Shop for Birthstone Jewelry

Most of the garnet jewelry we see is set with deep red garnets, but the gemstone exists in other colors. You'll find a huge assortment of garnet jewelry here, and most of it won't break your budget, even if you fall in love with some of the coordinating sets.

Amethyst is a form of quartz, and its color varies from pale lilac to dark purple. It's the February birthstone, but amethyst jewelry is a universal favorite worn by people born throughout the year. It looks stunning set in either white or yellow metals. I like to see amethyst used all by itself in jewelry, but you'll often find it combined with diamonds and other gemstones.

Aquamarine exists in all shades of blue, but clear blue aquamarine is more valuable than versions with traces of other colors in them. White metal settings, like white gold and sterling silver, make aquamarines positively sparkle.

What can I say? April birthstones are more expensive than the gemstones set aside for birthdates in other months. But that doesn't mean you can't find affordable diamond jewelry, because the diamonds don't have to be large to be beautiful. A series of small diamonds, set side by side, costs less than jewelry set with one large stone that covers the same area. And a pendant that's pretty all by itself can be even prettier with a single diamond set in a strategic part of the design. Take a look, you'll find something in this collection to suit just about any budget.

Fine quality, natural emeralds can be more expensive than diamonds, so thank goodness there are all sorts of emeralds available -- like emeralds that have been treated to enhance their appearance. Treated emeralds are absolutely fine to purchase, but the treatments should always be disclosed and the jeweler should explain how to care for your emerald to keep it looking like new.

Pearls are so popular that I've included lots of pearl shopping links on About.com Jewelry. Remember than nearly all pearls on today's market are cultured pearls -- which means their growth was instigated by humans, not nature. And that's a good thing, because it means pearls are affordable. There are so many different colors and types of pearls that it's easy to build a collection of pearl jewelry.

Rubies are believed to make the wearer wise, to bring love, and to help protect against all sorts of misfortunes. A ruby is a durable gemstone, a member of the corundum family. Most colors of corundum are sapphires, the term "ruby" is reserved for the reds.

Peridot is a lime green stone that is sometimes tinged with olive or brownish shades. It's one of the oldest known gemstones and has traditionally represented the sun. I like peridot that's set into jewelry all by itself, but it looks wonderful when it's combined with pearls, turquoise and other gemstones.

The most popular color of sapphire is cornflower blue, but the gemstone is available in all colors except red -- red pieces of the same mineral, corundum, are always called rubies. Sapphires are associated with peace and happiness, and ancient priests believed that sapphires helped them predict the future. Most of the sapphires in this collection are either blue or pink, but you'll find a few other colors of sapphire jewelry.

Opals are soft gemstones embedded with impurities that produce flashes of color. They have traditionally been a symbol of innocence and purity. Opals are a gemstone that's often manipulated in ways to make it look like a larger stone than it really is, and sometimes special names are tagged on to stones that look like opals, but aren't. Read the fine print carefully before you buy an opal, and take a look at my opal buying advice before you make your final decision.

Most topaz is yellow, but it does exist in other colors, including red, golden-brown, green, blue, and pink. The reds and pinks are sometimes actually yellow topaz that has been treated to change its color. Topaz is thought to calm tempers and give its wearer strength. In the past, topaz was ground into powder, which was taken internally because it was believed to treat asthma and insomnia. You'll find many types of topaz jewelry in this large selection.

Citrine, a form of quartz, is an often used and affordable choice for November birthstone jewelry. These citrine earrings are an example of how beautiful the stone can be (Buy Direct).

Turquoise is one of my favorites. The gemstone coveys "earth" to me, with its blue or green coloring and webbed matrix. It's another gemstone that can be manipulated in many ways before being used in jewelry. A good portion of the turquoise that's sold has been treated in some way to make it more stable, but some jewelry is even made from turquoise that's been ground to a powder and then formed into the desired shapes. Read descriptions carefully before you buy turquoise jewelry.

Turquoise Facts & Care

Orville Jack Turquoise