Group 66 Designs Blog

December birthday folks have three gorgeous birthstones to choose from, all in various shades of blue: Turquoise, Zircon, and Tanzanite.

1. Turquoise is found all over the world, and has been prized by cultures from Ancient Egypt, China and the Americas.
2. Tanzanite is also the traditional gift for the 24th wedding anniversary.
3. Tanzanite was discovered in the late 60s in Tanzania, although it was originally identified as zoisite.
4. Zircons are often found near sapphires, and are today most are from Sri Lanka or Australia.
5. Turquoise has long been a favorite of royalty. I can be found in King Tut’s famous mask and in several modern tiaras owned by European royalty.
6. With a hardness between 6 and 7, tanzanites are best worn as earrings or in a pendant. Tanzanite rings are better for special occasions rather than daily wear.
   
7. While blue is most commonly used for December birthstone jewelry, zircons come in a variety of shades and you can pick whichever you want. How lucky!
8. The Apache and several other tribes believed that you could better your aim by attaching a turquoise to your bow or gun.
9. People in the Middle Ages would wear a zircon to encourage a good night’s sleep and to ward off evil spirits that might come in the night.
10. What do these stones all have in common? They can be damaged in a steam or ultrasonic cleaner. Soft scrubbing with warm water and gentle soap is best.

November has two golden birthstones that are perfect for fall: Citrine and Topaz. Here’s some fun facts to share with your November birthday friends.

1. Topaz comes in a variety of colors, including golden “Imperial” topaz, Swiss blue, pink, and white.
2. Because of their golden color, both citrine and yellow topaz are associated with attracting wealth and success in business.
3. Citrines sometimes grow with amethysts, and combination purple/yellow gems called Ametrine can be found!
4. The name Topaz is either from the Sanskrit word for fire, tapas, or the Greek topazos.
5. Citrines were thought to be a gift from the sun, and were believed to have the power to calm those who wore it.
6. Topaz has a hardness of 8, but is prone to cracking. Do not steam clean them or put them in an ultrasonic. Gentle soap and warm water with a soft brush should be enough.
7. ‘’Citrine” comes from the French for “lemon,” citron.
8. Imperial topaz was a favorite of the Russian Imperial family. They reserved the best ones, mined in the Ural Mountains, for their exclusive, personal use.
9. Today the best source for citrine is the Anahi Mine in Bolivia. It was discovered in the 1600s and lost for 300 years before being rediscovered in the 1960s.
10. “Mystic Topaz” are synthetically colored white topaz gems that have been covered with a thin film of minerals.

People born in October have two beautiful birthstones to choose from: Opal and Pink Tourmaline. How lucky! Here’s 10 things you didn't know about these beautiful gemstones.

1. Tourmalines come in a wide range of colors, including jet black. Their name comes from the Sinhalese word toramalli, which means “stone of mixed colors.”
2. Tourmalines can carry an electric charge, and are commonly used to create the spark used to light a gas stove.
   
3. Because tourmalines come in so many different colors, they’re often mistaken for other stones. Some famous gems, including the “Caesar’s Ruby” pendant in the Russian crown jewels, are actually tourmalines!
4. While they’re normally mined in Brazil, tourmalines can be found other places including Maine and California here in the US.
5. Watermelon tourmalines are crystals that have grown with a pink inner layer and a green outer layer. When cut into slices, they look like the fruit!
6. In medieval times, opal pendants were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect your eyesight.
7. The name "opal" comes from the Greek word opallios, which means "to change in color."
8. Opals are also the traditional 14th wedding anniversary gift.
9. Opals had a stint of bad press in the 1800s when they were believed to be unlucky. That’s because a character in a popular novel of the time possessed a magic opal, and (spoiler alert) she died. But Queen Victoria loved opals, and did much to popularize them again.
   
10. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds (among others) can scratch opals. To keep your opal jewelry safe, store it by itself, away from other jewelry items that could damage the stone.