November Birthstone – Yellow Topaz

Topaz Decorations

Happy Birthday, November babies! Celebrate yourself or a loved one with the official birthstone of November: yellow topaz! Here are five facts about this beautiful golden stone to help you celebrate another year of life:

1. It’s Recognized Across Cultures  

Many different cultures have recognized the power of Topaz to bring people strength and protect them from harm. The Greeks thought it increased strength and could make the wearer invisible, while the Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect themselves from injury.

2. It’s Widespread

Most Topaz is mined in the country of Brazil, but Russia and Pakistan are other common places. To date, Topaz has been found in the United States, Germany,  Sri Lanka, Italy and Mexico.

Topaz

3. No One is Sure How it Got Its Name

Because it is found in so many different places and cultures, it is unclear where the name “topaz” originates. Some say it comes from the Sanskrit word “tapas,” which means fire. Others believe the Romans named the stone after an island in the Red Sea called “topazos,” where the stone was once supposedly found.

Topaz Ring

4.  More Than Just Mellow Yellow

Although yellow topaz is the official stone of November, topaz can be found in a variety of different colors. The rarest of these is a dark red color known as “Imperial Topaz.” Blue is another popular color, and represents December birthdays.

Topaz Decorations

5. It’s Durable

Topaz is ideal for daily wear because of its hardness on the mohs scale. It ranks at an 8, making it resistant to potential damages.

Looking for the perfect birthstone gift for your loved one? Stop by our store and explore our vintage jewelry options.

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October Birthstones

Watermelon Tourmaline

Happy birthday, October babies! You have two birthstone options this month – opal and tourmaline. Learn more about the history and legend of each of these stones with a few fun facts:

Interesting Opal Facts

  • Historically, opals were included in crowns and other royal jewelry as the glittering orbs were thought to protect the ruler who wore them.
  • In 2008, opals were found on Mars! This discovery helped support NASA’s theory that life once existed on mars, as opals are created with water.
  • In Australian aboriginal legend, the opal was born when the creator of the earth stepped down at the base of a rainbow, in order to bring peace and balance to the people below.
  • Unlike other precious stones, an opal is judged primarily for its brilliance, color and clarity, rather than its size.
  • In addition to October birthdays, opals are the gemstone associated with wedding anniversaries for the 14th and 18th years of marriage.

Opal Stones

Interesting Tourmaline Facts

Watermelon Tourmaline

For all of your birthday, anniversary, and other gemstone needs, stop by Gold Unlimited. Our selection of vintage jewelry offers all you need for every occasion.

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September Birthstone: The Sapphire

Beautiful sapphire jewelry

Happy birthday, September babies! This month’s birthstone is the sapphire. Although it’s one of the most popular gemstones out there, there’s a lot that might surprise you about the sapphire. Read on and find out!

Blue not your color?

Although renowned for its brilliant blue color, the sapphire can actually come in a variety of hues, including pink, yellow and green. Sapphire gems can be found in almost every color, except red.

Colorful sapphires

Second Place.

Sapphires are the second hardest substance on the Mohs scale, used for scanners and spacecraft.

Spaceship control board.

 Trust me.

In the Middle Ages, the sapphire represented loyalty, and was meant to keep the wearer and the wearer’s loved ones safe from harm.

 

Beautiful sapphire jewelry

 Royal Approved.

A sapphire sits at the center of the most famous royal engagement ring- Princess Diana’s, that Kate Middleton now wears.

 

kate-middleton-enagement-ring
Photo courtesy of katemiddletonstyle.org

 What color is it?

A rare variety of color-shifting sapphire exists. This special gem is blue in natural light, but appears violet under artificial lighting.

For birthdays and all your special occasions, Gold Unlimited has the vintage and estate jewelry that you need.

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Sources:

http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/sapphire.htm

http://www.gia.edu/sapphire#.V9LHYT4rJhE

http://www.wixonjewelers.com/education/gemstones/birthstones/

Learn More About July and August Birthstones

peridot stone august birthstone

Born in July or August? — HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

If you are, or if  your loved one is, celebrating a birthday in July or August, you have the privilege of calling ruby and peridot your birthstone, respectively. As July winds to a close and August moves closer, we at Gold Unlimited wanted to take some time to celebrate these precious stones. Here is a bit more about the history, origin, formation and current uses of ruby and peridot.

July Birthstone – Ruby

Rubies are said to represent everything from love to health and wisdom, passion, courage and emotion.

ruby earrings

Ruby Facts

  • Ruby is regarded as one of the most valuable gemstones. It increases in value based on color and quality.
  • The stone is commonly refered to as the” King of all gems.”
  • Its colors range from red hues with purplish and bluish red to orange-red tones.
  • The most valuable version is a full red colored stone with slight blue hue.
  • Rubies are thought to have healing powers – specifically to energize and balance the heard.
  • Ruby represents passion and love, and is often an engagement ring for couples.
  • Most rubies are under three carats.

 

 

August Birthstone – Peridot

One of the only birthstones that exist in a singular color – lime green – peridot is a beautifully unique stone with ancient records documenting its mining from as early as 1500 B.C.

peridot ring

Peridot Facts

  • Peridot has been said to bring magical powers and healing properties to its owner. It also protects against nightmares when given as a gift.
  • The stone is used as a 16th year anniversary gift.
  • Peridot is the national gem of Egypt.
  • The stone brings happiness and good cheer, attracts lovers and is said to aid in friendships.
  • The deeper the green shade, the less iron in the stone.
  • Peridot forms deep in the ground and comes to surface through from volcanic eruptions.
    • Hawaiian beaches have millions of tiny peridot. These are either too small for use or locked away in a rock that is too hard to mine.

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about July and August’s birthstones, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a birthday piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

http://www.wixonjewelers.com/education/gemstones/birthstones/

http://www.jewelsforme.com/peridot-meaning

http://www.jewelsforme.com/ruby-meaning

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/august-birthstones

https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/july-birthstones

http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/history-peridot.php

Garnets Galore: A Look at January’s Birthstone

garnet gemstone

The New Year is already here and with it brings celebrations in the form of glitter, confetti and garnet – the birthstone of January. Every Capricorn and Aquarius knows that their signature deep red gemstone is one of the most dramatic and eye-catching jewels in history.

Let’s start the New Year off right by diving into what makes these vivid stones so sought after so you can gift one to the January darling in your life.

 

ABOUT

Garnet gemstones are found most often in a warm red shade but can come in a variety of colors including green, yellow and fiery orange. Garnets are not tampered with chemically or otherwise to enhance their color or appearance which makes their rich pigment that much more beautiful.

The world of garnets is also rich in rarities like star garnets and stones whose color changes depending on the lighting. The stones have a good hardness and are generally insensitive and uncomplicated to work with. The high refractive index causes great brilliance in the stones, which are found all over the world.

garnet raw stones

HISTORY

These stones are common in antique jewelry for good reason. They have much history and have been used in jewelry for centuries, including in pieces found from early Egypt, Greek and Roman times. Long thought of as a travellers’ stone, garnet has also been associated with feelings of security, stability, compassion and self-confidence. Garnet is even linked to the root chakra in the traditional Hindu belief systems. It is said that Noah used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night.

 

HOW TO WEAR

Garnets are fabulous when featured in necklaces, pendants, brooches and bracelets. Vintage pieces offer beautifully unique settings in everything from hairpins to sizeable rings. Traditional garnet jewelry from the mines of Central Europe typically feature small, closely set stones that appear similar to pomegranate seeds.

More modern designs such as drilled garnet stacked earrings, square cut garnets or garnets set into smooth, sleek silver have been explored in more recent years. Garnets work well as the central focus in a piece or can be mixed with other gemstones of contrasting color to create an innovative look.

garnet diamond necklace

 

Now that you’ve learned a bit about January’s birthstone, garnet, be sure to visit Gold Unlimited to select a piece that’s right for you or your loved one. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Don’t worry. We will work with you to custom design a signature piece that’s just right.

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Sources

http://www.gemstone.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106:sapphire&catid=1:gem-by-gem&Itemid=14

http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/garnet/garnet-info.php