January - Garnet

• Garnet symbolizes loyalty and trust among friends, and is considered an appropriate gift to honor a friendship.

• Garnet has long been considered to have healing properties. It is believed to be effective in the treatment of depression, liver disease, and the prevention of nightmares.

• February - Amethyst

• Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and the most-valued member of the quartz family.

• Amethyst is an ancient symbol of spiritual growth and protection. It is believed to promote calmness, peace, and heightened intuition.

• March - Aquamarine

• Aquamarine is not only the birthstone for March, it is also the gem for 19th wedding anniversary!

• It is appropriate that a gemstone reminiscent of the sea would be known to protect sailors and calm the seas, so legend says. From Latin, meaning seawater, aquamarine symbolizes courage, faithfulness, and easy flow of ideas.

• April - Diamond

• Diamond was formed over a billion years ago, 100 miles beneath the surface of the Earth, and is one of the hardest natural materials.

• The most-coveted gemstone to date, the diamond symbolizes eternal love and commitment. It is recognized around the world as the traditional wedding ring.

• Diamonds are thought to provide those who wear them with better relationships, balance, clarity, abundance, and increasing their inner strength.

• May - Emerald

• Emerald symbolizes rebirth. Romans dedicated emeralds to Goddess Venus due to its association with fertility.

• Emeralds are also believed to grant their owners foresight, good fortune, and and youth. They have been used in healing issues related to adrenal glands, nervous system, immune system, and numerous other ailments.

• Emeralds are believed to enhance both psychic and intuitive awareness. They are used in meditative practice to help one's breathing to become more rhythmic.

• June - Alexandrite

• Much like its changing colors, alexandrite symbolizes spiritual change in growth, in addition to joy and fortune.

• Alexandrite is also believed to strengthen feelings of love and compassion. It is also used to improve blood circulation and pancreatic disorders.

• June secondary stones are pearl and moonstone.

• July - Ruby

• As one of the most-expensive and prized stones in the world, Ruby is often given for 40th wedding anniversaries. Rubies are harder than every other stone, except diamond. Rubies can be referred to as the "diamond of love."

• Rubies are believed to have a stimulating effect on an individual's passion for life, and are useful for getting past exhaustion and general malaise. Rubies are also believed to be effective healers of the blood, including tissues involving circulation or blockage.

• Interesting fact: The hotter a ruby gets, the lighter its color becomes. However, it will return to its original color once it has cooled to room temperature.

• August - Peridot

• Peridot symbolizes friendship, good luck, and an untroubled spirit. It is a green garnet. Giving a friend a gift of garnet is a way to ensure that you see them again.

• Peridot has long been used as a treatment for asthma, stress reduction, and general body detoxification. Drinking from a peridot goblet is believed to increase the efficacy of medicines. Peridot also liberates the mind from envy and jealousy, and protects against nightmares.

• Interesting fact: Peridot gemstones have come from outer space (really!), thanks to small peridot-containing meteorites that have crashed on the Earth.

• September - Sapphire

• Sapphire symbolizes piety, wisdom, truth, and justice. Sapphires also represent the loyalty and devotion that comes from deeply healed romantic love.

• Sapphire has long been considered a protector from harm and evil, and many kings throughout history have used them for that purpose. Sapphires can be used as a treatment for skin or eye problems, and some believe it helps stimulate the "third eye."

• Interesting fact: Prince Charles proposed to Princess Diana with a sapphire engagement ring. Laboratory-created "sapphire glass" is used in Apple's iPhone to protect the camera and touch ID fingerprint sensor.

• October - Pink Tourmaline

• Pink tourmaline symbolizes hopeful love and passion, and as a safeguard against negativity. It is also known as the stone of humanitarians. Those with this birthstone are believed to be amicable and possess as strong spirit.

• Pink tourmaline encourages compassion towards others, and is a popular gem for therapists and other healers. Some consider it an effective treatment for healing deep emotional pain. Tourmaline is also believed to treat chronic digestive problems and panic attacks.

• Interesting fact: When pink tourmaline is heated up, the vibrancy of the color will become increasingly dull.

• October's secondary birthstone is opal.

• November - Citrine

• Citrine symbolizes personal strength, success, and abundance. Some report citrine to be an effective tool when doing dream recall work.

• Citrine is believed to have the ability to bolster creativity, and that it can help improve self-control for those who have self-destructive habits or tendencies. It can also be used as a treatment for heart and kidney disorders, and sometimes to promote liver and digestive tract health.

• Interesting fact: The yellow color of citrine, and what makes it citrine at all, is derived from iron impurities in a quartz crystal.

• November's secondary birthstone is topaz.

• December - Blue Topaz

• Blue topaz symbolizes leadership, spiritual growth, and insight. As a gift, blue topaz symbolizes eternal love.

• Blue topaz is considered particularly effective with regard to psychic or spiritual balance. Some also consider blue topaz to be an effective treatment for endocrine system issues and blood disorders.

• Interesting fact: The largest known topaz stone in the world, 600 pounds, is located at the Museum of Natural History in New York. Less than 5% of blue topaz available for sale anywhere is naturally blue.

• December's secondary birthstone is tanzanite.