Plan ahead for May birthstones!
There’s one main birthstone for May, emerald. This is also the seasonal birthstone for Spring, so it’s doubly appropriate. For an economical emerald look, think about glass beads. Anything from these metal-core Calypso™ (“Pandora”-style) lampwork beads…
…to the ever-popular, economical Cosmic Crystal™ bicone…
…can be an evocative way to play on the emerald theme. Just search our online store for “emerald”! Or for “sapphire”, which some consider a birthstone for Taurus. Now that’s multi-purposing your components!
Speaking of zodiac signs, Gemini’s birthstone is agate. We always seem to have dozens of varieties of it at Rings & Things’ BeadTour bead shows, and you can always find agate beads in our online store. A couple of favorites are Botswana agate, like these faceted rounds…
…and blue lace agate, like this bib:
Less well-known May gemstones, according to various traditions, are chrysolite, carbuncle, and chalcedony. For reliable, honest background information, you can look these and many more up in our popular Gemstone Beads Index!
What’s your favorite May birthstone, or birthday jewelry? Share it in a comment below. You can even link to pictures of your own creations!
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2 Comments
As much as I love emerald (and green is my favorite color) I haven’t made that many things with that shade of green and don’t wear a lot of it myself, except occasionally with a dark suit in the winter.
I hadn’t thought about the zodiac birthstones – I have a stash of blue lace agate that I’ve done a couple pieces with, but I think it might be a good idea to make a few more things and promo them for Gemini’s!
Sure, a whole line of zodiac-birthstone jewelry would be a nice marketing angle. Here’s what I find in Bruce Knuth’s always-great book “Jeweler’s Resource“:
Aquarius = Garnet
Pisces = Amethyst
Aries = Bloodstone
Taurus = Sapphire
Gemini = Agate
Cancer = Emerald
Leo = Onyx
Virgo = Carnelian
Libra = Chrysolite
Scorpio = Beryl (you don’t see beryl beads much, but “beryl” is a family that includes aquamarine & emerald)
Sagittarius = Topaz
Capricorn = Ruby