Birthstone Brooches

One way to ensure you give a brooch that holds a special place in someone’s heart is to personalise it with their birthstone. The tradition of assigning a ‘birthstone’ dates back centuries, if not longer – it is thought that Pagan cultures took part in a similar practice, assigning stones to periods of the year based on the earth’s cycles and changing seasons. Today, most jewellers are agreed on the following assignment of birthstones: January – garnet; February – amethyst; March – aquamarine; April – diamond; May – emerald; June – pearl; July – ruby; August – peridot; September – sapphire; October – opal; November – topaz; December – turquoise.

As some birthstones are more expensive than others, it’s difficult to predict how much a brooch should cost – as a general rule, the more expensive gemstones will push the price of a brooch up (so a diamond brooch will cost more than a peridot one). It is important to consider the weight of the brooch – particularly if it features a number of stones – as well as the way it is designed, particularly when you’re buying online. Ask the vendor for additional photos, so you can get a better idea of whether the brooch’s shape is suitable for the wearer’s style and daily routine.

Popular uses for birthstones in brooches include making a ‘mother’s brooch’ including the birthstone of all her children, and marking a special birthday or anniversary. Whatever reason you’re looking for a birthstone brooch online, be sure to ask the retailer for a guarantee of quality, as well as a clearly-worded return and/or refund policy to avoid disappointment.