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Birthstones
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Wedding Anniversary Gifts
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Traditional |
Modern |
| First |
Paper |
Clocks |
| Second |
Cotton |
China |
| Third |
Leather |
Crystal/Glass |
| Fourth |
Fruit/Flowers |
Appliances |
| Fifth |
Wood |
Silverware |
| Sixth |
Candy/Iron |
Wood |
| Seventh |
Wool/Copper |
Desk sets |
| Eighth |
Bronze/Pottery |
Linens/Lace |
| Nineth |
Pottery/Willow |
Leather |
| Tenth |
Tin/Aluminum |
Diamond Jewelry |
| Eleventh |
Steel |
Fashion Jewelry |
| Twelfth |
Silk/Linen |
Pearls |
| Thirteenth |
Lace |
Textiles/Furs |
| Fourteenth |
Ivory |
Gold Jewelry |
| Fifteenth |
Crystal |
Watches |
| Twentieth |
China |
Platinum |
| Twenty-fifth |
Silver |
Silver |
| Thirtieth |
Pearl |
Diamond |
| Thirty-fifth |
Coral |
Jade |
| Fortieth |
Ruby |
Ruby |
| Forty-fifth |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
| Fiftieth |
Gold |
Gold |
| Fifty-fifth |
Emerald |
Emerald |
| Sixtieth |
Diamond |
Diamond |
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Garnet - January Birthstone
There are many varieties in the garnet family with
different colors. The name garnet, now applied to the entire family was
originally given to the garnets of the pyrope-almandine variety due to
their resemblance to red pomegranate seeds.
Diamonds - April Birthstone
Diamonds are thought to be named for the Greek “adamas”
and traditionally represent fearlessness and love.
They are an extremely hard natural substance.
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Amethyst - February Birthstone
Amethyst is the best known and most valuable form of
quartz. Its name is derived
from the Greek word “amethustos,” meaning “not drunken.” Ancient
belief held that anyone wearing an amethyst could not become intoxicated.
According to the Greek legend, Bacchus, the god of wine, vowed to avenge
an insult by having a tiger devour the first person it met. That person
happened to be a beautiful young maiden named Amethyst.
The maid cried out to the goddess Diana to save her and was turned
into a brilliant white crystal. When
he saw what he had done, Bacchus was full of remorse and poured wine over
the stone maid, creating the lovely violet purple stone that still carries
her name.
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Emerald - May Birthstone
Emerald belongs to the beryl family and gets its
green color from traces of chromium and vanadium. Emerald has been
cherished since 4000 B.C. when it was actively traded at the earliest know
gem market in Babylon. The
ancient Egyptian emerald mines near the Red Sea were worked as early as
2000 B.C.; these mines were the main source of emeralds for the West until
16th century. By this time, finer-quality emeralds were being
mined in Columbia, and these gems eventually took their place as the
world’s most coveted emeralds.
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Pearl - June Birthstone
The English word pearl comes from the Latin word pernula.
Some of the words associated with pearls can be traced through a
number of languages. For
example, another Latin name for pearl, margarita, came from the
Greek margarites, which may have been derived either from the Babylonian
for “child of the sea”. Pearls are mentioned in the book of Job and in
the Talmud. The pearl was the favorite gem among the rich in the Roman
Empire. The old eastern legend quoted by Pliny, according to which oysters
rose to the surface of the sea beneath the moon’s rays, opened their
shells and were fertilized by drops of dew. It was not until the 16th
century that it was discovered pearls were pathological formations in
pearl oysters.
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Ruby - July
Birthstone
Ruby is a variety of corundum, and comes from the
Latin word “rubeus” (red). A
ruby’s color is due to trace amounts of chrome oxide; the amount of this
substance determines the depth of color. Rubies are believed to have great
powers. It’s been said that
owning a ruby will ensure a peaceful, harmonious and healthful life. Ruby
is also thought to control one’s passion and thought. To many people,
its stimulating color represents heat, life and power.
Ruby has been worn as an amulet for protection against plagues,
poison, sorrow and evil spirits. The
ancient Hindus considered the ruby to be “Lord of the Gems”.
To them, this fiery stone burned with an inextinguishable fire,
that would boil water.
Opal - October Birthstone
The learned Roman scholar, Pliny, described opal as
having “the fire of the carbuncle, the brilliant purple of the amethyst
and the sea-green color of the emerald, all shinig together in incredible
union.” The Romans called opal cupid paederos (child beautiful as
love) and revered it as the symbol pf hope and purity. Eastern people held
the gem in high esteem, regarding it as a sacred stone embodying the
spirit of truth. The opal, Orpheus wrote, “fills the hearts of the golds
with delight.”
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Peridot - August Birthstone
The ancients called peridot the “gem of the sun.”
this association with the sun probably influenced their belief that
peridot had the power to dissolve enhancements and banish evil spirits. To
exert its full powers as a talisman, peridot had to be set in gold; worn
in this way, it was thought to dispel the terrors of the night. When
powdered, peridot was used as a remedy for asthma when held under the
tongue.
Sapphire - September Birthstone
Sapphire gets its name from Latin word “saphirus”
and the Greek word “sappheiros” both meaning ‘blue.” The blue
color in sapphire comes from titanium and iron oxides.
Sapphire has been called the ‘gem of the heavens.” Persians
believed the earth rested on an enormous sapphire and the sky reflected
its beautiful color. In the
12th century the Bishop of Rennes praised the sapphire and used
it in ecclesiastical rings.
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Citrine - November Birthstone
Citrine belongs to the quartz family, although it is
often mistakenly referred to as topaz.
Its yellow color is due to the presence of iron. This gemstone has
been used since the Hellenistic Age in Greece (323-280 B.C.). During the
first and second centuries A.D. in Greece and Rome, citrine was used for
intaglios and ring cabochons.
Blue Topaz
Topaz derives its name from two possible sources; in
Greek “Topazios” (to seek) or Sanskirt, “Tapas” (fire). Legends states that topaz mounted in gold and worn around the
neck as an amulet is said to strengthen the intellect, bestow courage
and drive away sadness. Topaz is called the stone of fruitfulness,
faithfulness and good cheer. Topaz is easily electrified by heat or
friction and in fact can be electrified by rubbing it in the direction
of the principal axis. This charge often remains for several hours.
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Turquoise - December Birthstone
The name turquoise was first used in the 13th
century, from a French word meaning Turkish stone, pierre turquoise.
Four bracelets made of turquoise and gold are the oldest pieces of wrought
jewelry in the world. For over 5000 years they remained on the arm of
Queen Zer, an Egyptian queen. For centuries Native Americans believed
turquoise had the power to bring abundant spoils to their warriors, many
animals to the hunter, and happiness and good fortune to all who wore it.
Spinel
The name spinel may come from the Latin “spina” or
“thorn”, referring to the triangular shape of the crystal faces or from
the Greek root “spinter” meaning “spark”, referring to the red variety.
Like ruby and garnet it has also been called “carbuncle” from the Latin
“carbunculus or “small coal.” Spinel comes in many colors, red, blue,
purple
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