Something Special: Birthstone Rings for Moms

Birthstone rings for moms are special, personal pieces of jewelry that anyone who has children would be proud to wear.  As a mom myself, I know I love to wear jewelry that my children have given me through the years.  A mothers birthstone ring containing the birthstones of both children and mom is one of the best gifts I could think of for any mom.  You may not know much about birthstone rings, but here are some things you may want to know before you shop for one:

• Gemstones have been associated with the different months of the year for centuries.  In the book of Exodus, the Bible mentions 12 gemstones being attached to Aaron’s breastplate. A In the 1^st century, a historian named Josephus associated the gemstones with the twelve months of the year and with the signs of the Zodiac.
• It wasn’t until 1912 however that an association of jewelers got together and formed the current “modern” list of birthstones by month.  Since then, birthstone jewelry has become one of the most popular types of jewelry in the world.
• An older list of birthstones, the “traditional’ list, is still used although most people prefer to stick with the newer list.  It really is a matter of preference – if you like the birthstone associated with the traditional list better than the one in the modern list, by all means, use the one you like best in your mothers birthstone ring. Some of the months are actually the same in each list.

Mothers birthstone rings make wonderful gifts that all mothers love to have as a daily reminder of her beloved children.  The rings usually consist of the birthstones of the children, and sometimes they may also include the mother’s birthstone set in a central fashion, with the children’s birthstones set around the mother’s.  There are literally hundreds of designs available in both gold and sterling silver settings.  Cubic zirconia rings with colored stones to match birthstone colors are a very nice alternative to the more expensive gemstone versions if you are on a tight budget.  The famous Pandora bracelets that everyone loves have birthstone charms, and can be coordinated with mothers birthstone rings.  One of the most interesting new developments in birthstone rings is to engrave the names of the children into the setting alongside the birthstone.  This may not be appealing to everyone, but it has become very popular in recent years.

Modern birthstones by month:

January – Garnet

February – Amethyst

March – Aquamarine

April – Diamond

May – Emerald

June – Pearl, Moonstone

July – Ruby

August – Peridot

September – Sapphire

October – Opal, Tourmaline

November – Yellow Topaz or Citrine

December – Blue Topaz, Turquiose

Traditional birthstones by month:

January – Garnet

February – Amethyst

March – Bloodstone, Jasper

April – Diamond, Sapphire

May – Emerald, Agate

June – Alexandrite

July – Ruby, Onyx

August – Sardonyx, Carnelian

September -  Sapphire, Peridot

October – Tourmaline, Aquamarine

November – Citrine, Topaz

December – Zircon, Ruby

Happy Shopping!