As we all know, varieties of gemstones are existing together with us in this world, people usually learn and may possess what have been found and mined by either our predecessors or those who are devoted to gemstones. It is what we might have and what we dream of that catches most eyeballs. Please enjoy surfing through the world of most fascinating gemstone varieties at Legend Blue.

Stone Type: Garnet
Birthstone: January

Garnet, believed to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion and known as the stone of commitment, refers to a group of minerals commonly found in metamorphic rock and in ultramafic igneous rock formations. It is the recommended gift for couples celebrating their second wedding anniversary.

This hard (its good hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale), durable and often very brilliant gem offers great versatility because of its variety. It is one of the most exciting gems on the market. Most people think of garnet as a single type of gem that is dark red in color. Actually, garnet is a gem family that spans a range of red, green, yellow, orange, purple and brown shades and there are six common varieties of garnet that are identified by their chemical composition and color. They are almandine, andradite, grossularite (tsavorite), pyrope, spessartite and uvarovite.

Stone Type: Amethyst
Birthstone: February

The birthstone for February, amethyst, has long been a favorite gem of kings and queens for its royal purple hues. It is an extremely popular gem for jewelry because of its regal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability and wide range of hues. It is the most precious quartz mineral and comes in a few distinct colors including violet, purple, rose, lavender and mauve. In some legends, the stone represents piety, celibacy and dignity. Amethyst also is the recommended gem for couples celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary.

Amethyst has a mohs hardness scale of 7 that makes it a very durable gemstone for daily wear. In popular belief, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness - for the Greek words 'amethystos' mean 'not intoxicated' in translation and the wearer of this gemstone will enjoy peace of mind. A large number of further miraculous powers are attributed to the amethyst in all sorts of cultures.

Stone Type: Green Amethyst

Green Amethyst refers to a special type of Amethyst with a color of Green. It holds almost the same features with Amethyst stated above.

Stone Type: Aquamarine
Birthstone: March

From the light blue of the sky to the deep blue of the sea, aquamarines shine over an extraordinarily beautiful range of mainly light blue colors. The name "Aquamarine" is derived from the Latin phrase "water of the sea". Its light blue arouses feelings of sympathy, trust, harmony and friendship and all other good feelings which are based on mutuality and which prove their worth in lasting relationships so it is the recommended gem for couples celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary.

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, a crystal mineral form of aluminum and beryllium. It has good hardness (7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale) and a wonderful shine. This hardness makes it very tough and protects it to a large extent from scratches. It is a very wearable, clear, brilliant gem that makes a good choice for all types of jewelry.

Stone Type: Diamond
Birthstone: April

Diamond is the most popular and usually the most valuable gemstones on earth. It is a natural allotrope of carbon deep inside the earths crust and it is the hardest natural occurring material. The name "Diamond" is derived from the name from the Greek adamas, "unconquerable", referring to its hardness. Diamond has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale and it's no wonder that it has come to symbolize the ultimate gift of love and romance. Diamond is the recommended gift for couples celebrating their 10th, 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

Diamond is one of the most prized gemstones and it is categorized and valued according to the "Four C's" of diamond grading: cut, clarity, color, and carat. For those that find Diamond mesmerizing you can easily find the Diamond that fits you best. They come in a variety of different colors, shapes and sizes while the most popular commercial Diamonds are clear.

Stone Type: Spinel
Birthstone: April

One of the most beautiful and rarest gemstones available today is the Spinel. The name "Spinel" is derived from the Greek word for "spark", referring to its fiery red color. Transparent red Spinel was sometimes called "Spinel Ruby" as it was confused with actual rubies in the past. In fact spinel was actually a completely different mineral than ruby.

Spinel has a hardness of 8.0 on the Mohs scale so it is a durable gemstone that is perfect for all jewelry uses. It is most often faceted in oval, round or cushion shapes and is not currently found in calibrated sizes due to its rarity. Besides red, Spinel comes in a wide variety of beautiful colors including green, blue, purple, orange, pink and a very prized hot pink. Natural Spinel is definitely worth the price due to its natural beauty, rarity and wonderful attributes.

Stone Type: Emerald
Birthstone: May

Being the greenest of the green, Emerald is one of the most popular and valued gemstones in the world. It is the most beautiful, most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined: emerald green. Throughout the ancient world, emerald symbolized eternal hope, rebirth and the arrival of spring - and some cultures believed the gem rewarded its owners with love, intelligence and eloquence as well so it is the traditional gift of choice for couples celebrating their 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Emerald comes in a variety of light and dark shades of green - and often with subtle background hues of other colors like yellow, blue, brown or gray. Generally, the purer and richer the green, the more valuable the emerald is. Its most known attribute is its deep and intense green hue, sometimes referred to as "green fire". The most valuable Emeralds are usually translucent to transparent. The gem ranks 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale.

Stone Type: Moonstone
Birthstone: June

Along with pearl, moonstone is regarded as the birthstone of June. It has a Mohs hardness of 6-6.5 Moonstone is popular because of its colors and distinct attributes. It can come in many different colors and one of the more popular and aesthetically pleasing colors is blue. Moonstone also comes in shades of brown, yellow, orange and in a colored or rainbow variety. Its colors can be delightful, very feminine and extremely attractive.

The moonstone symbolizes our being in its entirety and it is surrounded by a good deal of mystique and magic. With its soft shimmer, it strengthens our emotional and subconscious aspects. The associations connected with that make it a "lovers' stone", evoking tender feelings and safeguarding the true joys of love. It is also said that wearing a moonstone strengthens our intuition and our capacity to understand. When purchasing Moonstone the most important attributes to consider are the color and the shimmering effect that it gives off.

Stone Type: Alexandrite
Birthstone: June

Alexandrite is the rarest of the precious stones and has wonderful qualities that make it sought after. This rare gemstone is named after the Russian tsar Alexander II (1818-1881).The most sensational feature about this stone, however, is its surprising ability to change its colour. Green or bluish-green in daylight, alexandrite turns a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry red in incandescent light. This unique optical characteristic makes it one of the most valuable gemstones of all, especially in fine qualities.

Alexandrite has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale so it can be cut into almost any shape or form and it is an uncomplicated stone to wear. Besides, in critical situations it is supposed to strengthen the wearer's intuition, and thus help him or her find new ways forward in situations where logic will not provide an answer. Alexandrite is also reputed to enrich creativity and inspire the imagination.

Stone Type: Ruby
Birthstone: July

With the color of courage and blood, Ruby is the most precious of all gemstones and is one of the most beautiful gemstones created by nature. The name "Ruby" is Latin for red. The fiery red color of ruby was thought to be an inextinguishable flame lit from within. As the ultimate red gemstone, ruby has symbolized passion and romance for centuries. It is the birthstone for July and is also the recommended gem for couples celebrating their 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries.

Ruby is made from Corundum and has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, so it is the second hardest substance known to man, second only to the Diamond. Red for ruby, Ruby-red, the most important factor to consider when buying a ruby is its color. It comes in either a pinkish red or deep, rich red color. High quality rubies have a wonderful hue to them and are termed "silk" rubies.

Ruby is also known as the "stone of Kings". It was worn by kings and aristocrats since the dawn of time. It was said to ward off sickness and to make one invulnerable to defeat.

Stone Type: Peridot
Birthstone: August

Peridot, also called precious olivine is a transparent green variant of forsteritic olivine and it is one of the few gemstones which come in one color only. Its vivid green with just a slight hint of gold is the ideal gemstone color to go with that light summer wardrobe. As the birthstone for August, peridot is also the recommended gem for couples celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary.

Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. While other colors such as brown, yellow, yellowish brown and brownish green are available, by the far the most popular and attractive are the olive green colored gemstones. The Romans called peridot "evening emerald" because its green color was said to glow at night. What is more, it is believed that peridot had the power to ward off evil spirits, nightmares and enchantments.

Stone Type: Sapphire
Birthstone: September

The gem has long symbolized faith, remembrance, and enduring commitment, blue as the perfect sky, Sapphire has been sought after for thousands of years as the ultimate blue gemstone. Sapphire comes from Latin word sapphirus, which is the word for blue. It is not only the birthstone for September but also the recommended gem for couples celebrating their fifth and 45th wedding anniversaries.

Sapphire is perhaps one of the oldest known gemstones. It was revered by kings and queens from the beginning of time. Although sapphire is virtually synonymous with blue, the stone also comes in a variety of fancy colors that includes colorless/white, pink, yellow, peach, orange, brown, violet, purple, green and many shades in between (except red, because a red sapphire would be called a ruby).With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire is harder than any other gemstone except a diamond.

Usually, we associate the color blue, strongly linked to the sapphire as it is, with feelings of sympathy and harmony, friendship and loyalty: feelings which belong to qualities that prove their worth in the long term - feelings in which it is not so much effervescent passion that is to the fore, but rather composure, mutual understanding and indestructible trust. Thus the blue of the sapphire has become a color which fits in with everything that is constant and reliable. And the blue of the sapphire even appears where nothing at all counts except clear-sightedness and concentrated mental effort.

Stone Type: Opal
Birthstone: October

Opal is one of the most attractive stones and with its wonderful traits and variety of deep, rich colors that it comes in, it has become one of the more popular gemstones of our time. Opal, the gem world's silvery mirror, is sometimes considered the "Queen of Gems," because it encompossed the colors of all other gems. Opal comes in a wonderful array of colors such as white, black, gray, orange, yellow and red. Red is usually the most attractive color for Opal and it comes in either cherry or fire red. The stone happens to be the recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary.

With a hardness of approximately 5.5 on the Mohs scale, opal is relatively fragile, and care should be taken not to scratch, chip or crack it. For ages people have been believing in the healing power of Opal. It is reported to be able to solve depressions and to help its wearer find the true and real love.

Stone Type: Tourmaline
Birthstone: October

As one of the most varied and complex gemstones found on earth, Tourmaline is an exceptional gemstone that continues to fascinate gem lovers and gemologists. The name "Tourmaline" is derived from the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) word "Tura Mali", meaning "stone of mixed colors." Since Tourmaline can usually be found in every color under the sun, it came to be known as "the rainbow gemstone." Some of the well known colors are blues, yellows, reds, browns, greens, purples, pinks, black, etc.

This gemstone has excellent wearing qualities and is easy to look after, for all tourmalines have a good hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is the gemstone of love and of friendship, and it is said to render them firm and long-lasting .Besides, it is also said to help a person resist greed and to be a calmer, happier person.

Stone Type: Citrine
Birthstone: November

Thanks to its durability and availability, Citrine is the most affordable of all the earth-toned gemstones. Citrine, a form of quartz, its name "Citrine" comes from the French word "citron," or "lemon," for its color. It is available in a range of golden hues from lemon to straw to sun yellow to gold, as well as oranges, browns, and deep madeira red. Citrine is the birthstone for November, as well as recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary.

With a ranking of "7" on the Mohs scale of hardness, citrine has excellent durability and is suitable for everyday wear. In ancient times, citrine was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. It was also thought to give calmness and mental balance to its wearer.

Stone Type: Topaz
Birthstone: November

The mystery and allure of topaz goes back thousands of years. The name "Topaz" is derived from the Greek "Topazos" or "to seek". Although topaz is most often associated with its golden yellow hues, it also occurs colorless, as well as orange-yellow, red, honey-brown, light green, blue and pink. Imperial shades are the rarest and therefore, the most valuable. It should be noted that both red and lavender are usually extremely rare colors. Colorless topaz and yellow are fairly common.

Topaz is a durable stone with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, usually transparent to translucent. Many times Topaz is incorrectly labeled as Citrine or Yellow Quartz. It is neither of these gemstones. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. They also hold the distinction of being the gemstone thought to have the widest range of curative powers.

Stone Type: Blue Topaz
Birthstone: December

Blue Topaz is a form of Topaz with a blue color center that is perhaps the most popular type of Topaz. Topaz does come in a wide range of colors such as yellow, brown and brownish green. It can also come in Imperial Topaz colors including the colors of pink, orange, violet and the rarest of all red. Blue topaz is the recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their fourth anniversary; Imperial topaz for their 23rd.

Blue Topaz is a glassy, transparent or translucent gemstone. It is generally very hard earning an 8 on the Moh's hardness scales. Legend says that Topaz dispels enchantment. The ancient Greeks believed that a Topaz gemstone has the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz gemstones were also said to change color in the presence of poisoned food or drink. Because Blue Topaz is readily available and affordable, it can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including unusual cuts.

Stone Type: White Topaz

As the most common type of Topaz, white Topaz is the topaz with no color. It values high dues to its larger sizes and unique beauty. It could be found in nature in rather large cubage.

Even though white topaz has no color, it demonstrates perfect prettiness fully in its own way. It is the colorlessness of White Topaz that is flattering to the skin and lighting up your face.

Stone Type: Tanzanite
Birthstone: December

As one of the newest gemstone to come to market and one of the more popular gemstones as well, Tanzanite is an extraordinary gemstone. It occurs in only one place worldwide the mines of North Tanzania and it was discovered in 1967. Because it only has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 it can be cracked upon direct impact. However, for normal wear it is usually fine.

A tanzanite is an extraordinary mineral that gives off a wonderful hue, most notably deep blue with a hint of purple. However it can come in other colors as well including purple or brownish yellow. Its blue, surrounded by a fine hint of purple, is a wonderful color that personifies immaculate, yet unconventional elegance. Tanzanite can sometimes be mistaken for blue sapphire, but tanzanite can have very pronounced pleochroism, which reflects different colors from different angles. It is marketed as the gemstone to give to a mother with a new born child.

Stone Type: Lemon Quartz

Throughout history, standing in for more expensive gemstones ranging from Diamond to Jade, Quartz has been considered the second most common mineral on the earth and the common chameleon of gemstones. But the incredible variety of Quartz is now beginning to be appreciated for its own sake. Especially the fine colored green Lemon Quartz gemstones are very popular in today's market. Jewelers love to set Lemon Quartz into rings and pendants.

Gem quartz includes many varieties of wonderful gemstones that vary in color and are extremely attractive. It should be noted that quartz gemstones are usually the most affordable by carat. They have been known to man since the beginning of time and have had mystical, medicinal and magical attributes associated with them from time to time. Usually these attributes included the ability to ward off evil or disease.

Stone Type: Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz is brown transparent quartz that is sometimes used for unusual faceted cuts. The commercial market is limited, because there is a rather limited demand for brown gemstones. This variety was sometimes known as smoky topaz in the past, though the term is incorrect and misleading.

Stone Type: Blue Quartz

Blue Quartz, also named Sapphire Quartz, is a kind of Quartz with the color of Blue. As mentioned in Lemon Quartz, Quartz has been considered the second most common mineral on the earth and the common chameleon of gemstones. Gem quartz includes many varieties of wonderful gemstones that vary in color and are extremely attractive. Blue Quarts share the features of common quartz but with this unique color of blue favored by majority.

Stone Type: Chalcedonies

Quartz that is formed not of one single crystal but a number of finely grained microcrystals is known as chalcedony. The variety of chalcedonies is even greater than that of transparent quartz, including cryptocrystalline quartz with patterns as well as a wide range of solid colors. Agates are banded. Bloodstone has red spots on a green background. Moss agate has a plant-like pattern. Jasper sometimes looks like a landscape painting. Another staple of the jewelry industry is black onyx, chalcedony quartz which owes its even black color to an ancient dyeing process that is still used today. Carnelian, another chalcedony valued in the ancient world, has a vivid brownish orange color and clear translucency that makes it popular for signet rings and seals. Chrysoprase, a bright, apple-green, translucent chalcedony, is the most valued. It was a particular favorite of Frederick The Great of Prussia. It can be seen today decorating many buildings in beautiful Prague, including the Chapel of St Wenceslas. Today, chrysoprase is found mostly in Australia. Unlike most other green stones, which owe their color to chromium or vanadium, chrysoprase derives its color from nickel. Its bright even color and texture lend themselves well to beads, cabochons, and carvings.

Stone Type: Agate

Agate, extremely beautiful and most noted for its banded and multicolored schemes, is a beautiful mineral that occurs in an amazing variety of colors, shapes and patterns. It is a unique stone that is part of the quartz family.

Agate has been sought after since the beginning of time and through the ages man has given them mystical qualities such as making one invisible or protecting one from sickness. Today, Agate comes in many different varieties on almost any type of jewelry piece.

No gemstone is more creatively striped by Nature than agate, chalcedony quartz that forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of colors and textures. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. As a result, agate is often found as a round nodule, with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk. The bands sometimes look like eyes, fanciful scallops, or even a landscape with trees.

Stone Type: Onyx

One of the more popular precious gemstones, Onyx is a beautiful type of quartz that comes in a variety of colors. It is extremely similar to Agate, another type of quartz. Its quality, colors and substance is very attractive by many consumers and Onyx is a great stone to compliment or accent other high quality gemstones or precious metals.

Onyx usually comes in black or black with white bands. The bands that are found on Onyx run parallel and are consistent while Agate bands are round or circular and are not consistent. Onyx is a fairly strong stone and has a hardness measured by Moh's hardness scale of 7.0. This means that it will stand up to the daily grind and will usually last for many years, or even many generations if kept well. It can be fit for a ring, bracelet, earrings, charms, etc. Most consumers love the look of gold and onyx, or silver with onyx. Platinum and white gold are also popular precious metals to mix with onyx.