| stone jewelry is the perfect way to celebrate your | | | | charms with a chain. The rings are made with |
| birth date and the birth of your loved ones, especially | | | | birthstones set into the crown or on the side. The |
| your children and grandchildren. Popular for the last | | | | necklaces are made with birthstones attached on top |
| two centuries, birthstone jewelry have skyrocketed in | | | | of the pendants or embedded into the pendants or |
| popularity in the past five decades in a trend started in | | | | charms. The birth stones are either natural ones or lab |
| France and western Europe and subsequently fanned | | | | created ones. Lab created ones are also known as |
| out to the rest of the world, especially the United | | | | simulated birthstones or crystals and they are the |
| States. Although birth stone jewelry have been a | | | | most popular version today as evidenced by the |
| jewelry staple for the last three hundred years, the | | | | commercial success of several Austrian crystal |
| conception of birthstones traces its origins back to | | | | companies. Other popular forms are bracelets, |
| ancient times. Although many think the first birthstones | | | | earrings, lockets and watches. All types are |
| originated from a breast plate with twelve gemstones | | | | personalized with the respective gemstones of your |
| each representing a month of the year in biblical terms, | | | | loved ones and some styles and designers will allow |
| they are in fact originated from the idea of astrology | | | | you to personalize with names and even birth dates. |
| signs around 500 B.C during the Greek classical period. | | | | The most unique retailers have styles that are |
| The modern birth stone list has remained the same | | | | handcrafted which makes each piece a one-of-a-kind |
| since 1912. In chronological order, the birthstones are | | | | item! |
| Garnet for January, Amethyst for February, | | | | It is estimated that birthstone jewelry will continue to |
| Aquamarine for March, White Spinel for April, Emerald | | | | rise in popularity as it appeals to not just the younger |
| for May, Alexandrite for June, Ruby for July, Peridot | | | | generation but also resurgence from the baby boom |
| for August, Sapphire for September, Pink Tourmaline | | | | population as they become grandparents, they start |
| for October, Citrine for November, and Blue Zircon for | | | | accumulating these personalized jewelry with their |
| December. Note that there are substitutions for each | | | | grand children's monthly gemstone and names. Today, |
| month's birth stone but these are the most popular | | | | this form of fashion jewelry is most popular in the |
| choices to date. | | | | United States followed by Canada, and then the United |
| Today there are both natural birthstones and simulated | | | | Kingdom. They are also growing in popularity in |
| birthstones that are made of crystal or glass. The | | | | Eastern Europe and developing countries. A surprising |
| most famous are the Austrian crystals. Simulated | | | | growth area has been China as the younger |
| stones can be just as attractive and they have the | | | | generation is taking on this Western tradition and |
| added advantage of being slightly more affordable and | | | | mixing it with the Chinese zodiac into an unique fusion. |
| lighter in weight. | | | | What is exciting is that all around the world this form of |
| The most common types of birth stone jewelry are | | | | jewelry has produced and evolved into so many lines. |
| rings and necklaces in the form of pendants and | | | | |