September - Citrine

Citrine is a member of the quartz family and is closely associated with amethyst and smoky quartz. Given that in its natural state, it is very rare, some citrine is heat treated amethyst. Natural citrine is pale yellow to pale orange, and much lighter than the heat treated variety. Its pale yellow to brown color is attributed to its iron content. Most citrine comes from Brazil while other sources are Russia, France, and Madagascar. Citrine is believed to help the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles. It is also the birthstone of November.

August – Amber

Amber as a gemstone has been treasured and used for centuries in jewelry. Amber is perhaps the oldest substance used for human adornment. Amber beads and pendants were found in Northern Europe gravesites dating back to 8000 B.C. Amber is a fossilized tree resin of now extinct conifer trees and ancient pine trees. It is an amorphous hydrocarbon and may contain particles of various foreign materials, trapped insects and air bubbles. Amber can vary in color from yellow to red, from green to blue, but amber’s color is usually honey brown. Amber beings good luck and is associated with time, cycles and longevity. The most famous source of amber is the Baltic Coast off of Germany. It is also found off the coast of Sicily and England. As amber is soft, it can easily be scratched and therefore, as a piece of jewelry should be stored separately.

July – Lapis

Lapis (lazuli) is a gemstone compared to the stars in the sky and reminds us of the magic of the Arabian Nights; a deep blue with golden inclusions which shimmer like little stars. This opaque deep blue gemstone has a grand past as it was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewelry. It was treasured by Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations and often worn by royalty. Persian legend says the heavens owed their blue color to a massive slab of lapis upon which the earth rested. The stone is said to increase psychic abilities and to be a cure for melancholy and for certain types of fever. Lapis is regarded by many as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly. The main supplies of lapis are found in Afghanistan, Egypt, Canada, Chile, South America and the United States.