Birthstones
You could plan your whole look around your birthstone - yours
will depend on what month you were born in, and like flowers, each has
its own meaning...
January - Garnet, meaning Constancy
The name Garnet comes from the Latin for pomegranate, which has bright red, garnet
like seeds. Garnet is one of the most requested semi precious stones
I work with because you can't beat its beautiful rich claret colour and can complement
rich ruby roses in your bridal flowers. In myth and magic, garnets were thought
to cure depression, protect against bad dreams, and relieve diseases of the liver
and haemorrhages. According to legend, Noah used a finely cut, glowing
garnet to illuminate the ark. Just don't ask me how...
February - Amethyst, meaning Sincerity
Occurring in shades of purple, lilac and mauve, this is the most valuable of the
quartz group and is currently very popular indeed when offset either with silver
or gold colours; it ranges in colours from palest lilacs to deep purples, and
because of this it matches in with the colour themes of many brides. In
myth and magic, amethysts were thought to induce a wise and sober mind, the name
is derived from the Greek word 'amethystos', which means 'against drunkenness'
-which may be one to remember during your wedding breakfast! In traditional
Chinese medicine, ground amethyst is prescribed for stomach pains and bad dreams
- both of which are caused, incidentally, by too much drunkenness!
March - Aquamarine, meaning Courage
Aquamarine is my birthstone and therefore, obviously, I am biased towards it (though
I tell my husband my birthstone is diamond, just in case he feels like going jewellery
shopping for me!) The seawater colour of aquamarine has given this
gemstone its name. In the 19th century, sea green varieties were the
most popular - but blues are more valued today. There are deposits in most
continents, although the best quality aquamarines come from Brazil. It is
possible to incorporare aquamarines into your bridal accessories and these range
in price from affordable to astronomical - alterantives to consider would be some
beautiful aquamarine Swarovski crystal, and of course these stones also go so
beautifully with silver and freshwater pearls. In myth and magic, in Medieval
times, this stone was thought to awaken the love of married couples, and was also
believed to render soldiers invincible. Aquamarine is known as the sailor's
gem, ensuring safe passage across stormy seas - buy one before your honeymoon!
April - Diamond - meaning Purity
Diamond - the girls' best friend (or is that your husband to be?), also known
as the 'King of Gems', the diamond is the most precious of gemstones, famed both
for its fiery brilliance and being the hardest mineral on earth. Its
name derives from the Greek word adamas, which means 'invincible'. Diamonds
are a form of carbon, occurring in a range of colours, the most popular being
colourless. If diamond is your birthstone, I could suggest rock crystal
as an affordable alternative - I haven't actually made any tiaras in real diamond,
but still, there could always be a first time...I also use beautiful crystal which
sparkes and shines without comparison in pieces of jewellery, and many of these
crystal beads are vintage or Swarovski crystal, the absolute creme de la creme
of crystal which I scour the earth for. In myth and magic, the Greeks believed
that diamonds could protect against poisons, and in Medieval times, those who
could afford to wear a diamond believed they were safe against the plague...mind
you, those who could afford to wear diamonds could probably emigrate to the Caribbean
for the duration of the plague!
May - Emerald - meaning Hope
The beautiful green shades of the emerald derive from the presence of chromium
and vanadium. Only the finest quality gemstones are transparent and flawless,
most have tiny fractures or mineral inclusions known as 'jardin', French for garden.
In myth and magic, hundreds of years ago, emeralds were thought to possess healing
powers, particularly for restoring eyesight (especially after a drunken night
out with your friends!). During the renaissance, emeralds were exchanged
among the aristocracy as symbols - and tests - of friendship - the stone, it was
said, would stay intact only if the friendship lasted. If you wish
to incorporate emerald-coloured stones in your tiara, peridot is a pretty, glowing
and affordable substitution. Another lovely green semi precious stone is
aventurine; peridot and aventurine are quite different in hues, green comes in
so many shades, and of course there are some absolutely gorgeous Swarovski crystals
in colours of emeralds and greens generally. Emeralds, of course, tend to bring
on envy in girl-friends when they haven't got one and you have!
June - Pearl - meaning Health
Once thought of by Arabians as tears of the gods, pearls are created by certain
shellfish, mainly oysters and mussels. They form when an irritant such as
a grain of sand enters the shell. The mollusc then secretes layer upon layer
of calcium carbonate, known as 'nacre', around the foreign body. It is this
innate defence mechanism that creates the bead of pearl. In myth and
magic, according to the Roman writer Pliny, Cleopatra dissolved a priceless pearl
earring in her wine and drank it as a testament to her love for Anthony.
Pearls have long been used medicinally. They were thought to cure everything
from fevers to stomach ulcers, and they come in a range of colours from the traditional
whites and creams through pinks, peach, greys, blues, coppers and a myriad of
dyed colours...I often use freshwater pearls in my tiaras and jewellery because
there really is nothing like the real thing and I absolutely love them....care
for them properly and you will get years of happiness out of them...just like
your husband to be!
July - Ruby - meaning Passion
The classic ruby is a deep, rich red, although the stone can appear in shades
from pink to purple to brown, depending on the chemical content. Rubies
are second only to diamonds in terms of hardness, and this, along with the vibrancy
of their colour, makes them highly prized for jewellery. The finest stones
come from Burma. In myth and magic, at the time of the Borgias (15th - 16th
Centuries), rubies were thought to counteract poison - and were therefore much
in demand! Rubbed on the skin, these gemstones were once thought to
restore youth and vitality - hmmm...this would probably cost as much as some anti-wrinkle
creams! In the Middle Ages, the ruby was viewed as a stone of prophecy -
people believed it would darken when its wearer was in danger. If you want
the effect of rubies in your tiara, I would suggest using garnet, the birthstone
for January, and very beautiful in its own right....
August - Sardonyx - meaning Bliss
The group of quartzes that includes Agate, Chrysoprase, Carnelian, Jasper and
Bloodstone makes up the family of gemstones known as 'chalcedony'. They
are linked by their microcrystalline structure and waxy or dull appearance.
If you would like the look of Sardonyx in your tiara, I would suggest we use lapis
lazuli, another semi-precious stone in a beautiful deep blue colour. In
myth and magic, in Renaissance times, sardonyx was worn by wives to bring about
marital happiness...personally, I find my husband brings ME most marital happiness...
September - Sapphire - meaning Wisdom
Sapphires come in a range of yellows, pinks, and greens, as well as the better-known
blue variety, which gives September-born brides a huge range of colours to choose
from. The deep blue 'heavenly' sapphires were, and still are to some extent,
deemed holy: popes, cardinals, and bishops have worn them since the middle ages.
They are known as the jewel of chastity. In myth and magic, at one
time sapphires were believed to exude heavenly rays that had the power to kill
all poisonous creatures, and the Persians thought the earth rested on a giant
sapphire and that the blue of the heavens was its reflection...its a nice thought.
Incorporating real sapphires into your wedding accessories would probably be prohibitively
expensive but of course you have the full range of choice of vintage beads and
beautiful Swarovski crystal.
October - Opal - meaning Hope
Unlike other gemstones, the opal is non-crystalline and is formed from a hardened
silica gel. It is known for its rainbow iridescence. The name
opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit 'upala', meaning 'precious stone'.
The opals used in ancient times came from the former Czechoslovakia, but today
most are mined in Australia. Opals can be a costly jewel and are delicate
and more suited to jewellery that is only occasionally worn, and given lots
of tender loving care. I can incorporate some absolutely beautiful
opals into jewellery for you but would suggest that faux or imitation opals
would be appropriate for a tiara which will after all only see occasional wear.
In myth and magic, and even today, the opal was thought to be unlucky and people
seem to have a bias against them, but the basis for this is perhaps that if
it is allowed to dry out by being in a hot place for too long, opals can split
and crack. In Asia the stone is viewed favourably, where it is a symbol
of hope..
November - Topaz - meaning Fidelity
The name 'topaz' is thought to come from the Sanskrit 'tapas', meaning 'fire'.
The stone occurs naturally in a range of different colours and is also heat-treated
to produce the more popular hues. Pink topaz, for example, is usually an
irradiated form of the more common yellow, and another beautiful topaz which I
personally think is really beautiful is called 'watermelon' which ranges in hues
from golds to pinks and reds in the same stone, and are sometimes found hand carved
into roses. In myth and magic, in 1255, St. Hildegard offered a simple
remedy for failing eyesight: steep a topaz in wine for three days and then lightly
rub it over the eyes - personally I would suggest you drink the wine, wear the
topaz, and your eyesight probably won't worry you too much at that point...
Worn round the neck, topaz was thought to cure madness...
December - Turquoise - meaning Contentment
First mined over 6,000 years ago, turquoise has a rich and colourful history.
To the Aztecs it was the 'stone of the gods' and was used extensively for religious
artefacts; in medieval Europe it was thought of as a powerful talisman.
Today most commercial turquoise comes from China and the south-western states
of the United States. In myth and magic, turquoise has always been
considered lucky and able to safeguard or bring happiness, and it will be quite
possible to incorporate this stone into your bridal accessories as it goes brilliantly
with either golds or silvers. According to a 15th Century legend,
the stone loses its colour when its owner is unwell or in danger and regains its
brilliance when the illness, or danger, has passed. Turquoise is a colour that
has really to make it in fashion terms onto the bridal catwalk...just think how
you could set this trend...
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Revised 15/07/01