Fill Your Jewelry Box with Birthstones

Once you have purchased your Chasing Treasures jewelry box, you will need special pieces of jewelry to fill it up. Buying jewelry with birthstones is a fun and affordably colorful way to add beautiful jewelry to your collection. Birthstones are not just randomly chosen for each month, but they have significance both in color and meaning. Whether you fill your Chasing Treasures jewelry box with your own personal birthstone, or you pick stones based on your favorite colors and the significance of the stone and color.

•    January’s birthstone is the dark red garnet. This color and stone was originally selected because of its resemblance to fire and blood. The dark red represents humility and atonement, which is an appropriate color for the start of a new year.

•    February’s birthstone is the purple amethyst. The purple stone symbolizes mourning and regret, which was also symbolic for Lent and Advent.

•    March’s birthstone is the aquamarine, which is a pale blue stone. Most of the people who were born in March are Pisces, which are the fish that swim in the blue waters of the sea. The pale blue color is connected to serving others and it also represents grace.

•    April has the diamond as its birthstone. This stone represents marriage, purity, and clean living. The color white represents Holy Days, especially Easter and Christmas.

•    May’s stone is the emerald in deep green. Interestingly, this green stone symbolizes nature and life.

•    June’s birthstone is not a stone, but a pearl. Again, the white color of the pearl symbolizes purity and virtue. It is not surprising that pearls are often given to young children as their first precious piece of jewelry.

•    July’s stone is the sexy red ruby. This bold red stone symbolizes fire (like the Garnet) and it also symbolizes authority and status.

•    The pale green peridot represents those born in August. This pale green stone represents nature and life, which is important because August is a major time of harvest.

•    The September sapphire is a gorgeous blue stone. The deep blue color represents grace, power, and wealth.

•    October’s birthstone is the opal, which has a base of white with accents of blazing colors. The white base of the stone represents purity and innocence, but the splashes of color add a bit of excitement to the stone.

•    November’s birthstone is the yellow topaz. This stone does come in other colors, with white being the purest of the topaz colors. Regardless of the choices, the golden yellow is the traditional November birthstone color. The yellow represents renewal and hope, which interestingly comes in the month before the holy time of Christmas.

•    Finally, the December birthstone is beautiful blue of turquoise. In Christianity, the Virgin Mary usually wears blue, so the color stands for her grace.

Because so many people love shopping for birthstone jewelry, designers have been creating unique pieces that are modern and cool. Whether you are buying pieces for your own collection or for your loved ones, you cannot go wrong adding birthstone jewelry to your jewelry box or a loved one’s jewelry box.

June Birthstone - The Beautiful Pearl

June birthdays have a lovely gem for their birth month representation. The amazing Pearl is the birthstone for the month of June. The official color is the white pearl but most June babies feel that any color of pearl is acceptable as their birthstone. June has 2 alternative birthstones that are recognized as well; the Moonstone and the Alexandrite.

The Pearl is an unusual gemstone in that its creation is not typical of our mineral gems we see normally. The pearl comes from the sea creature known as the mollusk. When an irritant lands in the flesh of a clam, oyster or mussel, a protective substance called nacre is produced. Over several years of time, this nacre completely covers the irritant in many layers of nacre which forms the beautiful pearls we see today.

The Natural Pearl is still a rarity. 90% of the pearls you see out in the jewelry marketplace are cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are when man places an irritant into the shell to stimulate the product of nacre. Once the pearls are matured and harvested, they can be used in jewelry.

Pearls come in a large variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The most popular to buy are the white ones, but there are many rages of colors available. The rarest color is the Black. It also depends on where your Pearl is harvested around the world. There are several locations pearls are harvested and they are named for the ares, such as the Tahitian Pearl, The South Seas Pearl, The Akoya Pearls and the Freshwater Pearls.

Interestingly, Pearls are also ground up and used in some beauty/cosmetic products for shimmer and shine. Pearls are a worldwide recognized gemstone that is very popular. Many cultures have a large reverence for pearls and to find matching sizes, colors and shapes and have a necklace or other pieces of jewelry made from that can become very expensive.

Pearls are considered a classic piece of jewelry and will never go out of style. People born in June have a lovely birthstone they can enjoy for a lifetime.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

Emerald the May Birthstone

The birthstone for the month of May is the beautiful green Emerald which is from the Beryl family of gemstones. It is also the gemstone for the Zodiac constellation Cancer. The ancient Romans associated this gemstone with fertility and rebirth, and they dedicated this beautiful gemstone to the goddess Venus.

Unlike other Beryl gemstones, all Emeralds contain some degree of "flaws" known as inclusions, within the gemstone itself. However these "flaws" are not looked at as a negative when it comes to the Emerald.

Emeralds have been revered for centuries and have been included in many important jewelry pieces such as crowns for royalty and even one made for Mother Mary called the Crown of Andes, which includes 453 emeralds weighing in at over 1500 carats in emeralds alone.

The Emerald gemstone is considered to be a hard stone but due to the inclusions found within the stones, they have to be handled with care. Knocking them around too much can cause fractures and splintering. They should also be protected from moisture and direct sunlight.

Just like any other semi-precious gemstone they need to be handled with care. When cleaning them you only want to use jewelry cleaning products that are specifically made for cleaning Emeralds. If you can't find one, you can wipe down your Emerald with a soft, clean and slightly dampened cotton cloth.  Never use harsh chemicals to clean your emerald jewelry.

If you notice any splintering or fracturing of your Emerald jewelry pieces you need to take them in immediately to a professional jeweler for repair. Don't let them just sit around as those fractures can become deeper and bigger over time.

Store your Emerald jewelry in a nicely padded jewelry box, never in a ceramic or metal jewelry dish. Do not stack other pieces of jewelry on top as they could cause damage to your Emeralds.

Emeralds are a gorgeous gemstone that looks fabulous in a multitude of settings and styles.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

The Stunning Diamond is the April Birthstone

The birthstone for the month of April is the beautiful diamond which you typically see in the clear (white) color. However, over the past decade or so, colored diamonds have gained strength in popularity and are also suitable as the April birthstone.

The diamond gemstone has been treasured for centuries and can be quite pricey for the high-grade flawless or near flawless diamonds. Most diamonds have flaws and they are graded on a scale; the more flaws your gemstone has the cheaper it is.

A gift of diamond jewelry stands for "everlasting love" so that is why it is a prized gift for engagements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. No two diamonds are alike so all diamonds are one-of-a-kind.

The most common cut when it comes to diamonds set into jewelry is the round brilliant cut which enhances the diamonds sparkle and fire more than other types of gemstone cuts. These days you can find diamonds in all kinds of fancy cuts like the trillion cut, marquis cut, baguette cut and princess cut.

If you are getting ready to celebrate your 10th Wedding anniversary, a piece of diamond jewelry is a traditional gift to give. Many anniversaries are celebrated with an anniversary ring. Because the Diamond is the birthstone for April, it is also a very traditional gift to give someone special.

The diamond is a very hard stone and can be set in a multitude of settings. Care for your diamonds by keeping them clean so that the sparkle is evident with every movement. There is nothing quite like the brilliance of a sparkling diamond which is why it is given such high regard by millions of people.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

Aquamarine is the Birthstone for March

Our Birthstone for the month of March is the beautiful Aquamarine. It is considered to be a semi precious gemstone. The name Aquamarine comes from the Latin expression for seawater and this stone is a member of the Beryl family of stones. The Aquamarine stone is loved by gemstone and jewelry collectors for its clear blue or blue-green color. The more saturated the color of this stone the more desirable it is which means the most intense colored stones are more valuable.

The leading producer of this stone is Brazil but you can find deposits and mines in countries such as Australia, Burma, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe and here in the United States. On the Mohs scale the Aquamarine comes in at a 7.5 to an 8 on the hardness scale so ti's a pretty hearty stone.

Traditionally you will find the Aquamarine set in earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, pins, brooches and even in men's cufflinks and tie pins. Because of the light beautiful color, most will be set in sterling, platinum or white gold and it looks just fabulous in all of those metals.

Caring for your Aquamarine is rather easy since it is such a hard stone. Simply wiping it off with a damp cloth is the easiest. Never use harsh chemical jewelry cleaners to clean your jewelry and always store your jewelry in an appropriate protective jewelry box. Also, you never want to wear your Aquamarine jewelry while swimming, bathing, showering, washing your hands or when cleaning because water and harsh chemicals can damage the stones and the metal in which they are set.

If you are a March baby, treat yourself to some amazing Aquamarine pieces so you can show off your wonderful birthstone as well as enhance your wardrobe with the awesome color of the stone.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions

All About the Amethyst - Birthstone for February

The birthstone for the month of February is the beautiful Amethyst gemstone which comes in various shades of purple, ranging from a very pale purple shade clear up to a very intense deep, dark purple. The Amethyst is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone and is a member of the quartz family of stones.

On the hardness scale an amethyst comes in at round a 7 so it is a great gemstone to have in your jewelry wardrobe for daily wear. As with all semi-precious gemstones you will want to take care of your Amethyst jewelry properly so that it will last for years to come.

When it comes to purchasing Amethyst jewelry many collectors look for the gemstone in the dark purple shades because those shades are considered ot be more desirable and more valuable. The gemstone is mined locations such as Sri Lanka, Canada, Brazil, United States, Russia, India, and Australia and in a few other places in smaller deposits.

 The Amethyst is a popular gemstone to own because its rich color makes such a gorgeous pop when worn. A beautiful drop necklace would look fabulous with a V cut little black dress or blouse. An amazing chunky Amethyst bracelet would look terrific paired with some simple bangles so you can show off the pure color.

No matter how you wear your Amethyst, you will love its classic look and the multiple ways that you can wear this gemstone.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

January Birthstone is Gorgeous Garnet

Many people identify with their birthstone and birthstones provide a way to personalize your jewelry wardrobe. Chances are that most ladies own or have owned a piece of jewelry with their birthstone in it. It somehow makes it more special and symbolic of whom you are. It is a lovely tradition to give a piece of jewelry with a birthstone of choice to a young lady as their first piece of jewelry.

The birthstone for the month of January is the Garnet. The beautiful gemstone is typically found out in the retail market in a deep red color although the garnet can be found in other colors that are much rarer than red.  The Garnet was first mined over 2,500 years ago in Sri Lanka but can also be found in Africa, Australia, Russia, India, South America and the United States. The Garnet is rated 6.5 to a 7.5 on the hardness scale, so it's a great gemstone to have in your jewelry wardrobe that you can wear on a daily basis, plus its lovely color will mix well with clothing choices.

Caring for your Garnet is rather easy. Just like with any semi-precious gemstone you will want to take care of your Garnet gemstone with a good gemstone jewelry cleaner that you purchase from a reputable brand. We recommend you try to find jewelry cleaners without harsh, abrasive chemical cleaners. Store your pieces carefully in a lined jewelry box or velvet jewelry bags sot the stone does not scratch other jewelry you own.

The selection of jewelry choices with Garnets is very large They can effectively accessorize your outfits with beautiful bracelets, rings, watches, necklaces and other fine jewelry pieces. The Garnet is a popular stone for its beautiful color and affordability as a gemstone. You will be able to wear any of your Garnet items for many years and pass some down as heirloom pieces.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

December's Birthstone Blue Topaz

The Blue Topaz is a gorgeous stone that has been revered for centuries. The Topaz is a mineral that is found in Europe, South America, Japan, Mexico and the United States as well as other parts of the world. It comes in many different colors and a few have formed into giant crystal boulders that you can see in some museums. There are very rare Topaz stones that have been mined and cut into massive personal stones like the Topaz of Aurungzebe that measured 157.75 carats and the American Golden Topaz, a more recent get that measured a massive 22,892.5 carats.

The Blue Topaz stone is broken down into 3 shade categories:
Sky - light blue hues
Swiss - medium blue hues
London - darkest blue hues

Most jewelers and consumers consider the London Blue Topaz to be the most desirable and valuable out of the three gemstone hues. It is also rarer so you will find more Sky blue and Swiss blue stones in the marketplace. Being able to access the Sky and Swiss stones also keeps the stone more affordable for everyday use.

Topaz is a beautiful stone and the clear color makes for a beautiful piece of jewelry.  When looking for gifting ideas for December birthdays you will find lovely drop earrings or large cut stone studs that look amazing. Also the Topaz looks fabulous in a pendant or pin and will take an outfit from pretty to stunning.

Also great for the December Topaz babies are some stunning large cocktail rings that show off the dramatic cut of the stone. Surround it with some clear crystals or diamonds and you have an amazing ring. Pair it with a matching bracelet and you will look like you spent a million bucks!

Topaz is a beautiful choice for the jewelry lover and it looks amazing set in silver or gold. The ranges of colors available make it an affordable gemstone that anyone can enjoy.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

November Birthstone - Citrine

The November birthstone is the beautiful Citrine. The name Citrine comes from the French word "Citrin", meaning lemon and the name certainly suits this beautiful yellow/golden gemstone. The Citrine is a member of the quartz family of stones and is one of the "rarer" colored quartzes. Most people are familiar with the purple quartz which is commonly called Amethyst.

If you are not fond of the Citrine don't worry...there is an alternate birthstone for the month of November and the alternate stone is the yellow Topaz which is just as beautiful as the Citrine. The only draw back when it comes to purchasing yellow Topaz jewelry is that it is a little more expensive than jewelry made with Citrine.

If you are looking for a birthday gift for someone born during the November month a beautiful gift would be a nice piece of Citrine jewelry. The Citrine can also be given as an anniversary gift during the 13th and 17th anniversaries.

You can find beautiful earrings, necklaces, pendants, pins, bracelets, rings, anklets and even watches with gemstone bracelet bands made with the beautiful gemstone. For the most part Citrine gemstones are faceted before placing them into jewelry pieces and you can find them in a variety of shapes and carat sizes.

Just about every jewelry store or department store that carries jewelry will have Citrine jewelry on display for you to purchase. You can find inexpensive pieces set in sterling silver and them more expensive pieces set in gold or platinum.

If you are a November baby, chances are you have some of this lovely gemstone and if not, maybe it is something that you can put on your wish list. Semi precious stones such as the Topaz and the Citrine are admired by many and they look beautiful in any setting.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

October Birthstones - Opals & Pink Tourmaline

October has two birthstones, Opal and Pink Tourmaline.

The traditional October Birthstone is the Opal which many people refer to as a rainbow gemstone since many colors are reflected in a good-quality opal stone.  The stone is a non-crystallized silica which is a mineral found near the earth's surface.  It is a soft stone, formed when layers of the silica combined with water were deposited into the cracks and cavities of bedrock. It contains varying amounts of water within it that determines the appearance.

This beautiful Opal gemstone is highly prized by collectors and can often be found in the crowns and jewelry collections of royalties. Most of the opals that are of jewelry-making quality are mined from the beautiful country of Australia.

This gemstone can contain up to 30% water so it is a delicate stone that must be protected at all times from extreme heat, extreme cold and from water. You should remove all opal jewelry before showering, bathing and/or swimming. If you accidentally get your opal jewelry wet you should remove it as soon as possible and towel it dry with a soft cloth. In addition, you want to keep harsh chemicals away from all opal jewelry so do not apply cosmetics, perfumes, body products or hair products while wearing your jewelry. Store your lovely pieces in beautiful lined jewelry boxes for safekeeping.

Opals are usually set into lovely settings of gold and silver and you can find beautiful color variations from blue to brown and even black. All of these colors have the most gorgeous color variations combined in the stone so you can wear your opals with any type and color outfit.

Most Opals are set into rings and drop pendants, but you can find a lovely selection of watches and amazing necklaces too.  Another favorite are dangle earrings. Many times jewelers will set the opals with diamonds surrounding the stone for an elegant and regal look.

If you are not a fan of opal jewelry, October has an alternate birthstone which is the Pink Tourmaline.  This too is a beautiful stone that you can wear in many different ways. On a scientific note, when heated, this gem takes on a static electric charge and it can attract light weight objects giving it a seemingly magical property. Once considered the "stone of the muse" it was believed to inspire creativity in the wearer. Pink varieties of Tourmaline range from pastel pink to ruby red and are mined in Brazil, Afghanistan, Burma, and India.

If you are an October birthday girl, select beautiful Opal or Pink Tourmaline jewelry pieces and wear them with pride!

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

September's Birthstone - Sapphire

The birthstone for those born in September is Sapphire, available in a wide variety of colors. The most popular is blue. Sapphire is a form of corundum. Any color of corundum except red is called sapphire.

Sapphires have been prized for their beauty since ancient times when Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its color. It was also believed that sapphire would protect the wearer from envy and attract divine favor. Sapphire is mentioned in the Bible as being one of the twelve “stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:13–16) that were given to Moses and set in the breastplate of Aaron (Exodus 28:15–30). Sapphire is also one of the twelve gemstones set in the foundations of the city walls of Jerusalem (Revelations 21:19).

Sapphires are a durable gem, second only to diamonds in terms of the hardness of the stone. Because of this, they are easy-care stones which do not scratch or mar easily. Their value depends on color, transparency, and size.

Sapphires are found here in the U.S.A. in North Carolina and Montana. Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, India, China, Brazil and Australia are well known for Sapphire production. China yields the majority of the sapphires that are a very deep midnight blue or black color. The lighter cornflower blue shade is mined mainly in the Australian regions, as well as in Sri Lanka and Burma. Sri Lanka and China also yield most of the golden sapphires found. The rare pink and orange sapphires are mined mostly in Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Since the sapphire is most often linked to qualities of loyalty, faithfulness and honesty it is a favorite choice for engagement rings. Sapphires gained increasing popularity in modern times when Prince Charles presented an oval sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds to Lady Diana for their engagement.

The phenomenon known as the "star" on some sapphires is caused by intersecting light bands on the stone which create the illusion of a star reflection. The popular star sapphire has historically been thought of as a love charm throughout many cultures. It is said that Helen of Troy attributed her battle conquests to a star sapphire that she owned. The bands of light across the stone that created the starlike appearance were said to represent destiny and hope in other societies.

Giving personalized sapphire birthstone jewelry is a special way to celebrate a September birthday.