Skip to main content
  • Account
  • Register
Futer Bros Jewelers
  • Collections
  • Engagement
    Choose your Style
    Solitaire Side-Stone Three Stone Halo Pave Antique Single Row Multi Row Bypass
    Solitaire Side-Stone Three Stone Halo Pave
    Vintage Single Row Multi Row Bypass
    Build a Ring
    Start with the DiamondStart with the Ring
    Wedding Bands
    Men’s Ladies
    The Four Cs of Diamonds
    The Four Cs of Diamonds

    Engagement
  • Diamonds
    Search Diamonds
    Round Princess Emerald Asscher Radiant
    Cushion Oval Pear Marquise Heart
    Diamond Education
    The Four Cs of DiamondsDiamond Buying ProcessCaring for Diamond Jewelry
    Diamonds from Antwerp
    Diamonds from Antwerp

    Diamonds
  • Jewelry
    Earrings
    Diamond EarringsEarring Jackets
    Engagement Rings Bracelets
    Diamond BraceletsBangle Bracelets
    Pendants
    Diamond Pendants
    Rings
    Anniversary BandsDiamond Fashion Rings
    Necklaces
    ChainsDiamond Necklaces
    Wedding Bands
    CharmsSetsBeadsPinsTie TacksOtherCharm BraceletsGemstone BraceletsGemstone EarringsGemstone Necklaces Gemstone Fashion Rings
    Gemstone Rings
    Gemstone PendantsCufflinksPens

    Jewelry
  • Services
    Custom Jewelry Design
    Custom Jewelry Design
    Jewelry Appraisal
    Jewelry Appraisal
    Jewelry Repair
    Jewelry Repair
    Gold Buying
    Gold Buying
    Watch Repair
    Watch Repair

    Explore All Services
  • About
    Our History
    Our History
    Custom Jewelry Design
    Custom Jewelry Design
    Our Blog
    Our Blog
    Community
    Community

    Explore All About
  • Contact
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Gemstones

Learn About Gemstones

Gemstones

Learn about gemstones and birthstones by using our Gemstone Guide.

  • Search by Month
  • Search by Stone Type
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
January Birthstone - Garnet

Garnet comes from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain. Garnet is mostly mined in Southeast Asia, Brazil, and Africa. Occurring in every color except blue, the garnet is a versatile stone, appropriate for a multitude of applications an occasions.

Start a Project

February Birthstone - Amethyst

Amethyst is a member of the quartz family, and ranges in color from light to deep purple. Amethyst is derived from the Greek word emthystos meaning not drunk. The ancient Greeks and Romans made drinking cups out of Amethyst believing that it would prevent intoxication.

Start a Project

March Birthstone - Aquamarine

Aquamarine (from Latin: aqua marina, “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.

Start a Project

April Birthstone - Diamond

The word Diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning (unbreakable, or unalterable). Diamonds are composed of a single element, and are the purest of all the gemstones. The Diamond is the ultimate symbol of love, and is said to symbolize strength, and enhance relationships..

Start a Project

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.

Start a Project

June Birthstone - 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 of shapes of pearl.

Start a Project

July Birthstone - Ruby

The word Ruby is from the Latin ruber, meaning red. The ruby is pink-red in color. The Ruby is is extremely hard, and second only to the diamond in hardness. The ruby is one of the four precious stones, along with sapphire, emerald, and the diamond.

Start a Project

August Birthstone - 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.

Start a Project

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.

Start a Project

October Birthstone - Opal

97% of the world's Opal is from Australia. Opals fluctuate in color and are often multi-colored. The most valuable is black.

Start a Project

November Birthstone - Citrine

Citrine, regularly associated with healing and emotional health, as well as positive actions. Typical colors are oranges, greens, and browns.

Start a Project

December Birthstone - Tanzanite

Tanzanite, brings wisdom, truth, dignity and spiritual mastery. A stone of judgment and long life, it promotes introspection and can result in profound wisdom when used well.

Start a Project

  • Garnet
  • Amethyst
  • Aquamarine
  • Diamond
  • Emerald
  • Pearl
  • Ruby
  • Peridot
  • Sapphire
  • Opal
  • Citrine
  • Tanzanite
Garnet

Available in a variety of natural colors with reddish shades being the most common, the garnet is a fairly common gemstone most commonly used in the Late Antique Roman world, and were often inlaid in gold jewelry.

Start a Project

Amethyst

A variety of quartz often used in jewelry, and was thought by the ancient Greeks to protect the owner from drunkenness, and even went so far as to carve drinking vessels from the stone.

Start a Project

Aquamarine

A beautiful blue or cyan stone, commonly from Sri Lanka. The largest Aquamarine ever found weighed over 110kg in Brazil.

Start a Project

Diamond

Though often thought of as a colorless stone, a truly colorless diamond is a rarity. Usually diamonds have a light yellow tint, sometimes brown. Unique in that it's the only gem comprised of a single element carbon.

Start a Project

Emerald

A true, deep green color, the emerald is a striking stone alleged to give its wearer a quicker wit and a higher IQ. These rare gems are often carved into a rectangular step cut, which is known as the emerald cut.

Start a Project

Pearl

A hard object that grows in the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth in shape, but are common in a variety of other shapes. Pearls are seen as a classy alternative to typical gemstones, and are frequently worn with nearly every level of classiness.

Start a Project

Ruby

The word ruby comes from ruber, which is Latin for red, and as such, Rubys are almost always red in color. Rubys and Pink Saphires are commonly confused, and a Ruby must meet a minimum color saturation in order to be called a true ruby.

Start a Project

Peridot

Peridot is simply gem-quality Olivine, and only occurs in one color: olive-green. Olivine tends to be rather common, however Peridots are rather rare and can be found in odd places such as lavas and meteroites.

Start a Project

Sapphire

A gem long-associated with romance and royal leanings, Princess Di received a blue sapphire engagement ring from Prince Charles back in 1981. Despite a common misconception, not all sapphires are blue. Green, violet-blue, yellow, orange, pink and purple hued stones are known as “fancy” sapphires and range from very light to very dark in saturation.

Start a Project

Opal

The national gemstone of Australia, the Opal can appear in a variety of colors, with black being the rarest. A wonder of nature is the fire opan which can include colors that seem to flicker between yellow to orange to red to green.

Start a Project

Citrine

Citrine, regularly associated with healing and emotional health, as well as positive actions. Typical colors are oranges, greens, and browns.

Start a Project

Tanzanite

brings wisdom, truth, dignity and spiritual mastery. A stone of judgment and long life, it promotes introspection and can result in profound wisdom when used well.

Start a Project

Futer Bros Jewelers
Futer Bros Jewelers
2820 Whiteford Road, Suite 2
York, PA 17402-7625
(717) 755-2366
Store Information
Hours
Monday:Closed
Tuesday - Friday:10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday:Closed
Follow Us
Diamonds & Engagement
  • Custom Bridal Jewelry Design
  • Create Your Ring Online
  • Find a Diamond
Education
  • Birthstone Guide
  • Jewelry Care
  • Gemstone Care
  • Anniversary Guide
  • Precious Metals
  • Buying & Selling Gold
Our Services
  • Custom Jewelry Design
  • Jewelry Repairs
  • Appraisals
  • Gold Buying
  • Watch Repair
  • Our Blog
  • Testimonials
  • FAQS
Join Our Mailing List

Signup for special offers and discounts.

  • American Gem Society
  • Gemological Institute of America
  • Independent Jewelers Organization

© 2023 Futer Bros Jewelers. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.