Amethyst is the most highly valued stone in the quartz family and its main deposits are in Brazil. Amethyst is a powerful and protective stone. It is known as a natural tranquilizer, it relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety.  It also alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity.  Amethyst activates spiritual awareness, opens intuition and enhances psychic abilities.  It has strong healing and cleansing powers. Amethyst symbolizes deep love, happiness, humility, sincerity and wealth. It can display a range of shades including deep purple, light lilac, lavender pink (Rose the France) and mauve. 

Fun facts: The ancient Greeks already knew about the attributes of gems and infused their wine with amethysts to improve its taste, and for this reason, amethyst means “the non-intoxicable” in classical Greek.

Birth Stone month: February.

Birth Stone zodiac: Aries and Pisces. 

Blue Topaz is a variety of Topaz that’s one of the most sought-after and most valuable. It is a stone of peacefulness, calming to the emotions, and ideal for meditation and connecting with spiritual beings. It is also a natural magnifier of psychic abilities, assisting those who wish to attune to inner guidance, as well as those who serve others through readings or spiritual healing. Looking at Blue Topaz will make you think of the water, the wind, and the sky! It is normally found in three varieties of colors, called Swiss Blue, Sky Blue and London Blue. It is highly recommended for emotional healing from shock or trauma. It is also a very beneficial stone for anyone whose life contains an unhealthy amount of tension or stress.

Fun facts: In the past, topaz has been used to soothe fears and protect against nightmares to give a restful and serene night’s sleep. Ancient civilizations believed the blue topaz to have cooling powers and they used the stones to help relieve burns and cool boiling waters.

Birth stone month: December.

Birth stone zodiac: Sagittarius and Scorpio.

Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. It instills feelings of benevolence and generosity. It also is said to alleviate hostility and transforms melancholy into joy. Chalcedony brings the mind, body and spirit into alignment. It sends feelings of generosity and benevolence to you. It has a waxy luster and may be semitransparent or translucent. It can assume a wide range of colors, but those most commonly seen are grayish-blue or a shade of pink to guava color. Chalcedonies are usually cut as cabochons or carved, although an exceptional, near transparent piece may be faceted.

Fun facts: The term chalcedony is derived from the name of the ancient Greek town Chalkedon in Asia Minor.

Birth stone zodiac: Chalcedony can be associated with all the zodiac signs except Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Citrine is a variety of quartz ranging in color of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown, reddish-brown. The largest supplies of natural citrine are at Rio Grande do Sul state, in Southern Brazil. The Citrine meaning is associated with wealth and abundance and it is one of the best stones for boosting those manifestations. Its meaning is also linked with boosting joy and optimism, which gives you the motivation you need to accomplish your goals. Citrine is known to give energy and invigoration to the physical body.

Fun facts: As early as 300 BC, Citrine was a favorite item for jewelry makers beginning with the ancient Greeks and Romans. According to ancient Chinese myths and legends, Citrine was considered the 'stone of success' because it removed misconceptions and enhanced intellect.

Birth stone month: November.

Birth stone zodiac: Libra and Sagittarius.

The largest deposits of Prasiolite are found in Brazil. It is the green variety of Amethyst. Prasiolite inspires creativity, attracting success, prosperity and abundance. It links, integrates and balances the higher and lower aspects of being. It awakens the heart to the frequency of love and compassion and enhances the connection to all things. Prasiolite helps one to act on higher guidance and follow one’s heart upon the path of spirit. It is a stone of transformative energies, transmuting negative energy to positive without releasing it to the atmosphere.

Fun facts: Prasiolite is said to relieve people from insomnia. The effect is to create a profound connection to their higher self.

Birth Stone month: February.

Birth Stone zodiac: Capricorn and Scorpio.

Rose Quartz is the stone of universal love. It restores trust and harmony in relationships, encouraging unconditional love. Rose Quartz purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. Physiologically, the rose quartz stone is considered a powerful healing stone. It has been suggested it can improve circulation, boost neuron connectivity, and even accelerate healing. But, remember, never use any crystal to replace the advice of a qualified doctor!

Fun facts: In Greek mythology, rose quartz appeared in stories where gods and goddesses used the precious stone's properties to restore, renew, and recharge love. The romans used rose quartz as a seal to signify ownership. The Egyptians believed the stone could prevent aging.

Birth stone month: January.

Birth stone zodiac: Taurus.