Birthstones It is believed that the concept of assigning a particular stone to each of the twelve months of the year dates back to Roman times, though it is possible that the idea may have been around amongst the Israelites even farther back than this. Magical and curative powers were attributed to various gems. They were thought to heal illness, ward off poisons and bring love to the possessor. Obviously, it was only the select few who were wealthy enough to

own these mirculous talismans, but in sixteenth century Poland, the custom of giving and wearing birthstones became popular. Luckily, it is still popular today. What could be finer than the gift of a birthstone to a special person, showing them that not only are they valued, but that the month of their birth is special to you, too. A beautiful gift for a mother or grandmother is a ring, necklace or bracelet featuring all of the birthstones of her children or grandchildren. A gift of a ring or tie tack from a wife to husband featuring her birthstone is certainly romantic, as is a bride choosing her fiance's birthstone for her engagement ring. Every month of the year offers more than one option for choosing a birthstone and we hope you'll find this list helpful to you in dreaming up gifts for those you love - including you!

• January Birthstone: Garnet or Rose Quartz
• February Birthstone: Amethyst or Onyx
• March Birthstone: Aquamarine or Bloodstone
• April Birthstone: Diamond or Rock Crystal (Quartz)
• May Birthstone: Emerald or Chrysoprase
• June Birthstone: Alexandrite or Moonstone or Pearl
• July Birthstone: Ruby or Carnelion
• August Birthstone: Peridot or Sardonyx
• September Birthstone: Sapphire or Lapis
• October Birthstone: Opal or Tourmaline
• November Birthstone: Topaz or Citrine
• December Birthstone: Zircon or Turquoise