Gemstones/ Birthstones Guide
For centuries, gemstones have carried deep personal significance—symbolizing everything from love and protection to celebration and identity. At Morris Jewelry, we believe selecting a gemstone should be as meaningful as the piece it becomes part of. Whether you’re choosing a birthstone for a loved one or exploring the rich colors and lore behind each gem, this guide is here to help you find a stone that speaks to your story.
Learn About Gemstones
Learn about gemstones and birthstones by using our Gemstone Guide.
March Birthstones - Aquamarine, Bloodstone
Aquamarine
Aquamarine, from Latin “aqua marina” or “water of the sea”, was named because of its blue or turquoise color. In the U.S., Aquamarine can be found in central Colorado and Wyoming.
Bloodstone
Also known as heliotrope, Bloodstone is a deep-green variety of chalcedony flecked with vivid red spots of iron oxide that resemble droplets of blood—hence its dramatic name. Revered by the Greeks for its supposed power to turn the sun red at sunset, and by medieval Europeans as a talisman to staunch bleeding and bolster courage, Bloodstone has long been linked to vitality and protection. Major deposits are found in India, Brazil, Australia, and the United States, where its toughness and earthy beauty make it popular for cabochons, intaglios, and men's signet rings.
May Birthstone - Emerald
Emeralds can range in color from light to dark green. Its name comes from the Greek word smaragdos meaning green gem. Emeralds from Columbia are generally considered the most valuable.
June Birthstones - Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
Pearl
When thinking of the Pearl the color white usually comes to mind, but you can find pearls in black, gray, blue, yellow cream, lavender and mauve. When purchasing a Pearl you want to consider the surface, luster, color, and shape. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but there are many shapes of pearl.
Moonstone
A stone of unearthly beauty, the inner glow is due to the scattering of light between microscopic layers of feldspar and other minerals. It is sometimes attributed to have feminine energies.
Alexandrite
Named for Czar Alexander II, which is very fitting as it was discovered in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1830. The same stone can appear to shift in hue between Purple and Sapphire Blue depending on the light it is exposed to.
August Birthstones - Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx
Peridot
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color, an olive green. The most valued color is a dark olive-green.
Spinel
Referred to in ancient Sanskrit as “the daughter of Ruby”, this stone comes in a similar range of colors and styles, though it also boasts a more modest pricing.
Sardonyx
Sardonyx is a banded member of the quartz family that layers reddish-brown sard with contrasting white or black onyx. The name blends the Greek words sard (a brownish-red stone once sourced near Sardis in ancient Lydia) and onyx (meaning “claw” or “fingernail,” a nod to its translucence). prized by the Romans for cameos, seals, and amulets, Sardonyx was thought to grant courage, eloquence, and protection in battle. Today it is mined primarily in India, Brazil, Madagascar, and Uruguay, and its striking stripes continue to make it a favorite for carved jewelry and ornamental objects.
September Birthstone - Sapphire
Sapphire is from the Greek word sappheiros, meaning blue stone. Although blue is the most well-known color for sapphires, sapphires are made up of any color of corundum except for red, which are rubies.
October Birthstone - Opal, Tourmaline
Opal
97% of the world's Opal is from Australia. Opals fluctuate in color and are often multi-colored. The most valuable is black.
Tourmaline
Available in a wide range of colors, Tourmaline’s name derives from the Sinhalese name, Turamali, which roughly translates to "stone with mixed colours". Occasionally they are discovered with a green to red color striation, which is referred to as "Watermelon Tourmaline".
November Birthstone - Citrine, Topaz
Citrine
Citrine is a premier stone of manifestation, imagination, and personal will. Carrying the power of the sun, it is warm and comforting, energizing and life giving. It stimulates the chakras like the sunlight of spring, clearing the mind and stirring the soul to action.
Topaz
Naturally golden brown to yellow, it can appear in a variety of colors, but previously the name Topaz was used to refer to any yellowstone. Interestingly there is an English superstition that Topaz cured lunacy.
December Birthstone - Blue Topaz, Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite
Blue Topaz
Blue Topaz is a stone of peacefulness, calming to the emotions, and ideal for meditation and connecting with spiritual beings. It is a natural magnifier of psychic abilities, assisting those who wish to attune to inner guidance, as well as those who serve others through readings or spiritual healing.
Turquoise
An opaque blue-to-green mineral, Turquoise has long been used to ornament clothing, tribal masks, and worn as jewelry. The iconic burial mask of Tutankhamun was inlaid with turquoise as well as other stones. It was long thought to be a holy stone that could bring the wearer good fortune.
Zircon
Though most famously of a sky blue color, it can be nearly every color of the rainbow, from earth tones to near colorless, Zircon's rarity and relative affordability make it a prime choice for fashion jewelry.
Tanzanite
Naturally occurring only in the Tanzanian Mountains of Africa, this stone comes in a variety of shapes that can fluctuate between Lavender and Ocean Blue.