Birthstones: Know Your Precious Stones

With more than three dozen stores specializing in jewelry, St. Maarten/St. Martin is a mecca for visitors who are looking to invest in precious gems. And while the usual glittery suspects-diamonds, emeralds and rubies-are ever-popular purchases, certain unique gems are gaining in popularity. Among them:

Tanzanite: First discovered in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania by Masai herdsmen, tanzanite is created when lightning strikes zoisite crystals that are common in that part of Africa. The typically brown zoisite is then transformed by the tremendous heat to lustrous shades of blue and purple. Gems which are bluer rather than purple tend to be the most sought after.

Black pearls: Also known as Tahitian black pearls, these are cultured pearls grown in black-lipped oysters found in French Polynesia. Colors range from a silvery gray and green to deep purple and black.

Fancy sapphires: A typical sapphire shows off a majestic blue luster, but the so-called fancy varieties come in several shades-yellow, orange, lavender-and are more affordable than the blues. Indeed, they come in every color except red, since a red sapphire, by definition, is a ruby. Among the most sought after of the fancy sapphires are the orange-pink varieties. They are also known as "pad paradscha" after the Hindi word for lotus blossom, and are said to bring great peace of mind to those who wear them. Generally, with all sapphires, the clearer and more vivid the color, the more valuable the stone.

Colored diamonds: While mistakenly considered as "flawed" by some uninformed buyers, colored diamonds have generated much interest in recent years and are increasingly sought out by those looking to add a unique touch to their collection. Indeed, some colored diamonds now fetch higher prices than the standard clear and colorless diamond. Look for a palette of subtle shades from pale pinks and blue to pale yellows, which is often called "champagne," and light brown, which is known as "cognac."

Guide to Birthstones

Birthstones, in particular, make great presents for the folks back home. Each birthstone has its own provenance, a mixture of lore and legend passed down through generations. Ancient civilizations, including Greek, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, Inca and Aztec, associated gems with months. Each stone had certain qualities ascribed to someone born in that month.

The custom of wearing birthstone jewelry began in the 1700s in Poland. Today birthstones are among the most popular gems sold at jewelry stores.

What's your birthstone? Read on.

January
Garnet	A garnet is said to prevent nightmares and protect travelers from danger. Garnets come in many colors, including brown, red and green. Some garnets, as small as pebbles, may be found in streams. The word comes from the Latin for pomegranate. Most garnets are mined in Kenya and Tanzania.
February
Amethyst	This stone was thought to promote intelligence and help the wearer control “evil” thoughts. Colors range from violet to reddish-purple. More valuable stones may be a lush, deep purple. Amethysts are found in Brazil, Uruguay and the Ural Mountains of Russia.
March
Aquamarine	This gem is a symbol of happiness, insight and everlasting youth. Aquamarines also are said to soothe marital discord. Colors range from green to blue. Brazil has large deposits of aquamarines.
April
Diamond	With colors ranging from yellow, brown and blue to pink and green, diamonds are thought to grant strength, invincibility and courage. They’re found in South Africa, Russia, Botswana, Zaire, Australia and western Canada.
May
Emerald	These green beauties are said to soothe souls, sharpen wit — and change color if the wearer is unfaithful. Inclusions are common, and only the finest emeralds are transparent. Emeralds are found in Colombia, Brazil, eastern Africa, Zambia and Afghanistan.
June
Pearl	To the Chinese, pearls symbolize wealth, power and longevity. Indians used pearls to adorn swords. Pearls range in color from white and coral to blue-green and black. Pearls are produced by oysters, prized for luster, shape and size.
July
Ruby	A symbol of health, wealth and passion, as well as triumph in love, rubies also are supposed to bring good luck to gamblers. Second only to diamonds in hardness, rubies range in color from medium to dark red to purplish-red. Rubies are found in Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
August
Peridot	Egyptians considered this stone the gem of the sun. Hawaiian legend says peridots are tears shed by Pele, goddess of the volcano. Peridot was said to have magical healing powers and to protect against nightmares. Once classified as a topaz, the peridot may be yellow or green. They’re found in the United States, China, Burma and Pakistan.
September
Sapphire	Worn by royalty for good luck, sapphires were thought to protect against snakes and to have the power to transform stupidity to wisdom. Sapphires may be blue, pink, green-black, yellow, orange or purple. They’re found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia and Kashmir.
October
Opal	These gems symbolize magic, love and hope. Arabs believed that opals fell from Heaven in flashes of lightning. There are more than a dozen types of opal. White opals are common, as well as those with reddish and bluish “fires.” Sources include Australia, Mexico, Brazil and the United States.
November
Topaz	This jewel was worn to improve eyesight and protect the wearer from harm. Colors range from blue, yellow and green to the rare sky-blue from Iran. Other sources include Brazil, Sri Lanka, Burma and Russia.
December
Turquoise	Ranging in color from sky blue to apple green, this stone was revered by Native Americans. It’s found in the United States, China and Israel.

You can spend days shopping in St. Maarten/St. Martin and not visit the same store twice! So much to buy - so little time... visit our Shopping Guide and get full details about each merchant before you go. Print our shopping maps and take them with you.