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Gemstone Buyer's Guide

At Ernest Jones we sell a wide variety of jewellery adorned with beautiful gemstones. Gemstone jewellery makes a perfect gift for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, christenings or even milestone wedding anniversaries. Whether you believe in the spiritual aspects of gemstones or not, buying gemstone jewellery to reflect the recipient's individual qualities is a personal and thoughtful gift to give.

Every month has its own gemstone which is said to be lucky for the people born in that month. There are many variations around the world, but in the following gemstone guide, you will find the ones most commonly used in the UK.

Birthstones by Month

Month Birthstone
January Garnet
February Amethyst
March Aquamarine
April Diamond
May Emerald
June Alexandrite
July Ruby
August Peridot
September Sapphire
October Opal
November Citrine
December Tanzanite

What Is A Gemstone?

A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral that has been fashioned for personal adornment. For centuries gemstones have been a representation of wealth and power which can still be seen today with fashion-led trends. They are considered valuable because of their rarity, strength, beauty and durability.

In 1822, a German mineralogist called Friedrich Mohs created the scale to measure the relative hardness or scratch resistance of various minerals. Gemstones are rated in accordance to the Mohs' scale for their hardness. Diamonds are the hardest of gemstones at ten on the Mohs scale while pearls are one of the softest at just three on the Mohs scale.

Alexandrite ring

Alexandrite

Named after Russian Tsar Alexander II on his birthday, alexandrite is an incredibly rare gemstone. Seen in daylight alexandrite will exhibit an emerald green tone and under created light a ruby red colour. This two tone gemstone is ideal for use in jewellery and its durability makes it suitable for everyday wear. Mainly found in Russia the stones are brilliant cut which showcases its shine, beauty and colour play to give you more choice when putting an outfit together.

Birthstone: June
Moh hardness: 8.5 (1 softest to 10 hardest)

Alexandrite Care

Alexandrite is a tough and durable gemstone which is resistance to the effects of light and heat in normal wearing conditions. However it will need some care to keep it looking its best. It should be stored in a soft pouch or jewellery box to prevent scratching to other jewellery. Soap and liquid cleaners should be avoided as these may cause the dulling of the stone. Harsh detergents or chemicals such as bleach or chlorine could cause erosion. To clean alexandrite rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft jewellery cloth.

Amethyst Ring

Amethyst

Found in countries such as Brazil, Russia, Madagascar and Canada, amethyst has distinctive inclusions which resemble tiger-stripes, organic prints, or feathers. In a range of shades from purple, lilac and mauve, this beauty belonging to the quartz family will add elegance to all forms of jewellery. Amethyst is versatile due to the variety in colour, size and price point. Amethyst is believed to cure drunkenness and symbolise sobriety.

Birthstone: February
Moh hardness: 7 (1 softest to 10 hardest)

View our full amethyst jewellery range

Amethyst Care

Amethyst is a durable gemstone however it will need care and attention to keep it looking its best, it should be stored in a soft pouch or jewellery box to prevent scratching. Soap and liquid cleaners should be avoided as these may cause the dulling of the stone. Harsh detergents or chemicals such as bleach or chlorine could cause erosion. To clean amethyst rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft jewellery cloth.

Aquamarine stone

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a dichroic gemstone which means it appears blue or colourless depending on what angle it is at viewed when rotated. The best gemstone quality can be seen in hexagonal crystals, which are typically found in Brazil and locally called 'cascalho'. All aquamarine has been heat treated to enhance its sky or dark blue colours. The word aquamarine means sea water and is believed to represent those who are understanding and happy.

Birthstone: March
Moh hardness: 7.5 (1 softest to 10 hardest)

View our full aquamarine jewellery range

Aquamarine Care

Aquamarine is a durable gemstone however it will need special care to keep it looking as good as the day you bought it. Aquamarine should be stored in a soft pouch or jewellery box to prevent scratching. Soap and liquid cleaners should be avoided as these may cause the stone to become dull. Harsh detergents or chemicals such as bleach or chlorine could cause erosion of the stone. To clean aquamarine rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft jewellery cloth.

Citrine ring

Citrine

Taking its name from the French word 'citron' for yellow, this radiant gemstone comes in transparent and opaque shades of yellow. The presence of iron in the quartz gives it the vibrant colour. Citrine can be found in Spain, Madagascar and Brazil but most market citrine has been heat treated. It is a hard wearing gem that is suitable for everyday wear and great to complement yellow gold jewellery. Citrine is a gemstone of joy with vibrant energy and is believed to bring fortune and good luck.

Birthstone: November
Moh hardness: 7 (1 softest to 10 hardest)

Citrine Care

Citrine is a durable gemstone however it will need special care to keep it looking as good as the day it was bought. Citrine should be stored in a soft pouch or jewellery box to prevent scratching. Soap and liquid cleaners should be avoided as these may cause the stone to become dull. Harsh detergents or chemicals such as bleach or chlorine could cause erosion of the stone. To clean citrine rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a soft jewellery cloth. Citrine is sensitive to light and heat so should not be worn in situations such as sunbathing. Citrine should be stored out of direct sunlight.

Diamond

Say jewellery and most people think of beautiful sparkling diamonds. Their desirability and beauty is unquestionable. Diamonds are the hardest mineral on earth and are mined in countries such as Ghana, Zaire, Brazil, Australia and USA. Nearly all diamonds have varying hints of yellow caused by the presence of nitrogen during their formation. There are also incredibly rare diamonds, which vary in colour from yellow and brown to pink and blue which are known as fancies. A diamond's quality is graded by the four C's.

Birthstone: April
Moh hardness: 10 (1 softest to 10 hardest)

Carat

Carat is the weight of the diamond and should not be mistaken for the size of the stone or gold carats.


Clarity

Clarity describes how free the diamond is from inclusions, the type, positions and amount of inclusions. Inclusions are the naturally occurring flaws found in a diamond.


Colour

Colour is graded using the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) colour guide on how close a diamond is to being colourless.


Cut

Shape and quality are the two aspects that are considered when discussing the cut of a diamond. The most popular cut is the round brilliant cut.


Diamonds are believed to represent eternity, courage and health. For most customers, buying a diamond or piece of diamond jewellery is a very special and emotional purchase, especially when buying diamond engagement rings. For more information on diamonds, visit our diamond buyer's guide.

VIEW OUR FULL DIAMOND JEWELLERY RANGE

Diamond Care

To avoid dulling your diamond's optimum fire and natural brilliance, it is best to remove any jewellery when using skin oils, soaps and cosmetics. The best way to keep your diamond jewellery looking pristine is to occasionally polish it gently with a soft, dry jewellery cloth. Although diamonds are very durable, we recommend removing your diamond jewellery when carrying out strenuous work or activities to avoid it being chipped by a hard knock. To avoid tiny scratches, it is advisable to store your diamond jewellery in separate pouches from other diamonds and jewellery. It is also important to ensure that your diamond does not come into contact with chlorine bleach as this can damage the setting. Visit your local  Ernest Jones store annually to have your diamond jewellery checked for weakened or bent claws.