Sapphire is September's BirthstoneWritten by Sam Serio
If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it. September Birthstone: Sapphire Birthstone Properties: Brings physical and emotional balance. Alternative Birthstone: Agate Sapphire is birthstone for September and gemstone given for anniversaries of 5th and 45th years of marriage. Taken from Greek word for blue, "sapphirus", sapphires have a time-honored tradition with priests (who considered them symbolic of purity) and king s (who considered them symbolic of wisdom.) Sapphires were mined as early as 7th Century BC in India and what is now Sri Lanka. Today they are found in Sri Lanka, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Madagascar, and United States. Against Which All Others Are Measured Sapphires, like rubies, are a variety of corundum. The sapphire's color spectrum includes pink and lavender varieties, a rare orange hue, and, of course, velvety blue sapphire that earned gemstone its name. Because of way in which corundum crystals are formed, large sapphires are rare…and valuable. The priceless 563-carat Star of India, on display at New York City's Museum of Natural History, is largest and most famous of "star sapphires" (sapphires that are cut to reflect light from inclusions within stone to reveal a bright six-legged star pattern).
| | Ruby is July's BirthstoneWritten by Sam Serio
If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you probably also remember special birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet you don't really know SIGNIFICANCE of your birthstone and what power ancients felt would be bestowed about you by wearing it. July's Birthstone: Ruby Birthstone Properties: Fire and emotion Alternative Birthstone: Sapphire Ruby is birthstone for July and also anniversary gemstone for 15th and 40th years of marriage. The history of ruby mining dates back more than 2,500 years ago, and today coveted gemstone is found in Burma, Thailand, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Cambodia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and United States. Called "Lord of Gems" by ancient Hindus, rubies are one of most highly prized gems throughout history. The fiery glow of rubies is said to come from gemstone's internal and eternal flame. For this reason, gift of a ruby is a symbol of everlasting love. If worn on left hand, ancient lore has it that Ruby will bring good fortune. It is a perfect engagement ring gemstone and a popular alternative to or addition to diamond engagement bands. Hard, but Soft The word ruby comes from Latin "ruber," meaning red. It is a variety of mineral Corundum that is called sapphire when it is any color except red…only when it is red does it earn designation of "ruby."
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