Birthstone for: December

The alternate birthstone for December is the zircon. Its name is probably derived from the Arabic words "zar" and "gun", meaning "gold" and "color". The gemstone is found in a wide range of colors, and possess great brilliance, fire and clarity. Zircon, in its unchanged natural form appears colorless to pale yellow, or green. These colors are caused by minute quantities of thorium and uranium that replaces zircon in the crystal structure. But over the vast spans of geologic time, other forces work within the zirconium silicate crystals. The uranium and thorium inclusions emit radiation that alters the original crystal structure. A glass-like material is formed, with colors of red to brown, orange and yellow.

Birthstone for: December

December's primary birthstone. Turquoise is considered by some to be a symbol of good fortune and success, believed to bring prosperity to its wearer. It's name is believed to originate from the French phrase "pierre turquoise" meaning "Turkish stone" because turquoise was brought to Europe by Venetian merchants who first acquired it in Turkish bazaars. It is also considered by some as a love charm. When received as a gift, the turquoise symbolizes a pledge of affection. Shakespeare used this lore in "The Merchant of Venice". In it, Leah gave a turquoise ring to Shylock when he was a bachelor, hoping it would win his affections so he would ask her to marry him. In Russia, the turquoise is popularly used in wedding rings. In the language of chemists and geologists, turquoise is known as "copper aluminum phosphate". Turquoise is often found in weathered igneous rock that contains copper minerals, where it crystallizes in veins and nodules. The gemstone usually develops in rock near water tables, located in semiarid and arid environments. The chemicals in turquoise come from adjacent rock, leached out by rain and groundwater.

Turquoise is a relatively soft gemstone, and can be easily scratched and broken. This porous opaque stone is easily discolored by oil and pigments, and changes color when it loses some of its water content. A sky blue shade in turquoise is due to the presence of copper, while iron gives it a greener tone. Ochre and brown-black veins in the stone occur during the formation of turquoise, caused by inclusions from nearby rock fragments or from oxide staining. The most valued variety of turquoise is an intense sky blue color, like the color of a robin's egg. Hard, relatively non-porous compact stones have the best appearance because the stone can be finely polished. Enhancements - Pale and chalky varieties are sometimes impregnated with oil, paraffin, liquid plastic and glycerin to give it a good polish.

Birthstone for: October

The name opal is derived from an Indian word for "stone" and they are divided into three basic groups with physical properties that vary considerably:

Precious opal — The special characteristic of these gems is their opalescence, more appropriately referred to as "play-of-color". The more predominant types within this group are white opals that are translucent to semitransparent with play-of-color against a white bodycolor, black opals that are translucent to opaque with play-of-color against a black or other dark bodycolor, jelly opals that are colorless, transparent to semitransparent with little or no play-of-color, and boulder opals which are opaque and made up of a thin layer of opal occurring in ironstone matrix; the opal is cut and polished for the top and the matrix stone is left as a backing that adds strength and a dark background. Opal always contains water in variable amounts, but it can be as much as 30%. If not cared for properly, opals can loose water over time causing crazing, or cracking. White opals will be the most common found in jewelry and the value of an opal gemstone will be more determined by its play-of-color than by size.

Fire opal — These opals are some of the most interesting since they do not look like what the average consumer would identify as an opal. They are transparent to semitransparent with or without play-of-color on a yellow, red or orange bodycolor. The most important deposits of fire opal are in Mexico and, for that reason, these beautiful gemstones are often called "Mexican Opals".

Common opal — Very common, as the name would imply, and mostly opaque without play-of-color. Opals, an optional birthstone for the month of October, are relatively soft gemstones and do not react well to heat or sudden changes in temperature. Opals are prized by many for their phenomenal play of color, and while they do make beautiful pieces of jewelry to be worn and appreciated, extreme care must be taken to protect these gems from damage. Because of their moisture content they require special care even when they are not being worn. When purchasing opal jewelry it is important to discuss their proper care with a gemologist, to insure that their beauty will be maintained and passed on from generation to generation.

Birthstone for: Febuary

The Ancient Greeks believed that whomever wore this gemstone would be protected from the intoxicating effects of wine and the name is derived from the Greek word "amethustos" meaning, "not drunk". Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is a variety of quartz and occurs in transparent light to dark purple. It has long been treasured by kings, queens and religious figures, dating back to the Minoan period (c. 2500 B.C.), because of its rich, royal color. Amethyst was a favorite of the Art Nouveau craftsmen of the 1920's and is still a favorite of some of the most creative jewelry designers of today. The most notable reason for their popularity in jewelry design has been the wide availability and reasonable price. The two main sources of amethyst are Brazil and Zambia, although other deposits have been found in Russia, Sri-Lanka, Mexico, and Arizona.

Enhancements — The recent scarcity of fine amethyst in recent years has prompted the production of a manmade synthetic making its way into the market. Darker hues of amethyst are rarely enhanced to perfect their color, although some varieties do respond well to heat treatment. Brownish varieties, when heated, magically turn into the bright yellow or orange colors known as citrine. This enhancement method is permanent and will last the lifetime of the gemstone.

Birthstone for: March

Latin for seawater, this beautiful gemstone inspires visions of the transparent azure blue waters of the Caribbean. Aquamarine is identifiable by its flawless crystallization and greenish-blue color, just like the Caribbean water that is so clear that you can see through the surface to the sand below. As the birthstone for March, aquamarine differs greatly from its most famous relative, emerald. Both are from the gemstone group known as beryl. However, while emeralds are almost always imperfect (having visible inclusions) aquamarines are almost always flawless (no visible inclusions under 10power magnification). Aquamarine has been credited with providing courage, curing laziness and quickening the intellect. Among some cultures, it had the reputation for providing happiness and everlasting youth. Brazil is the most prolific supplier of aquamarine today, with the natural color from this area leaning towards bluish-green. Other sources of aquamarine include Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Russia, and the island of Sri Lanka.

Enhancements — Aquamarines that you see today are almost always enhanced by controlled heating. Natural occurring bluish-green gemstones are heated in this manner to remove the green, leaving a more pleasing blue hue. The treatment has become a very common and very acceptable enhancement technique for aquamarine gemstones, and is one that is permanent for the life of the gemstone.

Birthstone for: January

Garnet is a group of gemstones that occur in a virtual rainbow of colors. The name garnet is derived from the Latin word for grain, because of the round shape of the crystals, as well as the Greek word "granatum" for the pomegranate seed. The most common garnets are the reddish varieties, which bear the names Almandite, Pyrope, and Rhodolite. These gemstones occur in a range of colors from medium to dark reddish orange (Almandite and Pyrope) to purplish red to reddish purple (Rhodolite). Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January, however, red need not be your color of choice if you were born in the first month of the year. Other more interesting gems from the garnet family, being used in jewelry today, consist of pinkish orange tones (Malaia) to those that exhibit a variety of colors that have the ability to change tones, depending on the light source, and are known as color change garnets. Lesser known garnets occur in a yellowish orange (Spessartite) to the more rare varieties that occur in green tones (Tsavorite and Demantoid).

Enhancements — All varieties of garnet are completely natural in color and clarity. There are no known commercial treatments being done today to enhance these beautiful gemstones. The owner of any one of garnet's beautiful colors will cherish the fact that their garnet is one of the few colored gemstones in today's market that exhibits the exact color and clarity that mother nature produced, with it's beauty brought to the surface strictly by the artistry of the cutter.

The Emerald remains one of the most popular gems today and is one of the rarest and most valuable precious stones. Emerald is the astrological, Jyotish gem related to Mercury, which is the planet of intelligence, speech, communication, trade and commerce. Improves learning abilities and clairvoyance and it is beneficial to the nervous system. Wearing a clean emerald of at least 1.5 carat is said to give good results in all the business and trade activities. It will also make the wearer a very persuasive speaker. Emerald can be substituted with peridot, green tourmaline, chrome diopside or chrysoprase of at least 3 carats.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: Be3A12So603 + Cr
Color: From light yellowish green to dark bluish green and everything in between
Hardness: 7.5 - 8
Density: 0.005 - 0.009
Refractive index: 1.577 - 1.593
Birefringence: 0.005 - 0.009
Occurrence: The finest emeralds are from Colombia at Chivor, Muzo, Gachala and Coscuez mines. Other fine emeralds come from Brazil, Zambia, Pakistan, Russia, Tanzanis (Lake Manyara). Colombian emeralds from Muzo and Coscuez can be distinguished in a general way because Muzo material is blue-green, whereas that from Coscuez is yellowish green.

Astrological Properties

Planet: Mercury
Cosmic Color: Green
Number: 5
Chakra: 1st, Sahasrana
Sign: Gemini & Virgo
Element: Earth
Day: Wednesday
Time: Sunrise

Birthstone for: May

The name emerald is derived from the Greek word Smaragdos meaning "green stone" and, in ancient times, it referred to just about any green colored gemstone. The birthstone for May, emerald is the most prized and precious variety of the gemstone group known as beryl, which also consists of aquamarine and other variations of beryl. Today, most of the world's Emeralds are mined in Columbia, Brazil and Zambia. The green color of emerald is incomparable in the world of gemstones and, for this reason, the color is commonly referred to as "emerald green". The green color in emerald is caused by the presence of chromium in the chemical composition of this particular form of beryl. Under magnification the internal characteristics in an emerald, which include liquid bubbles, gas bubbles, internal stress fractures, and foreign crystals form a virtual garden within the gemstone. Most natural Emeralds contain a variety of these internal inclusions, commonly referred to as "jarden", which is French for garden. Perfection in emerald, as in most all things, is the most rare of nature's treasures. Emerald is the birthstone for May and symbolizes rebirth and youth. Enhancements — When mined from the earth, almost all Emeralds have internal inclusions, or "birthmarks", some of which distinguish them as natural gemstones. Since early times, merchants would purify the color of Emeralds by immersing them in oils or paraffin, which would fill the fissures that were open at the surface and render them almost invisible to the naked eye. Along with the use of oils and resins, there are much more sophisticated techniques being used today to clarity enhance Emeralds.

Yellow sapphire is the astrological, Jyotish gem related to Jupiter, which is the planet of happiness, prosperity, luck and fortune. Jupiter is the significator of wealth, children, government and the grace of God. Promotes general well-being and spiritual knowledge. Wearing a faultless yellow sapphire of at least 1.5 carats is said to bring money and wealth as well as good marriage and childbirth in the case of a married woman. Yellow sapphire can be substituted with yellow topaz, yellow beryl or yellow zircon of at least 5 carats.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: AL2O3 (aluminun oxide)
Color: Any shade of yellow, from pale yellow color to dark orangish golden to greenish yellow
Hardness: 9
Density: 4.00
Refractive index: 1.762 - 1.770
Birefringence: 0.008
Occurrence: Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, East Africa, USA.
Species: Corundum

Astrological Properties

Planet: Jupiter
Cosmic Color: Light Blue
Number: 3
Chakra: 2nd, Ajna
Sign: Sagittarius & Pisces
Element: Ether
Day: Thursday
Time: Sunset

Sanskrit Names

Pusparaga (Yellow Sapphire)
Guru-Ratna (Gem of Guru)
Puspa-Raja (King of flowers)
Vascapati (Beloved of Jupiter)

Prevention of Diseases

Liver complaints, jaundice, dropsy, flatulence, dyspepsia, abscess, disorders of pancreas, tumors, skin troubles, cerebral congestion, catarrh, circulation of blood in the arteries and fat in the body.

Cat's eye chrysoberyl is the Jyotish gem related to Ketu (the moon's descending node) which is a shadowy entity called Moksha Karaka or "planet of enlightenment". It gives very fine spiritual tendencies, asceticism, non-attachment and psychic powers as well. It is related to ghosts, spirits and astral forces. Wearing a cat's eye chrysoberyl of at least 1.5 carats is said to exalt spirituality and psychic ability, and protect from mysterious dangers and diseases. It brings fortune to gamblers. A cat's eye chrysoberyl can be substituted with cat's eye tourmaline or cat's eye opal of at least 4 ct.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: A12(BeO4) Beryllium Aluminum Oxide
Color: Light greenish yellow, green, brownish green, brownish yellow, brown
Hardness: 8.5
Density: 3.70 - 3.72
Refractive index: 1.744 - 1.755
Birefringence: 0.011 double refractive
Occurrence: Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Brazil, China, Russia

Astrological Properties

Planet: Ketu
Cosmic Color: Infra-red
Number: 7
Sign: Pisces
Element: Water
Day: Thursday
Time: After Sunset

Sanskrit Names

Ketu-ratna (Ketu's gem)
Vaidurya (Cat's eye)
Sutra-mani (Thread-jewel)

Hessonite garnet ("Gomeda" in Sanskrit) is the Jyotish gem related to Rahu (Moon's ascending node), which is mainly an elemental and instinctual entity. When badly positioned, this "shadow planet" is characterized by insatiable worldly recognitions and desires together with sense gratification. Wearing a hessonite of at least 2 carats is said to bring success, wealth and notoriety in society, increase life span and good fortune. Hessonite can be substituted with orange zircon.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: Ca3A12(Si04)3
Color: From light yellowish orange to dark brownish orange and dark orange-red
Hardness: 7 - 7.5
Density: 3.60 - 3.68
Refractive index: 1.738 - 1.745 Single refractive
Occurrence: Sri Lanka, Canada, Brazil, East Africa, Madagascar

Astrological Properties

Planet: Rahu
Cosmic Color: Ultraviolet
Number: 4
Sign: Aquarius
Element: Ether
Day: Saturday
Time: Sunset

Sanskrit Names

Gomeda (Cow's unrine colored gem)
Rahu-ratna (Rahu's gem)
Pita rakta mani (Orange gem)
Tamo-mani (Rahu's jewel)

Prevention of Diseases

Cancer, fears, phobias, undiagnosable illness, poisons

Red coral is the Jyotish gem related to Mars, which is the planet of ambition, motivation and desire. It rules physical strength, forcefulness, energy and passion. Wearing a red coral of at least 2 carats is said to remove obstacles, avert warfare, purify the blood and cure boils. It will make the wearer courageous yet prudent. Red coral can be substituted with carnelian of at least 5 carats.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: CaCO3 (primarily mineral calcite)
Color: Flesh pink, pale to deep rose red, salmon pink, red to dark ox-blood red (this one being the most rare and priced)
Hardness: 3.5 - 4.0
Density: 2.6 - 2.7
Refractive index: 2.417
Occurrence: Throughout the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea areas, Spain, Morocco, Malaysia, Japan. The most important center for the fishing and manufacturing of the finest red coral is Torre Del Greco (Italy).

Astrological Properties

Planet: Venus
Cosmic Color: Yellow
Number: 9
Chakra: 7th, Muladhara
Sign: Aries & Scorpio
Element: Earth
Day: Tuesday
Time: Sunrise

Sanskrit Names

Munga (Red Coral)
Bhauma-ratna (Gem of Mars)
Vidruma (The coral tree)
Abdhijantu (Being of the ocean)

Prevention of Diseases

Eruptions of the face and body
Cuts, burns, bruises
General diseases of the blood, muscular system, bone marrow

Diamond

Diamond is the Jyotish gem related to Venus, which is the planet of love, beauty, arts and married life. Like Jupiter, it bestow money, comforts and fortune on a person when it is strong and significantly well placed. It can be useful in the cure of venereal and reproductive system diseases. Wearing a fine white sapphire of at least 2 carats and a damburite of a t least 3 ct., is said to bestow happiness in married life as well as magnetism and attractiveness for the wearer.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: Pure carbon
Color: Colorless to hues of brown, yellow, pink, chartreuse, blue, etc. The most priced diamond are those classified as colorless and "fancy"
Hardness: 10
Density: 3.52
Refractive index: 2.417
Occurrence: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Australia, Russia, India, Brazil, Venezuela.

Astrological Properties

Planet: Venus
Cosmic Color: Deep blue
Number: 6
Chakra: 3rd, Vishuddhi
Sign: Taurus & Libra
Element: Water
Day: Friday
Time: Sunrise

Sanskrit Names

Vajra (Lightning bolt)
Hiraka (Diamond)
Bhargava-priya (Beloved of Venus)

Birthstone for: April

April's birthstone is the diamond. Diamonds are a wonder of nature. Their cold sparkling fire has held us spell-bound for centuries, inspiring rich passionate myths of romance, intrigue, power, greed, and magic. Ancient Hindus, finding diamonds washed out of the ground after thunderstorms, believed they were created by bolts of lightning. In our place and time, the diamond is a symbol of enduring love, and often grace engagement rings.

There are many kinds of diamonds: transparent, translucent or opaque; ranging from colorless to sooty black, with many colors in between. Mostly transparent diamonds, colorless or tinted, are used as jewelry. Others are used widely in industry.

The color of a diamond depends on the kind of impurities embedded inside it. Yellow diamonds, for example, betray minute quantities of nitrogen, while boron imparts a bluish hue.

There are other inclusions in diamonds that have great scientific value. Such samples are time capsules that yield valuable information about conditions deep in the Earth's upper mantle where diamonds formed, and yield clues to the formation and age of the diamond.

Diamonds are the rich cousins of graphite, both crystalline forms of pure carbon. The enormous differences in their properties is a result of the way that carbon atoms are bonded together. In graphite, carbon atoms are arranged in sheets that easily slide past each other, making them ideal as lubricants and of course, pencil leads. Diamond crystals, on the other hand, are a tight-fisted network of carbon atoms securely held in four directions, making it the hardest naturally-occuring substance in the world. In order to achieve such a compact and strongly-held network of carbon atoms, it is believed that diamonds must have crystallized deep under the Earth's surface. At these depths exist the proper conditions for the formation of diamonds; at 90 to 120 miles deep, pressures are more than 65,000 times that of the atmosphere at the Earth's surface, with temperatures exceeding 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Such pressures and temperatures reproduced in laboratories have successfully yielded synthetic diamonds. Diamonds are found in alluvial deposits, that is, gravel swept by streams, rivers, glaciers and ocean currents. They are also found in sedimentary rock where gravel deposits and organic material have been compressed into rock. Diamonds can be found in some samples of kimberlite -- a type of volcanic rock first identified in Kimberly, South Africa. Diamonds found in kimberlite are thought to be very old, perhaps as much as three billion years old. Tiny flecks of diamond have even been found inside meteorites -- bits of rocky space debris that land on Earth. Diamonds are crystals, crystals being the ultimate form of symmetry in nature.

The shape of the crystal reflects the internal orderly arrangement of atoms within it. In diamonds, atoms of carbon are held tightly by covalent bonding, where two neighboring atoms share an electron, endowing the diamond crystal with great strength. But despite its hardness, diamonds can be cut. This is accomplished by cutting the gem along planes parallel to the faces of the crystal where the tight bonds between carbon atoms are a little weaker. Found in their natural form, diamonds can appear quite unimpressive. It is only when they are cut and polished by skilled craftsmen, such that the light entering it is reflected and refracted as best possible, only then is their hidden beauty revealed.

Pearl

Chemical composition: CACO3 (aragonite)- about 82-86%; conchiolin- about 10-14%; water- 2%
Color: The color of a pearl is the result of a body color and an overtone color (known as orient) present (due to surface effects) as a lustrous sheen. White, light cream, light rose, light yellow, blue and green overtones on a white body, black and colored pearls.
Hardness: 2.5-4.5
Density: 2.6-2.78; conch pearl, 2.85; cultured pearls, 2.72-2.78, i.e., heavier than most natural pearls, but this is not a diagnostic fact.
Occurrence: saltwater pearls are the most important on the market place. These come principally from the Persian gulf (coasts of Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain State), Gulf of Manaar ( an arm of the Indian Ocean between India and Ceylon), Australia, South Seas, Japan, Venezuela. Freshwater pearls come from rivers throughout the world.

Astrological properties

Birthstone for: November

The name topaz was probably derived from the ancient island of Topazios in the Red Sea. In ancient times all yellow, brown, and sometimes green gemstones were called "topaz". Even through modern times, the brownish gemstone commonly referred to as Smokey Topaz is not topaz at all. Thanks to the adoption of Federal Trade laws, which have been successful in eliminating most of the misrepresentation of colored gemstones, the proper gem variety name, Smokey Quartz, is now used to describe these gems. The quartz variety citrine and yellow heat-treated amethyst have at times been falsely called "golden topaz" in the jewelry trade, which lead to real topaz being referred to as "precious topaz". Commonly, one of the orangey or golden colors of topaz is worn as the traditional birthstone for November. Topaz, however, can be found in a rich rainbow of colors with the most valuable being "Imperial" topaz and pink topaz. Imperial topaz derived its name after the Russian Czars of the 1800's, and has a magnificent orange body color, with pinkish-red undertones. In addition to these two, topaz can be found naturally in yellow, reddish-brown, light blue, pinky-red, pale green and colorless. Due the abundance of blue topaz, along with its captivating beauty and low price, it has become an ideal replacement option for aquamarine as the birthstone for March.

Enhancements — Most topaz is commonly subjected to enhancement by heat and/or radiation as a normal part of the fashioning process to improve its color. Irradiation is used sometimes to change colorless topaz to a brown or brownish green as a first step in producing treated blue topaz. The prevalence is common, is very stable and is virtually undetectable.

Birthstone for: October

Tourmaline, like garnet and sapphire, occurs in almost every color of the rainbow from soft pastel tones to bold and brilliant colors that excite the senses. The people of ancient Ceylon referred to these beautiful gems as "turmali", the Sinhalese word for many colors. Varying vibrant hues within the tourmaline group are such that they command a name that separates them from the more common hues. The vivid reds and hot pinks are known as Rubellite, vibrant greens that crystallized containing the chemical chromium and are called Chrome Tourmaline, and the violetish to greenish blues are referred to as Indicolite. The pink variety is often used as the birthstone for October. Not only does tourmaline occur in such a spectacular range of color, some of these colors occur in a single gemstone and are called "bi-color" or "parti-colored" tourmalines. In fact, one color combination known as "watermelon" tourmaline, occurs with a pink center and green perimeter. Tourmaline is mined in many areas of the world including Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa and the United States.

Enhancements — Color enhancement of tourmalines is very common. Dark blue, blue green, and green tourmalines are often heated and/or irradiated to improve their color. Heat and irradiation color enhancement of tourmaline is permanent.

Birthstone for: August

Peridot has been adored since early times, when the ancient Egyptians prized it more than 3500 years ago. Some jewelry historians are convinced that some, if not all, of the emeralds Cleopatra was famous for wearing were actually peridots mined from what is now known as St. John's Island in the Red Sea, about 34 miles off the coast of Egypt. Peridot is a member of the olivine family of gemstones and is the birthstone for August. This beautiful lime-green gemstone depends largely on body mass for its concentration of color and, hence, its beauty. Unfortunately, larger stones have become so rare that the green hue for which this gem is most praised is seldom seen today. Much of today's peridot comes from Arizona, however, stones rarely exceed 3 carats in size. Peridot is also found Australia, Brazil, China, Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan.

Enhancements — Peridot is completely natural in color and clarity. There are no known commercial treatments being done today to enhance these beautiful apple green gemstones. The owner of a beautiful peridot will cherish the fact that their peridot is one of the few colored gemstones in today's market that exhibits the exact color and clarity that mother nature produced, with it's beauty brought to the surface strictly by the artistry of the cutter.

Ruby

Ruby is the astrological, Jyotish gem related to the Sun, which rules one's person confidence, authority, power and status. The Sun is related to the soul and has a great deal to do with career and the person's worldly activities. Wearing a ruby of at least 1 carat is said to increase popularity and professional status. It will cure diseases of the eyes and of the heart. Ruby can be substituted with red spinel, red garnet (Rhodolite) or red tourmaline of at least 3 carats.

Gemological Properties

Chemical composition: AL203 + Cr (aluminum oxide)
Species: Corundum
Hardness: 9
Refractive index: 1.763-1.770
Density: 3.99-4.1; usually near 4.00
Pleochroism: Strong dichroism
Birefringence: 0.008
Color: Any shade of red, from light pinkish red to dark purplish red. In ancient times, pinkish red rubies were called Padmaraga (red as the lotus) or Feminine rubies, while dark red rubies were considered Masculine stones.
Occurrence: -Burma- Burmese rubies historically comes from the Mogok stone tract. The history of mining in Burma is long, complex and turbulent and date back thousands of years. Gems occur in a gravel layer called Byon at a dept of 20 to 100 feet, and are recovered by rudimental washing and screening and then hand-picking of encouraging-looking pebbles. Today, the Mong Hsu tract is also producing gem quality stones. Very fine Burmese stones over 5 carats are today extremely rare and can command ten times as much the price of a 5 carats diamond. Other producers of fine rubies are Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Ceylon, East Africa.

Astrological-Healing Properties

Planet: Sun
Cosmic Color: Red
Number: 1
Chakra: 5th, Manipura
Metal: Yellow gold
Sign: Leo
Element: Fire
Day: Sunday
Time: Sunrise

Sanskrit Names:

Manikya (Ruby)
Padmaraga (Red-lotus color gem)
Shona-Ratna (Red jewel)
Ravi-Ratna (Gem of the sun)


Signs of a well-placed Sun

Creative, vital, resistant, determined and decisive.
Successful activity, authority.
Royalty, high position in administration.
Cheerful outlook, good fortune, ambition to achieve great heights, brilliance, optimism, success in worldly affairs.


Prevention of the following diseases

Heart diseases, eye inflammation, low or high blood pressure,
Hemorrhage, cardiac thrombosis, heated and bilious constitution
Cerebral meningitis, eruption of the face, typhoid, polypus, epilepsy, bile complaints, sun-stroke, scorches, diseases of the head

Birthstone for: July

Ruby, "the King of Gems" and birthstone for July, gets it's name because of its red color and is derived from the Latin word Rubeus, meaning red. It was discovered around 1800 that Ruby, as well as sapphire, belonged to the same mineral group, or species, called corundum. Prior to that date, both red spinel and garnet were thought to be, or were referred to, as Ruby. In fact, many of the most prominent red gemstones in England's Royal Jewels are magnificent red spinels which, for years, were thought have been rubies. The red color in Ruby is derived from chromium and historically, the most desirable ruby color is denoted by the term "pigeons blood". The red color of Ruby will vary from deposit to deposit and it is, therefore, not possible to determine the source area of a Ruby based on its color. Ruby is mined throughout Southeast Asia and while the majority is found in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), many exquisite gems also are found in Sri Lanka and Africa. The designation Burmese-ruby or Siam-ruby are trade names and refer more to color quality than to actual origin. Internal characteristics, or inclusions, are very common and while these inclusions are not necessarily indicative of lower quality, they may show the difference between natural and synthetic. Certain types of inclusions may also indicate the source area, or origin, of the gemstone.

Enhancements — As is the case with many colored gemstones, Rubies are routinely enhanced to improve their color and their clarity, the most notable being controlled heating. Many enhancement procedures are generally recognized and accepted throughout the jewelry industry and, in most cases, these enhancements are irreversible, permanent, and will produce a gemstone that is more beautiful. One should be leery, however, of enhancement techniques that are not permanent. If you intend to purchase any fine colored gemstone you should deal with a jeweler who is gemologically trained to explain the differences.

Blue Sapphire

Sapphire is the traditional birthstone for the month of September. Sapphire has long been the symbol of the sky and heavens, the guardian of truth and the protector of chastity. The ancient Persians held the belief that the entire world rested on a sapphire and its reflection is what made the sky blue. Sapphires have had a long history of being engagement gifts among royalty and nobility. This includes the widely popular Lady Diana Spencer who received a blue sapphire and diamond ring upon her engagement to Prince Charles. In blue, sapphire ranges from a very light pale blue to vivid violet blue to a deep midnight blue.

Blue sapphire is the Jyotish gem related to Saturn, which is the planet of wisdom, integrity and discipline. It rules responsibility, leadership, ambition and wisdom born of experience. It's also the planet of renunciation and spiritual journey. Wearing an unheated blue sapphire of at least 1.5 carats is said to bring discipline and bestow the ability to govern and lead others. Blue sapphire can be substituted with blue spinel, amethyst, blue tourmaline of at least 3-4 carats.

Gemological properties

Chemical composition: AL2O3 + Fe
Hardness: 9
Density: around 4
Refractive index: 1.762-1.77
Birefringence: 0.008
Pleochroism: Strong dichroism
Color: Light blue to dark blue, violetish-blue, greenish-blue, steely-blue, color change from blue or greenish blue to violet-purple to purple.
Occurrence: Sri Lanka, Thailand (Kanchanaburi), Cambodia (Pailin), Burma, Kashmir, Australia (Anakie), Tanzania, Madagascar, USA (Montana, Yogo Gulch).

Astrological properties

Planet: Saturn
Cosmic Color: Violet
Number: 8
Chakra: 4th, Arahata
Sign: Capricorn
Element: Air
Day: Saturday
Time: Sunset

Sanskrit Names

Nilam (Blue sapphire)
Nila-mani (Blue jewel)
Indra-nilam (Royal blue gem)
Sani-ratna (Saturn's gem)


Signs of a well-placed Saturn

Wisdom, integrity, discipline, spiritual achievement trough humility, patience, dedication and non-attachment.
Saturn also govern leadership and perfection, highest human qualities, and longevity.


Prevention of the following diseases

Paralysis, asthma, rheumatisms, teeth problems, bones problems.


Birthstone for: September

Birthstone for the month of September, the name Sapphire comes from the Greek word "Sappheiros", meaning blue. However, sapphires are formed in nature in a literal rainbow of colors, ranging from very light to very dark blue, bluish green, yellow, brown, pink, violet, slightly reddish orange, and a fabulous pinkish-orange that is referred to as "padparadscha". The name padparadscha is derived from the Sinhalese for "lotus flower". The mineral name for sapphire is Corundum and its pure red form it would be known as ruby. The finest sapphire color in the blue hues is a rich, velvety, cornflower blue known as "Kashmir", which references the area of India where these precious gemstones were once mined. Most current production comes from Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Australia, Africa and Montana. Sapphire will sometimes occur in nature in such a way whereby numerous needle-like inclusions within the gemstone are oriented in just the right angles within the stone, to produce a phenomenon that is called "asterism". As such a six-pointed star will appear to float just beneath the surface of the gemstone when subjected to an incandescent light source. These gemstones will always range from translucent to opaque and they depend on the cutters art to fashion them into a polished, domed shape known as "cabochon".

Enhancements — As is the case with many colored gemstones, sapphires are routinely enhanced to improve their color and their clarity, the most notable being controlled heating. Many enhancement procedures are generally recognized and accepted throughout the jewelry industry and, in most cases, these enhancements are irreversible, permanent, and will produce a gemstone that is more beautiful. One should be leery, however, of enhancement techniques that are not permanent. If you intend to purchase any fine colored gemstone you should deal with a jeweler who is gemologically trained to explain the differences.