After much research consulting reliable sources, the best answer we can give is that both citrine and topaz are considered to be November birthstones.  Read on to find out why…

The First Calendar Birthstone Guide

The tradition of assigning a particular gemstone to a birth month in the Gregorian calendar began in 1870, when Tiffany & Co released the poem by ‘unknown author’ in a promotional pamphlet.  In the poem, the verse for November reads:

Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

According to the poem, it would seem that the official November birthstone is actually the yellow topaz instead of citrine. However, accepting this poem as the ‘real’ guide to birthstones is complicated by two issues: first, yellow topaz and citrine are nearly impossible to tell apart with the naked eye, which means that during the 1800s people likely would confuse the two. Secondly, to this day it is not substantiated whether the poem was indeed an old Gregorian calendar poem or simply a marketing scheme by Tiffany’s to promote the purchase of gemstones. If the poem is just invented by a jewelry company, why would that be the official word on the correct birthstone?

The Jewelers of America Birthstone Guide

To complicate matters further, when the Jewelers of America created an official list of birthstones in 1912, they chose both the citrine and yellow topaz as the November birthstone. Today this list is widely used by jewelers in the United States, Australia and Thailand as the official guide to birthstones, however the Ayurvedic birthstone list only includes topaz as the November birthstone.

So, there you have it – depending on the source you choose to believe, the November birthstone is either just topaz, or is both topaz and citrine. We love both yellow topaz and citrine gemstones for their beautiful, warm glow that compliments every skin tone, so we’re siding with the Jewelers of America official birthstone guide on this one.  What do you think should be considered the ‘real’ November birthstone? Citrine, topaz or both?

Citrine History and Facts

Citrine is a quartz stone that is similar in chemical composition to amethyst. Natural citrine is found in Brazil, Russia, France and Madagascar. However, many citrine gemstones used by jewelers are actually amethysts that have been heat-treated to create the coveted yellow hue. The most noticeable difference between natural citrine and heat treated citrine is the reddish hue that tends to accompany heat treated citrine gemstones.

Since the November birthstone is found in France, its name comes from the French word ‘citron’, meaning lemon. The Romans were likely the first civilization to use citrine as a gemstone, and wore it in cabochon form as jewelry.  Citrine experienced a popular resurgence during both the Romantic Period in the late 18th century, when artists favored the gemstone’s warm, sunny color, as well as during the Art Deco period.

Citrine Symbolism and Mysticism

Citrine has been a popular healing remedy throughout history. The astrological gem for Virgos, the vibrant yellow stone was said to purify and detox the body, lessen depression, alleviate kidney problems, and help heal the heart. Though few people today believe in its power of healing, citrine remains a symbol for hope, strength, creativity and joy. With its bright, sunny color, it’s no wonder that people believe citrine to be symbolic of joy. Light yellow is also often used in color therapy to help the mind feel clear, calm and creative, making citrine a great choice of gemstone when you want mental clarity.

Apples of Gold carries a gorgeous collection of citrine rings, like the 2.75 carat stunner at top or the lovely enchanted vintage ring at right. They make the perfect gift for a November birthday, although the appeal of citrine is certainly universal. From the ancient Romans to today’s fashion world, citrine has claimed a place in the hearts of jewelry lovers across time and space.

Pink Sapphire – Alternative October Birthstone

Unlike delicate opal, sapphire are a very hardy gemstone that can withstand daily wear and still look beautiful. Pink sapphires have the same mineral composition as regular blue sapphires, which come from the mineral corundum. Interestingly, rubies are also composed of the mineral corundum but are known as an entirely different gemstone than pink and blue sapphires. Sapphires turn pink due to an increased presence in chromium, and are also usually more affordable than sapphires.

Pink sapphires are a stone of passion that are said to bring joy and playfulness into a loving relationship. They are also said to provide strength through difficult situations, and are known as the gemstone associated with forgiveness and release. So not only do they make a beautiful alternative October birthstone, they would also be the perfect gift to give in apology to a loved one.

Finding the Perfect Pink Sapphire Jewelry

Apples of Gold carries a stunning selection of pink sapphire jewelry that would make a gorgeous birthday gift for October birthdays. The best part about giving the gift of pink sapphire jewelry is that your beloved can wear it constantly without having to worry about damaging it, like they would with an opal. What could be better?

Composition of Morganite

Sometimes mistaken for amethyst or rose quartz, Morganite is actually composed of the mineral beryl. The full name for beryl is beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate, and it is a mineral formed in hexagonal crystals. Interestingly, beryl is clear in color but turns different colors when it comes into contact with impurities. Along with Morganite, beryl is also the mineral that composes aquamarine and emerald. Beryl turns pink (becomes Morganite) thanks to the positive presence of Manganese ions.

First discovered in California in the early 1900s, Morganite was originally known as simply ‘pink beryl.’  In 1911 a gemologist suggested naming the stone after financier J.P. Morgan, and pink beryl was known as Morganite thereafter.

Morganite As a Gemstone

Morganite is pink in nature, but is usually treated with irradiation to improve its color and bring out the pinkish lavender hues. In nature, Morganite is sometimes streaked with lines of yellow or orange, and irradiation eliminates these other colors to create a beautiful gemstone that is all one flawless color.  With a Mohs scale hardness between 7.5 and 8, Morganite is a fairly hardy stone that lasts a long time.

One characteristic of the gemstone that makes it harder to work with is that Morganite is sensitive to high heats and temperature. Because of this, soldering jewelry set with a morganite gemstone can cause it to shift color. For this reason, Morganite jewelry should never be placed in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Simply use a solution of warm soapy water to soak the Morganite in, and rinse off with cold water and polish with a soft cloth to clean your Morganite jewelry.

Apples of Gold carries a lovely vintage style Morganite ring that is a must-see for lovers of this gorgeous gemstone.

Though the Celts were not initially Christian, once Christianity was formed the churches began appropriating the use of the beautiful Celtic knots into their carvings and books. The spread of Christianity helped perpetuate the popularity of Celtic jewelry, and the symbols and knots were soon associated with the Christian faith as well as the Celtic people.  Many of the Celtic knots symbolize faith, virtue and the belief in God, which is why they are used so often in wedding bands. Celtic wedding bands are a captivating and unique choice for a wedding ring, and come in such a wide variety of Celtic designs that it is hard to choose just one.

Apples of Gold carries an impressive selection of the finest handpicked Celtic wedding bands for our customers to choose from. We have also recently added three new designs that we think Celtic knot lovers will truly appreciate:

Antiqued Celtic Triquetra Knot Wedding Band

This stunning Celtic wedding band (pictured at top left) features a unique variation on the popular Celtic trinity knot design. Crafted from 14K solid white gold, the Celtic knots on the wedding band blaze boldly against the dark antiqued background. With a convenient comfort fit design, this ring is sure to be an instant hit with those who appreciate Celtic artistry.

Antiqued Celtic Knot Wedding Band

This Celtic knot wedding band (at upper right) is an eye catching continuous design that symbolizes the perpetuity of married love as well as God’s unending love. As with the triquetra knot wedding band, this continuous design is set against a bold background that accents the Celtic design.

Antiqued Celtic Annan Wedding Band

The Celtic meaning for the word “Annan” is  “from the stream.”  The wedding band’s (at left) continous Celtic design is a subtle blend between the infinity symbol and the Ichthys, and early secret symbol for Christianity. 

Sapphire History and Myth

The word sapphire originated from the Green word “sappheiros”, meaning blue.  Because of this, during much of the ancient world all blue gemstones were referred to as sapphires, even if they were technically different gems.  The irony is that, as mentioned above,  sapphires come in colors other than blue. Sapphires are actually the same mineral as rubies; whenever the stone appears in a red color it is known as a ruby and when corundum is any other color it is a sapphire. Blue sapphires have been long been favored by royalty as a symbol of wisdom, virtue and holiness, and many rulers have worn sapphire necklaces or pendants as a protection from harm. Supposedly the Ten Commandment tablets were actually made of sapphire, likely due to the sapphire’s role throughout history as a symbol of virtue and holiness.

Ancient Persians poetically believed that the earth rested on a large sapphire, and that the skies reflected the brilliant blue color of the gemstone. The sentiment that sapphires were symbolic of the heavens runs through many cultures in history, and even today many people feel that sapphires are a representation of heaven.

When Prince Charles proposed to Princess Diana he used a ring with sapphires, boosting the gemstone’s popularity in engagement rings.  Even today many engagement rings utilize sapphires, whether sapphires are flanking a diamond center stone, the center stone is a blue sapphire or the center stone is a clear sapphire used to mimic the appearance of a diamond.

Sapphire Mystical Properties

Perhaps due to their frequent use in engagement rings, sapphires are said to encourage respect, shared mutual trust and a loving relationship.  The September birthstone also retains its divine roots, and is worn to protect against evil, bring about good, aid in meditation and to increase clairvoyance.

Apples of Gold carries a number of stunning Sapphire jewelry pieces that will impress the September birthday girl in your life, from earrings and sapphire pendants to a myriad of sapphire rings.

How Pearls Are Made: Nucleation

Though pearls used to be made naturally by the oyster itself, overfarming in history left few natural pearls. Today, almost every single pearl available is created through pearl culturing.  Pearls are cultured in many different parts of the world, from Japan and China to the South Sea to rivers in the United States.  In order to prompt a pearl to grow naturally inside an oyster or mussel, a tiny irritant, usually a small piece of oyster shell or a bead, must be inserted with a piece of oyster mantle tissue.

This step, known as pearl nucleation, begins the pearl formation process.  It is the only human interference required to create a pearl, although careful watch over the growing pearls is usually done as well.  Pearl bearing oysters are very picky about their environment and food source, so pearl farms take great care in keeping the water temperature and nutrients at the optimal level for the oysters to thrive. 

How Pearls Are Made: Pearl Formation

Once the pearl has been nucleated, the oyster takes over the process by secreting a nacre that coats the irritant placed inside of it. The nacre forms the lustrous, smooth surface that pearls are admired for, and the thicker the nacre the more valuable and higher quality the pearl.  Depending on the type of pearl, full formation of the nacre can take three or more years. South Sea pearls take the longest to form the complete nacre, form the thickest nacre, and can only support one pearl at a time, which is why they are the rarest and most prized.  Freshwater pearls are formed by mussels that can support the growth of multiple pearls simultaneously, which is why the price of freshwater pearls is much lower.

How Pearls Are Made: From Oyster to Pearl Necklace

To create a beautiful pearl necklace, pearls must be sorted into similar shape and size groups. They are then carefully drilled and strung onto high quality silk thread with knots to keep the jewelry in place. Since silk thread can stretch when washed, it is important to always dry pearls flat if they come in contact with water.

To shop for beautiful South Sea, Akoya and Freshwater pearl necklaces, visit the pearl jewelry section of Apples of Gold. We only carry high quality pearls, and have a wide selection of price ranges so anyone can afford the beauty of the pearl.

History of Peridot

Throughout history, peridot has been prized by royalty in many civilizations. The use of the shimmering light green gemstone was used in jewelry as far back as the ancient Egyptians. At the time, peridot came from a small volcanic island in the Red Sea.  Though peridot has been discovered and mined in numerous locations throughout the world since then, modern Egyptians maintained a fondness for the gem and made peridot the national gem of Egypt.

After the Egyptians discovered the beautiful peridot gemstone, its admirers spread across the continent through trade and war bounty. The ancient Romans also loved peridot, along with the European crusaders who brought it back from their battles to use in decorating churches.  The gem even has references in the bible under its Hebrew name, pitdah.  Peridot was also a very popular jewelry gemstone in the baroque period, although it fell into obscurity for a while since many popular mines were dry by the twentieth century.

In the 1990s, however, a large Pakistan deposit of peridot was found and the captivating green peridot made its way back into the jewelry scene. The Pakistan peridot deposits contained very high quality stones, and are now considered one of the best sources of quality peridot.

Mystical Properties of Peridot

Since peridot has been mined for nearly 4,000 years, much lore and myth has attached itself to the gem.  Pirates in particular favored peridot since they thought that the gem, when set in gold, protected the wearer against evil, terrors and nightmares.  Peridot has been linked to many healing properties as well, and was used in creating healing cups for medicine.

Today peridot has many mystical connotations including friendship, fame, dignity and protection.  It is also said that wearing peridot can help turn a person’s dreams into reality, which, if true, can make a great case for why everyone should have a beautiful piece of peridot jewelry in their life.

Rubies, in ancient times, were known as the gem of kings. Throughout much of history the ruby was much more highly valued than diamonds thanks to their beautiful color. The rich red hue served as a symbol for power, courage and wealth, which explains it popularity among the royalty and aristocracy. The word ruby comes from the Latin word “ruber”, which means red. Though rubies are found throughout the world, the most brilliant and valued specimens of the gemstone hail from Myanmar, Thailand, Tanzania, India and Sri Lanka. 

In more modern times, rubies retained their popularity thanks to their connotations with love, passion, vitality and desire. The deep red color of the gemstone made it a popular declaration of love during the Victorian era, and the ruby’s popularity as a precious stone has not waned since.  In Victorian times rubies were used as the center stone in engagement rings, as they were considered a profession of true love.  The ruby is today known as the July birthstone, as well as the gemstone associated with 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

Interestingly, rubies come from the same mineral as sapphires. The mineral corundum is responsible for creating both of the pretty precious gems, which is why both are such hardy, durable stones. Rubies are extremely strong and will last a lifetime, second only to diamonds with a hardness of 9 on the Mohr scale.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect July birthstone, want a 15th or 40th anniversary gift, or simply love the passionate, fiery symbolism of the ruby, Apples of Gold has a lovely selection of ravishing ruby jewelry to choose from.

Though no one knows when oysters first began forming pearls, the first known use of the pearl in jewelry was around 500 B.C.;  remnants of a pearl earring were found inside the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, now on display at the Louvre.  Civilizations have been built on the wealth from pearls, Cleopatra drank a pearl to prove her love, and St. Augustine  even declared that the pearl be reserved as the gemological symbol of Jesus Christ.   During the Roman civilization, only the royalty and aristocracy were allowed to wear pearls, adding to their prestige and desirability.

Even the Bible mentions the pearl nearly ten times, the most famous reference being in regards to the Pearl Gates of Heaven:

“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”  Revelations 21:21

The other famous biblical pearl reference appears in Matthew 7:6 , where the pearl is a symbol for religion:

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Throughout the centuries the pearl has served as  a symbol of purity, religion, perfection,  virtue, wealth and innocence.  It was also revered as the most precious gem until the diamond was discovered in the 1700s, and is still the only gem created by a living creature.  Though today most pearls are cultivated by placing an irritant inside the oyster (thus stimulating the formation of a pearl), they are still incredibly precious and sought-after for their beauty and uniqueness. No two pearls are alike, which is why they make such special jewelry pieces.

Apples of Gold is excited to introduce a wealth of gorgeous new pearl jewelry to our collection. From stunning Tahitian pearl rings and earrings to breathtaking diamond and pearl necklaces and bracelets, our pearl jewelry makes a lovely gift for June birthdays… and just about any other occasion as well.