh's necklaces and buried them in tombs with mummies. Carved garnets adorned signet rings used to stamp wax seals in ancient Rome, and red garnets were popular among clergy and nobility in the Middle Ages from around 475 to 1450 AD. Around 1600, the beloved "Bohemian" pyrope garnets of Czechoslovakia gave garnet a boost of interest in Victorian and other jewelry that lasted until the beginning of the 20th century. Slices of garnets have even been used in church windows. Today, orange (spessartite and hessonite) and green (demantoid and tsavorite) garnets have increased popularity (and increased availability) that is allowing them to join their red cousins in the jewelry marketplace beyond just being collector's stones.
Value:
Colored stones with intensely saturated color are the most valued in any gem species; such is also the case with garnet. The brighter, richer the color, the more valued the stone will be. Beyond that--with color, size, and clarity all being equal--spessartite, hessonite, tsavorite, and demantoid garnets are generally considered more valuable than the more abundant red garnets like almandite and rhodolite. Tsavorite and demantoid garnets with the rare horsetail inclusions are considered the most valuable of all garnets.
February - Amethyst
Pronounced
(am ethist)
February's traditional birthstone, pretty purple amethyst is the most valuable gemstone in the quartz group. Amethyst is also special because its crystal structure differs from the other crystal quartzes, even though it has the same hardness, moderate refraction, and weight. Amethyst's stratified construction creates varying color intensity and explains why there are only a select few large gem amethysts with evenly dispersed rich color, even with its abundance around the world. Whether in faceted stones, crystal specimens, polished pebbles, or beads, amethyst has enjoyed popularity in nearly every culture throughout its ancient history.
Care:
While some amethysts can fade under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and high heat, amethyst is typically a very hardy stone with good hardness and toughness. While steam cleaners should be avoided with amethyst jewelry, it is safe to clean amethysts in ultrasonic cleaners or with simple soap, water, and a soft brush.
Color:
Amethysts naturally occur in shades of purple, reddish-violet, and violet-blue. Some amethyst crystals, particularly those from Brazil or Uruguay, can become yellowish-brown when heated and are then sold as citrine.
Value:
As is the case with most colored stones,the intensity and saturation of color is the deciding factor in determining amethyst's value. All other factors (size, clarity, etc.) being equal, the darker the stone, the more valuable it is.
Name Origin and Meaning
Amethyst gets its name from the Greek words amethystos or amethustos, meaning "not drunken," because of the ancient belief that drinking wine from an amethyst cup--or, unfortunately, grinding amethyst into powder and adding it to wine--would help maintain sobriety.
History
Amethyst's existence has been known since ancient times. Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used amethysts in jewelry and household goods like bowls and cups. Even in ancient Mesopotamia, amethysts were engraved with royal and religious insignia and used as tools to imprintclay tablets. Amethyst has been symbolic of purity and royalty used in jewelry for hundreds of years. Amethyst has long played an important role in religion, as the stone in Christian bishops' rings and in rosaries.
March - Aquamarine
Pronounced
(ak|wemeren)
The birthstone for March, aquamarine is the most common and one of the most popular members of the beryl family, cousin to emerald, morganite, heliodor, and goshenite. Aquamarine's color and clarity capture the beauty of the sea. Rough aquamarine is easy to cut, so lapidaries are able to create new, imaginative aquamarine cuts and shapes.
Name Origin and Meaning
Possibly the most appropriate name in all of gemology, ocean-like aquamarine gets its name from the Latin aqua meaning "water" and mare or marinus meaning "sea" or "ocean."
Phenomenon
In very rare cases, aquamarines cut en cabochon can display chatoyancy (the cat's-eye effect).
Discovery and History
As with many gemstones, the discovery of aquamarine was so long ago, it is unknown. Amulets featuring aquamarines have been dated as old as nearly 500 B.C., proving that people have long used aquamarine for decorative and medicinal purposes. The modern March birthstone, aquamarine pre-dates even the Roman Empire and has been highly prized for thousands of years.
While aquamarine crystals have been found weighing multiple tons, the largest gem-quality aquamarine was found in 1910 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The 243-pound stone was 18 inches long, had a diameter of 15.5 inches, and was cut into numerous stones weighing a total of more than 100,000 carats. A piece weighing 13 pounds can be seen in the American Museum of Natural History.
Care:
Aquamarine's toughness, durability, and high ranking on Mohs' hardness scale makes it ideal for jewelry, and it requires no special care. Unless an aquamarine has feather or liquid inclusions, it should be safe to clean it in ultrasonic or steam cleaners. If you are unsure, simply use warm soapy water and a soft brush.
Value:
As with other colored gems, the most valuable stones are those with the richest color saturation. While the slightly greenish-blue hues are generally considered most valuable, aquamarine is a beloved stone in all shades. Throughout its long history of popularity, different hues of aquamarine have fallen in and out of favor. While green-tinted aquas were most popular in the 19th century, the sky-blue gems are more popular in jewelry today
Gemology 101 Library
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