Gemstones are far more than their myriad colours. For centuries, dazzling gems have inspired myths and legends throughout the globe, and are widely considered as cultural symbols of love, wisdom and luck.
Whether shopping for wedding jewellery for yourself or others, or a timeless anniversary gift, our gem guide will help you pick the perfect stones. Read on to discover the meanings behind some of the most mythical and beautiful gemstones, from diamonds and coloured sapphires to citrine and much more.
Diamond
Birthstone: April
Anniversary stone: 60th
Pure power. Diamonds are associated with strength and love. White diamonds are also symbols of purity and perfection and are some of the rarest fancy-coloured diamonds on Earth. Not to be confused with the more common “colourless” diamonds, a white diamond, if you can get hold of one, would make the perfect symbol of eternal love.
Less rare than the white diamond, the fancy black diamond is still said to represent purity. They also symbolise inner strength and standing out from the crowd, which is exactly what you’ll do with this dark, beguiling stone.
Emerald
Birthstone: May
Anniversary stone: 55th
Ancient Greeks and Romans associated this stone with the goddess of love, making emerald, not diamond, the true stone of romance.
In Ancient Greece, emeralds were gifts to the goddess of sexual love and beauty, Aphrodite, while ancient Romans considered the emerald’s purity so strong it could protect against all evil, including unfaithfulness in marriage.
Today, the emerald remains a powerful love stone. It symbolises loyalty, new beginnings, peace, and security, all central desires in a marriage. For those who believe in the metaphysical, the emerald is also said to open the heart chakra and promote harmony, domestic bliss and unconditional love.
Ruby
Birthstone: July
Anniversary stone: 40th
The colour of love, but also life, the ruby has storied connotations to blood and the body. Burmese legend says that inserting rubies into your flesh made you invincible. Probably not a good look for your wedding but the stones will make you feel powerful, nonetheless.
These legends have elevated the ruby as a gemstone of protection and power. The rich colour of the stone is also symbolic of your 40th wedding anniversary, representing deep, enduring love.
Blue sapphire
Birthstone: September
Anniversary stone: 45th
Sapphires come in a range of colours, including yellow, white, black, green, pink, and purple, with blue being the most famous variety of all.
The ideal “something blue”, this stone brings luck, happiness, and love. It’s also said to make you feel calm, so no pre-wedding jitters.
The blue sapphire is also heavily associated with royalty, most notably the British Royal Family. One of the most famous sapphire engagement rings was the Garrard twinkler worn by Princess Kate, previously belonging to the late Princess Diana.
Pink sapphire
Birthstone: September
Anniversary stone: 45th
If blue calms, pink is here to bring on the passion. Associated with the heart chakra, it’s a well of feminine power. Asian lore compares the pink sapphire to the sacred lotus flower, a symbol of beauty and wisdom. Such associations make it an excellent wedding stone, from morning to night.
Tanzanite
Birthstone: December
Another “something blue” or maybe a power-play purple, tanzanite’s energy changes depending on its colour. Blue boosts your heart and intellect, and is deeply connected to one’s accomplishments and dreams. A great stone for a couple with big aspirations for the future.
Meanwhile, purple brings truth and dignity. The violet colour inspires awe, mystery and magic. The darker the violet hue, the more valuable the tanzanite is, and the deeper this meaning becomes.
All tanzanites – blue and purple included – are said to aid transformation, such as ridding negative patterns and moving to a new, healthier stage of life. This makes tanzanite the perfect stone for a couple acknowledging the challenges they’ve overcome on their wedding day.
Amethyst
Birthstone: February
Anniversary stone: 6th
This soft purple stone is a calming influence, bringing serenity and peace to any situation. Indeed, the amethyst is a great choice if you’re worried about pre-wedding jitters or family arguments.
It’s also quite the pick for the bachelorette party due to its humorous origin. Amethyst’s rich purple colour was believed by ancient Greeks to symbolise Dionysus, their deity of wine. As such, they believed the gem could prevent drunkenness, and so the stone became a symbol of clarity, peace and a deep state of thought.
Turquoise
Birthstone: December
Anniversary stone: 11th
If you feel like you need some heaven-sent help, bring out the turquoise. It is one of the world’s most ancient gemstones, worn by cultures such as the Egyptians, Aztecs and Mesopotamians, and is thought to connect us to the spirit realm.
Turquoise is also a symbol of trust, one of the most important pillars in any relationship, but especially marriage. Many cultures believe that turquoise can protect against falls and accidents – ideal if you’re worried about tripping over your dress.
Peridot
Birthstone: August
Anniversary stone: 16th
The ancient Egyptians believed that peridot protected the beholder from the darkness of the night, including nightmares, and saw it as the stone of the sun which brought the wearer confidence, luck, and health. Some of Cleopatra’s famous emeralds, which were said to be her favourite gemstone, are also believed to actually be peridots from the Egyptian mines.
In a wedding setting, the peridot’s symbolism would translate to good luck in marriage and health of both partners and would therefore be an elegant addition to a bride’s jewellery on her big day.
While the peridot is not a traditional wedding anniversary gift, it has become associated with the 16th wedding anniversary, alongside silver holloware.
Malachite
Birthstone: April and May
Anniversary stone: 13th
This verdant green stone protects and absorbs by taking the negative energy out of a room. These mythical abilities originate from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where malachite was integrated into amulets for protection against evil. Long after the Middle Ages, parents would make their children wear malachite to protect them against black magic and witchcraft. If danger was nearby, the gemstone was believed to break into pieces.
This makes the malachite a great stone for removing any negative energy from your wedding. The stone is also said to open your heart. Handy when you’re saying, “I do”.
Pearl
Birth stone: June
Anniversary stone: 30th
A pearl’s origins are essential to its symbolic representation of new beginnings. Unlike diamonds, rubies, sapphires and amethysts which form underground, pearls originate within the soft tissue of organic shelled molluscs. Technically, they are gems, but not stones.
Many myths and legends surround the pearl, most deriving from its underwater origins. In ancient Japan, pearls were believed to be the tears of mermaids and other oceanic creatures. The moon and the tides also influence the pearl’s legends, giving it associations to Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
The pearl’s beauty, elegance and purity make it an excellent choice for wedding jewellery.
Citrine
Birthstone: November
Anniversary stone: 13th
Sometimes referred to as the “money stone” because of its golden colour, the citrine has a joyous energy, like bottled sunshine. The stone’s positive connotations also extend as a symbol of luck and prosperity. Believed to bring wealth and protection, the citrine is often called the “lucky merchant’s stone”.
The bright-yellow hue has links to happiness and sunshine, and is a perfect choice for an outside, summer wedding. With the additional symbolism of luck, wearing citrine is sure to bring good vibes during the Big Day.
Lapis Lazuli
Birthstone: September
Anniversary stone: 9th
Lapis Lazuli means “stone of the sky”, encapsulating the heavenly symbolism and legends surrounding this stone. Many cultures believed in the lapis lazuli’s connection to the divine due to the rarity of the stone’s colour. The ancient Egyptians embedded the gemstone into the sacred burial ornaments of fallen rulers to show their highest respect, while Sumerians believed the spirits of the gods lived in this stone, which is probably why it’s associated with all the intense emotions – strength, courage, wisdom, truth.
Another stone with powerful symbolism, the lapis lazuli is a great wedding jewellery stone, especially for those looking for big stone energy for the Big Day.
Garnet
Birthstone: January
Anniversary stone: 2nd
Garnets are one of the oldest known gemstones, with their usage in jewellery dating back to ancient Egypt. Available in a spectrum of colours, garnets are most famous for their deep-red hue. Similar to rubies, garnets are known to protect and preserve health due to their association with the body and blood.
The garnet also symbolises an inner fire and feminine life force. Together with its association with love, the garnet makes a great choice for an engagement ring or wedding jewellery.
Aquamarine
Birthstone: March
Anniversary stone: 19th
In its most common pastel-blue form, aquamarine symbolises youth, health and fidelity, and the loyalty shared between young lovers. As such, the aquamarine makes for the perfect anniversary gift, especially for newlyweds.
Popular with the British Royal Family, Prince Harry gifted Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring to Meghan Markle on their wedding day.
Opal
Birthstone: October
Anniversary stone: 14th
The opal is a highly complicated stone, known by the superstitious as an omen of bad luck. The opal’s negative reputation is said to be the result of the 1829 book, Anne of Geierstein by Sir Walter Scott. In this novel, misfortune falls upon Lady Hermione as holy water drops fall onto the opal in her golden hair clasp. The opal is also a fragile gem, which many gem cutters refuse to work on, furthering the belief that opals are to be avoided.
Many still consider opals unlucky to wear unless born in October, so this stone is perhaps best avoided on your wedding day. However, if you’re willing to take the plunge on some opal wedding jewellery, opals also have storied associations with hope, purity and truth.
Tourmaline
Birthstone: October
Anniversary stone: 8th
If you’re looking to wear your birthstone on your wedding day, but want to avoid any chance of bad omens, the tourmaline officially became an anniversary stone for October alongside the opal in 1912, when The National Association of Jewellers introduced a modern birthstone list of only transparent gemstones.
The tourmaline is one of the most diverse gemstones when it comes to colour, and is a known symbol of creativity. In Egyptian legend, it states that the gemstone’s vast array of colour was the result of the stone being struck by rainbows as they came up from the ground.
However, the pink tourmaline is perhaps the most famous, and most of its legends and myths relate back to love, compassion and tenderness. Indeed, the pink tourmaline is closely related to the Heart Chakra, and used to open the heart to unconditional love, making it the ultimate pink stone for wedding jewellery, combined with rose or white gold.
Morganite
Anniversary stone: 9th
Paler in colour than pink tourmaline, the morganite is a symbol of unconditional love. Discovered in 1911, there aren’t many myths surrounding morganite, however, the stone is said to promote love, patience, harmony, and enhance communication skills.
It’s considered a feminine stone and is said to promote independence in women. It’s also believed to increase confidence and soothe anxiety and stress, making it the perfect choice to minimise any wedding day jitters.
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