|
|
| BIRTHSTONES
You could plan your whole look around your birthstone - yours will depend on what month you were born in, and like flowers, each has its own meaning...
January - Garnet, meaning ConstancyThe name Garnet comes from the Latin for pomegranate, which has bright red, garnet like seeds. Garnet is one of the most requested semi precious stones I work with because you can't beat its beautiful rich claret colour and can complement rich ruby roses in your bridal flowers. In myth and magic, garnets were thought to cure depression, protect against bad dreams, and relieve diseases of the liver and haemorrhages.
February - Amethyst, meaning SincerityOccurring in shades of purple, lilac and mauve, this is the most valuable of the quartz group and is currently very popular indeed when offset either with silver or gold colours; it ranges in colours from palest lilacs to deep purples, and because of this it matches in with the colour themes of many brides. In myth and magic, amethysts were thought to induce a wise and sober mind, the name is derived from the Greek word 'amethystos', which means 'against drunkenness'. In traditional Chinese medicine, ground amethyst is prescribed for stomach pains and bad dreams - both of which are caused, incidentally, by too much drunkenness!
March - Aquamarine, meaning CourageThe seawater colour of aquamarine has given this gemstone its name. In the 19th century, sea green varieties were the most popular - but blues are more valued today. There are deposits in most continents, although the best quality aquamarines come from Brazil. It is possible to incorporate aquamarines into your bridal accessories and these range in price from affordable to astronomical - alterantives to consider would be some beautiful aquamarine Swarovski crystal, and of course these stones also go so beautifully with silver and freshwater pearls. In myth and magic, in Medieval times, this stone was thought to awaken the love of married couples, and was also believed to render soldiers invincible.
April - Diamond - meaning PurityDiamond - the girls' best friend, also known as the 'King of Gems', the diamond is the most precious of gemstones, famed both for its fiery brilliance and being the hardest mineral on earth. Its name derives from the Greek word adamas, which means 'invincible'. Diamonds are a form of carbon, occurring in a range of colours, the most popular being colourless. If diamond is your birthstone, I could suggest rock crystal as an affordable alternative - I also use beautiful crystal which sparkes and shines without comparison in pieces of jewellery, and these are Swarovski crystal. In myth and magic, the Greeks believed that diamonds could protect against poisons, and in Medieval times, those who could afford to wear a diamond believed they were safe against the plague.
May - Emerald - meaning Hope
The beautiful green shades of the emerald derive from the presence of chromium and vanadium. Only the finest quality gemstones are transparent and flawless, most have tiny fractures or mineral inclusions known as 'jardin', French for garden. In myth and magic, hundreds of years ago, emeralds were thought to possess healing powers, particularly for restoring eyesight. During the renaissance, emeralds were exchanged among the aristocracy as symbols - and tests - of friendship - the stone, it was said, would stay intact only if the friendship lasted. If you wish to incorporate emerald-coloured stones in your tiara, peridot is a pretty, glowing and affordable substitution. Another lovely green semi precious stone is aventurine; peridot and aventurine are quite different in hues, green comes in so many shades, and of course there are some absolutely gorgeous Swarovski crystals in colours of emeralds and greens generally.
June - Pearl - meaning Health
Once thought of by Arabians as tears of the gods, pearls are created by certain shellfish, mainly oysters and mussels. They form when an irritant such as a grain of sand enters the shell. The mollusc then secretes layer upon layer of calcium carbonate, known as 'nacre', around the foreign body. It is this innate defence mechanism that creates the bead of pearl. In myth and magic, according to the Roman writer Pliny, Cleopatra dissolved a priceless pearl earring in her wine and drank it as a testament to her love for Anthony. Pearls have long been used medicinally. They were thought to cure everything from fevers to stomach ulcers, and they come in a range of colours from the traditional whites and creams through pinks, peach, greys, blues, coppers and a myriad of dyed colours...I often use freshwater pearls in my tiaras and jewellery because there really is nothing like the real thing and I absolutely love them....care for them properly and you will get years of happiness out of them.
July - Ruby - meaning PassionThe classic ruby is a deep, rich red, although the stone can appear in shades from pink to purple to brown, depending on the chemical content. Rubies are second only to diamonds in terms of hardness, and this, along with the vibrancy of their colour, makes them highly prized for jewellery. The finest stones come from Burma. In myth and magic, at the time of the Borgias (15th - 16th Centuries), rubies were thought to counteract poison - and were therefore much in demand! Rubbed on the skin, these gemstones were once thought to restore youth and vitality - hmmm...this would probably cost as much as some anti-wrinkle creams! In the Middle Ages, the ruby was viewed as a stone of prophecy - people believed it would darken when its wearer was in danger. If you want the effect of rubies in your tiara, I would suggest using garnet, the birthstone for January, and very beautiful in its own right....
August - Sardonyx - meaning Bliss
The group of quartzes that includes Agate, Chrysoprase, Carnelian, Jasper and Bloodstone makes up the family of gemstones known as 'chalcedony'. They are linked by their microcrystalline structure and waxy or dull appearance. If you would like the look of Sardonyx in your tiara, I would suggest we use lapis lazuli, another semi-precious stone in a beautiful deep blue colour. In myth and magic, in Renaissance times, sardonyx was worn by wives to bring about marital happiness.
September - Sapphire - meaning Wisdom
Sapphires come in a range of yellows, pinks, and greens, as well as the better-known blue variety, which gives September-born brides a huge range of colours to choose from. The deep blue 'heavenly' sapphires were, and still are to some extent, deemed holy: popes, cardinals, and bishops have worn them since the middle ages. They are known as the jewel of chastity. In myth and magic, at one time sapphires were believed to exude heavenly rays that had the power to kill all poisonous creatures, and the Persians thought the earth rested on a giant sapphire and that the blue of the heavens was its reflection...its a nice thought. Incorporating real sapphires into your wedding accessories would probably be prohibitively expensive but of course you have the full range of choice of beautiful Swarovski crystal.
October - Opal - meaning Hope
Unlike other gemstones, the opal is non-crystalline and is formed from a hardened silica gel. It is known for its rainbow iridescence. The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit 'upala', meaning 'precious stone'. The opals used in ancient times came from the former Czechoslovakia, but today most are mined in Australia. Opals can be a costly jewel and are delicate and more suited to jewellery that is only occasionally worn, and given lots of tender loving care. I can incorporate some absolutely beautiful opals into jewellery for you but would suggest that faux or imitation opals would be appropriate for a tiara which will after all only see occasional wear. In myth and magic, and even today, the opal was thought to be unlucky and people seem to have a bias against them, but the basis for this is perhaps that if it is allowed to dry out by being in a hot place for too long, opals can split and crack. In Asia the stone is viewed favourably, where it is a symbol of hope..
November - Topaz - meaning Fidelity
The name 'topaz' is thought to come from the Sanskrit 'tapas', meaning 'fire'. The stone occurs naturally in a range of different colours and is also heat-treated to produce the more popular hues. Pink topaz, for example, is usually an irradiated form of the more common yellow, and another beautiful topaz. In myth and magic, in 1255, St. Hildegard offered a simple remedy for failing eyesight: steep a topaz in wine for three days and then lightly rub it over the eyes. Worn round the neck, topaz was thought to cure madness...
December - Turquoise - meaning Contentment
First mined over 6,000 years ago, turquoise has a rich and colourful history. To the Aztecs it was the 'stone of the gods' and was used extensively for religious artefacts; in medieval Europe it was thought of as a powerful talisman. Today most commercial turquoise comes from China and the south-western states of the United States. In myth and magic, turquoise has always been considered lucky and able to safeguard or bring happiness, and it will be quite possible to incorporate this stone into your bridal accessories as it goes brilliantly with either golds or silvers. According to a 15th Century legend, the stone loses its colour when its owner is unwell or in danger and regains its brilliance when the illness, or danger, has passed.
Whether these are your own individual birthstone or not - I can make up jewellery/tiaras to suit your own colour scheme and individual style - either with your birthstone or in the matching Swarovski colour
| |
|