January - Garnet

Garnet, the birthstone for January,  signifies eternal friendship and trust.  Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, it resembles a pomegranate seed.  The gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used garnet..  Garnet is the name of a group of minerals, coming  rainbow of colors, from the deep red to the vibrant green of tsavorites.  Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.

February - Amethyst

Amethyst, the gemstone believed by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off the intoxicating powers of Dionysus or Bacchus the God of wine and fertility,, hence it is said to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.  Throughout history, the gemstone has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous cultures.  English regalia were even decorated with amethysts during the Middle Ages to symbolize royalty. Amethyst is purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth. Historically, the finest amethyst were found in Russia and were featured in much royal European jewelry.  Today, while Brazil is the primary source of this gemstone, fine material can also be found elsewhere.   Jewels & Estate Gallery by G Darrell Olson also has access to Four Peaks Amethyst, mined right here in the Valley of the Sun.
Touted Healing Powers:  Aids in reduction of insomnia, pain relief, arthritis and circulatory problems.  Gemstone of meditation, balance & peace, and courage.

March - Aquamarine

The birthstone for March is aquamarine.
The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea.  Aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded.  Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes.  Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the color usually is more intense in larger stones.  This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but also is found in Africa and the Middle East.
 Touted Healing Powers:  Aids liver, upper digestive tract (jaw, teeth, throat and stomach) along with eyes and ears.

April - Diamond

As the April birthstone, diamonds are the ideal gift for a loved one.  Diamonds in hues of yellow, red, pink, blue, and green range in intensity from faint to vivid and generally the more saturated the color, the higher the value. In fact, diamonds sparkling with intense color are rare and may be priced higher than a colorless diamond of equal size.  Because fancy-color diamonds are very desirable, color is sometimes introduced in a laboratory. These are correctly called color-treated diamonds. When purchasing a fancy-color diamond, the shopper should ask if any ((Link to GDO Diamond Page))

May - Emerald

May’s Birthstone is the Emerald, a symbol of rebirth.  It is believed to grant the wearer foresight, good fortune, and youth. Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, and was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world’s emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Zambia. The availability of high-quality emerald is limited; consequently, treatments to improve clarity are performed regularly.

June - Alexandrite

The birthstone for June is Alexandrite.  A relatively modern gem, Alexandrite, was first discovered in Russia in 1831 during the reign of  Czar Alexander II.   Its color is a lovely green in both daylight and fluorescent light; it changes color to a purplish red in incandescent light.  It is a very rare stone, and is often offered in a synthetic version.  

July - Ruby

Rubies arouse the senses, stir the imagination, and are said to guarantee health, wisdom, wealth and success in love. Ruby is a variety of the gems species corundum. It is harder than any natural gemstone except diamond, which means a ruby is durable enough for everyday wear. Fine-quality rubies are extremely rare, and the color of the gem is most important to its value. The most prized color is a medium or medium dark vivid red or slightly purplish red. If the gem is too light or has too much purple or orange, it will be called a fancy-color sapphire.
Touted Healing Powers:  Emotional well being.  Said to increase integrity, devotion and overall happiness. 

August - Peridot

The birthstone for August is Peridot.  Peridot is said to host magical powers and healing properties to protect against nightmares and to bring the wearer power, influence, and good fortune.  Peridot is a gemstone that forms deep inside the Earth and brought to the surface by volcanoes.  In Hawaii, Peridot symbolizes the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes.  Today, most of the peridot supply comes from Arizona; other sources are China, Myanmar, and Pakistan.  This gemstone comes in several color variations ranging from yellowish green to brown, but most consumers are attracted to the bright lime greens and olive greens. 
Touted Healing Powers:  The relationship stone.  Said to aid in the lessening of jealousy and anger.  Also said to promote prosperity and slow aging.

September - Sapphire

The Birthstone for September is Sapphire Sapphire, According to folklore, this gemstone will protect your loved ones from envy and harm.  Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven, while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly blessings.  Blue sapphires range from very light to very dark greenish or violet blue, as well as various shades of pure blue.  The most prized colors are a medium to medium dark blue or slightly violet blue.  Sapphire is a variety of the gem species corundum and occurs in all colors of the  rainbow.  Pink, purple, green, orange, or yellow corundum are known by their color (pink sapphire, green sapphire).  Ruby is the red variety of corundum.
Touted Healing Powers:  Increases Inner Peace and creativity and alleviates pain.

October - Opal

The birthstone for October is Opal.  The name opal derives from the Greek Opallos, meaning "to see a change (of color)."  Opals range in color from milky white to black with flashes of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue. An opal's beauty is the product of contrast between its color play and its background.  Opal is a formation of non-crystalline silica gel that seeped into crevices in the sedimentary strata. Through time and nature's heating and molding processes, the gel hardened into the form of opals. The opal is composed of particles closely packed in spherical arrangements. When packed together in a regular pattern, a three-dimensional array of spaces are created that give opal its radiance.  It is a very soft stone, but offers a wide array of colors and reflections.

November - Topaz and Citrine

Two gems are appropriate for November birthdays - Topaz and Citrine.
Topaz is a gemstone available in a rich rainbow of colors. Prized for several thousand years in antiquity, all yellow gems in antiquity were called topaz. Often confused with citrine quartz (yellow) and smoky quartz (brown), quartz and topaz are separate and unrelated mineral species. The most prized color of topaz is called Imperial topaz after the Russian Czars of the 1800s and features a magnificent orange body color with pinkish undertones. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones.  Brazil is the prime source for precious Topaz.
Touted Healing Powers:  A powerful gemstone said to balance the emotions.

Citrine, the other birthstone for November is known as the "healing quartz". This golden gemstone is said to support vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer. Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange. It is one of the most affordable of gemstones and plentiful in nature. Citrine is found most frequently in Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain.
Touted Healing Powers:  Increased hearing.  Promotes success, prosperity and clear thinking.

December - Tanzanite and Turquoise

The birthstone for December is Tanzanite.  Tanzanite, discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, and found exclusively in this tiny area of the world, tanzanite exhibits a rich violet-blue color for which the gemstone is treasured; often it is heat-treated to achieve this color.  Colors range from blue to purple, and tanzanites that are medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation, and slightly violet blue command premium prices.  As tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire, it often was purchased as an alternative.  However, it has increased in popularity and now is valued more for its own beauty and brilliance than as a sapphire substitute.

The other birthstone for December is Turquoise. 
Turquoise, the robin's egg blue gemstone worn by Pharaohs and Aztec Kings, is probably one of the oldest gemstones known. Only its prized blue color, a color so distinctive that its name is used to describe any color that resembles it, results in its being used as a gemstone.  Here in the Southwest, Turquoise has been  used in Native American and Western Jeweler such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and bolo ties.

The southwestern United States has been a major source of turquoise, especially the states of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Today a the Middle East, especially Iran are known for their Turquoise.
Touted Healing Powers:  Is steep in lore.  Known as a healing and balancing stone.