How do I shop for a birthstone bracelet?

By Ann Bishop

A birthstone bracelet is a very important piece of jewerly. Here's how to shop for one so you will be pleased with your choice.

When shopping for a birthstone bracelet it is important to remember that not all bracelets are created equal. There are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure that you get the best birthstone bracelet for your money.

Many of the birthstones have some of the same value definers. Birthstones for January, February, May, July, August, September, November, and December are (respectively) garnet, amethyst, emerald, ruby, peridot, sapphire, topaz, and zircon. These stones should not be opaque, but can be slightly translucent.

The stones in a birthstone bracelet for any of these months should be clear and free of streaks if it is in the higher price range. Each stone should have a rich color, rather than a light or multicolored appearance.

A birthstone bracelet for the month of March should be made of bloodstone, a multicolored, opaque stone. These stones should not have scratches on them, but be smooth.

April is the diamond month. A birthstone bracelet made of diamonds is probably going to be one of the more expensive bracelets for your wallet. Although diamonds are used in many other pieces of jewelry, the quality for the birthstone bracelet should not be sub-par.

Clear, colorless, and pristine diamonds are the most valuable form of the stone, but there are other colors. A yellowish color with many imperfections are usually worth less than the clear diamonds, but though they may hold a little less beauty these stones do appeal to some. A unique idea when it comes to diamonds is a colored diamond. There are some colors that occur naturally in the diamond and these can be a unique gift.

Birthstone Bracelet Resources

Pretty Personal Gifts - Very classy birthstone bracelets. Design your own.

FavoriteJewelry.com - If you want this one, you best put out a hint. Expensive, but elegant.

Pearls are the stone of June. A pearl's value is based on its color, sheen, size, and shape. The purer the color, the rounder the shape, the more valuable that pearl is. For a birthstone bracelet, there are usually multiple pearls within the piece of jewelry. The pearls should all be perfectly matched in the bracelet.

A birthstone bracelet for October should consist of either opal or pink tourmaline. Many jewelry stores do not even have pink tourmaline in stock, but opal is a beautiful stone also. A valuable opal has many, many colors playing throughout its surface. There are two different kinds of opals (the white kind and the black kind), but the white kind is the one most often seen in a birthstone bracelet for October.

In many jewelry stores, the attendants are perfectly happy to be helpful to the customers. If you do not see what you are looking for within their cases, they may be able to help you locate exactly what you have in mind.

How do I care for an opal bracelet? - If you are lucky enough to have an opal bracelet, you will want to know how to care for it properly. Here's how...

Ann Bishop is a free lance writer. Many of her articles are about jewelry as she grew up in a jewerly store environment. She is a frequent contributor to http://www.thankyouforasking.com.

Header graphic courtesy of Digital Westex Gallary

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