Birthstones and recommended jewelry for you – part 1 (June – September)

Since I've noticed that the most read post on my blog is Zodiac signs and we all are so interested in this kind of stuff, I've decided to write about birthstones. Find out which gem is associated with the month you were born in and some facts about it. I’ll even recommend you an exquisite piece of jewelry with that specific gemstone.

I’ll start with June, the month we are in. The first 4 birthstones are presented below, while the next 8 ones will be shown in my next two posts. So all of you born in October – May interval stay tuned for it!

June: Pearl

* The pearl symbolizes purity, wisdom, charity and loyalty. 

* In ancient Greece, it was believed that pearls had the power to prevent newly wed brides from crying and to promote happiness among all those who wore them.

* More than 2.000 years ago, ancient Chinese believed pearls had the power to perpetuate eternal youth.

Magnolia 16 mm White South Sea Cultured Pearl, Akoya Cultured Pearl and 5.14 ct Diamond Necklace set in 18k White Gold, by Mikimoto

July: Ruby

* Ruby has been the gem of passion and the heart's desire since the dawn of time. 

* Mystics used rubies to stimulate spiritual creativity and religious devotion. 

* Ancient Greek women believed that wearing ruby could bring them love and physical beauty.

* Rubies were considered the wedding stone through the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, as they were supposed to keep passion alive and promote lasting love and contentment in marriage.

Ruby and diamond necklace by Harry Winston, via Christies

August: Peridot

* Medieval alchemists used peridot in amulets to protect the wearer from demons, but by Renaissance times, peridot had become a love stone, worn to attract romance.

* It has also been alleged to encourage a positive emotional outlook on life, to prevent fear or guilt, and to help develop patience.

18k White Gold Diamond & Peridot Ring by Cartier. With 34 round brilliant cut diamonds, VS1 clarity, G color. Total Diamond Weight: .34ct. 

September: Blue Sapphire

* Blue sapphire was valued by ancient Hindu mystics as the key to developing wisdom and spiritual progress.  

* The Romans thought this gem attracted divine favor to their owners.

* All through the Middle Ages, sapphires were alleged to bring a great destiny to their wearers, and were often used in court and royal jewelry. 

* Alchemists believed that blue sapphires would help them develop clairvoyance, telepathy and divine wisdom.

Luscious Blue Sapphire and Diamond Earrings with 148 Round Stones. 64.82 Total Carats

Love is in the air

Heart-shaped jewelry has an emotional connotation and it’s common to receive adornments with such design from your life partner, either a boyfriend, fiance or husband.  

Its beauty resides in its universal language ‘cause heart equals love, even affection, in every culture. When offered with such feeling and worn with the same emotion, jewelry pieces become more beautiful due to their profound meaning. 

Peridot Heart Diamond Gold Ring

Heart pendant in 18kt yellow gold and steel with pave diamonds

Chaumet pendant in 18-carat rhodium-plated white gold, heart paved with diamonds, bee set with a cabochon-cut amethyst

Chopard Happy Spirit Ring

Designer Ring Love

Piaget Heart ring in 18K white gold, set with 185 brilliant-cut diamonds - via piaget.com

What’s their meaning? Part II

Hi there! Are you curious to find out what the names of topaz, tourmaline, citrine, rhodolite, garnet and peridot stand for?

Here’s their secret:

• Tourmaline owes its name to the Sinhalese term “turamali”, which means “stone of multiple colours”.

• The origin of the name "Topaz" is supposed to be the Sanskrit word for fire - tapas - possibly because of its fiery orange yellow color. Still, there is another theory that says that topaz got its name from the Red Sea's Island of Topazos, where the Romans found a stone, which they called 'Topaz', but which later was found to be Peridot.

Imperial Topaz Demi-Parure - created in England in cca 1770

• There is no doubt Citrine derives its name from “citron” (lemon). :)

Unique18k Yellow Gold Diamond and Citrine Bracelet - via Pinterest

• The name "garnet" comes from the Roman word granatus meaning "seed", as the gems were thought to resemble pomegranate seeds. The name of Rhodolite is derived from the Greek for "rose-like".

• Peridot comes from the Greek term “chrysolite” or “stone of fire”.
  
  

  

  
  

  David Yurman Petite Albion Ring, Peridot

  
  

  David Yurman Petite Albion Ring, Peridot

  Now let's see all these beautiful stones in just one piece of jewelry - this amazing ring from BVLGARI.

  

  ASTRALE shield-design ring in 18kt yellow gold with blue topazes, green tourmaline, peridot, citrine quartz, rhodolite garnet and and pavé diamonds

  ASTRALE shield-design ring in 18kt yellow gold with blue topazes, green tourmaline, peridot, citrine quartz, rhodolite garnet and and pavé diamonds

  I will reveal the meaning of other precious stones in the coming days, so stay tuned!
  
  

Waiting for the weekend

Just a little bit until the weekend, when we’ll have a lot of fun listening to good music, dancing and sipping our cocktails.

Speaking of them, I've recently discovered Piaget’s rings collection inspired by colourful and fruity cocktails. I totally understood how the brand came up with such an idea after checking out Piaget’s Pinterest page dedicated to Cocktail Inspiration Rings. This is what it’s written on their page: “sparkling gemstones evoke fascinating cocktails. Colourful, tangy, fruity... Piaget's Cocktail inspiration rings sparkle with a shimmering radiance that lights up the night, forming a set of exquisite invitations to succumb to life's most delightful pleasures.”

And the rings… my, oh my. J See it for yourself:

• Limelight "Watermelon Dream" cocktail inspiration ring in 18K yellow gold, set with a cushion-cut rubellite, 280 brilliant-cut emeralds, 4 rubellite balls, 34 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds and 45 brilliant-cut diamonds

 Piaget's Pinterest page

• Limelight "Lemon Fizz" cocktail inspiration ring in 18K yellow gold, set with 13 brilliant-cut diamonds, 4 brilliant-cut emeralds, 2 rubellite balls, a sculpted peridot and an oval-cut "lemon" quartz

Piaget's official website

• Limelight "Blue Moon" cocktail inspiration ring in 18K white gold set with one oval-cut amethyst, 100 round emeralds, 296 brilliant-cut diamonds, one round yellow sapphire, and sculpted white chalcedony

Piaget's Pinterest page

• Limelight "Blue Lagoon" cocktail inspiration ring in 18K white gold set with a cushion-cut aquamarine, 13 brilliant-cut fire opals and 58 brilliant-cut diamonds

Piaget's official website