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Birthstones are mysterious, and so are you. Birthdays and months are often construed as having multi-faceted meanings that have astrological bearings in the future of human beings. Cultures from across time and space have built their belief systems around such meaning making processes. The concept of birthstones and their nobility has evolved to better the association between human nature and gemstones. This article tries to capture some of the most expensive birthstones and illuminate the readers about their purpose, enabling attributes, and a window into their history.
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Most Expensive Birthstones of 2022
Before we delve further into the article, let’s first acquaint the readers with the entire list of birthstones and the associated months. Please note that the birthstones reviewed in this article are in no particular order. Okay, here goes!
- Garnets for January
- Amethysts for February
- Aquamarines for March
- Diamonds for April
- Emeralds for May
- Moonstones and Pearls for June
- Rubies for July
- Peridots for August
- Sapphires for September
- Opals and Tourmalines for October
- Citrines and Topaz for November
- Turquoise and Tanzanite for December
#1 Diamond
There is a reason why it is a widespread belief that queens are born in April. Diamond is an April birthstone, and diamonds are unarguably the most expensive gemstone with a Mohs scale reading of 10. Diamond embodies a full life that confects wealth, health, and fortuity.
An emblem that symbolizes strength and clarity, the word ‘diamond’ comes from its Greek epithet, Adamas, which characterizes something that is non-frangible and impregnable. Diamond birthstone are a classic; the longer you look at them, the more their lore strikes you.
Once coveted ornaments within the circles of the royalty and elite, diamonds became a trading substance as early as the 4th century. Like every high fashion is somehow exoticized in Europe, diamonds were no exception. 1400s Venice saw the emergence of diamonds as the in-vogue ornament, and there has been no looking back for diamonds ever since.
As far as birthstones are concerned, diamonds are believed to nullify the evil eye that is predicted to cause grave sickness and incoming misfortunes. Towards the East, diamond birthstone are supposed to give the sick the power to endure and are often construed to possess healing potential. Many cultures believe diamonds to be the antidote to various toxins and protectors against plague. Furthermore, diamonds are also considered to be conduits of beauty, happiness, and bountiful life.
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#2 Ruby
Ruby is commonly prescribed as the July birthstone. Red is the birth stone colours of fierceness, fury, and passion. Thus, rubies have long been associated with intense emotions and are one of the most sought-after gems available today. Rubies flaunt the highest per carat price in the global market today.
Ruby is a derivative of the Latin word ruber, which denotes the color red. Ancient cultures have long associated the ruby with life because of its unique color synonymy with blood. Furthermore, much of its popularity can be owed to Christianity as the religion ties rubies with inquisitive human attributes such as wisdom and beauty.
Ruby, or its scientific epithet, corundum, is the raw form of an otherwise pure mineral substrate called aluminum oxide. Chromium is the contaminant that imbues the gemstone with the red luster. There are two parameters based on which rubies are rated for their quality: color and clarity.
The former is further divided into three elements: hue, tone, and saturation. While the possibility of finding pure hue is meager, hue is further classified into three categories. The second parameter that makes the judgment calls for the quality of rubies is clarity. Clarity is a quantified parameter that helps one to identify the myriad of inclusions that this variant of gemstones hosts. Rubies that rank the highest are called the “eye-clean” variety, wherein the naked eye can discern the least amount of inclusion. Another quirk of rubies is the intersecting silk inclusion. Silk inclusions reflect light that makes these gemstones lustrous and is a precise indicator of whether the stone in question is pre-heated or not.
#3 Emerald
Ordained as the birthstone for May, the emerald is unanimously approved to be symbolic of rebirth and rejuvenation. Emerald has been an object of fascination that finds its reckoning not just bound to class representation but in prose and verse. From George RR Martin’s A Clash of Kings to comic opera, The Emerald Isle, Emerald has been a prima donna across cultures and histories.
Emerald was believed to embody the capacity to cure several chronic diseases in the past. Malaria and cholera are some of them. However, the gemstone has special personality attributes to hint at. As a birthstone, it usually draws desired traits of quick-wittiness and dagger-like intelligentsia. Emerald is the perfect present catering to anniversary celebrations for couples achieving key milestones of committing 20 or 35 years.
Why emerald resonates with royalty is because of the myriad of examples that demand mentioning. First of all, Cleopatra is said to have had a soft spot for emeralds and wore her royal accessories embellished with emeralds. Furthermore, colonial South America saw the emergence of emerald-inscribed ornaments with the infamous Crown of the Andes. The largest emerald stone, the Atahualpa emerald, was adorned by the last leading Inca emperor.
Similar to other gemstones, emeralds have their legends and myths. While some believe emeralds to possess supernatural powers, such as seeing the future when placed underneath the tongue, others believe that emeralds incite a smooth talker in people and bring out the pretenses of lovers.
#4 Blue Sapphire
The etymology of the word ‘sapphire’ takes us to its Greek origins. The Greek word for sapphire is sappheiros and is usually associated with romance, and is a symbol of fidelity in relationships. The September birthstone is chemically corundum, with oxidative states that impart the magnificent blue color.
There are myriad tangents of what sapphires are symbolic of, and throughout history till contemporary times, the lore of blue sapphire has not subsided a tad bit. Blue sapphire is reminiscent of faithfulness and unwavering trust and support toward someone. Another take on its symbolism is it is a divine substance. Persian thinkers and philosophers believed that a giant sapphire stone supported the Earth, which made the sky look blue!
Sapphires are known to emanate healing powers that helped cure several ailments, like eye imperfections and conditions to plague boils. In the East as well as the West, pagan cultures believed sapphires to shrew away the evil eye that often led to ailing incidents in the family, tribe, or community. The month gemstones is often regarded as an antidote to toxins and poison due to its lore.
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#5 Tanzanite
A recent addition to the family of gemstones, the 20th century saw the discovery of tanzanite, which is chemically classified as a mineral zoisite. First discovered in 1962, the primary source of tanzanite is Merelani Hills. Tanzanite is most popularly known as “velvety” for its unique saturated appearance. The December birthstone occurs in a different shade of the solid colors of violet and blue. Owing to their rarity, blue tanzanite stones are the most expensive.
Apart from being the December birthstone, tanzanite is also reserved as a present for the 24th wedding anniversary. Regarding physical properties, tanzanite ranks anywhere between 6 to 7 with concerning its hardness on the Mohs scale. It is important to note that tanzanite is vulnerable to temperature changes and can develop cracks if exposed to sudden fluctuations in temperature.
When naturally procured, the tanzanite birthstone is predominantly brown. However, once cleaned and exposed to controlled heat treatment, the gemstone gradually develops various gradients of colors and shades. Its peculiar yet enchanting blue or violet shades make it ideal for being qualified as the December birthstone.
Tanzanite gemstones can be a beautiful material to work on for dangling earrings and fine pendants. Although it is not recommended for daily use, these stones can now last long as far as their structural integrity is concerned with the help of a protective mounting. While most gemstones require professional assistance to clean them, soapy water is the best solution to clear tanzanite gemstones of any external contaminants.
Summing Up
Diamondrensu is a leading jewelry manufacturer that brings its premium collection to its trusted customers. From designing wedding and engagement rings to birthstone jewelry, their products trigger an electrifying response in their customers, making them want more!
Birthstones are a beautiful accessory to flaunt your everyday fashion repertoire. Whether you believe in birthstones or not, having one near you will pose no harm. A drib and a drab of extra luck are all we need in the dire straits of our life. So, reach out to them in their store or get your birthstone delivered to your home to feel extra lucky today!
