April showers bring May flowers, but we’d prefer some dazzling Emeralds instead!  This month’s birthstone is a natural beauty, coming in various shades of mesmerizing green.  Did you know the emerald has a long history, being mined even in Ancient Egypt?  We think Cleopatra would like to try some of our modern interpretations of this gem. These emerald and diamond earrings have an organic, flowing form that bring out the inner Queen in all of us.

Huge emerald

Meet the Gachala Emerald!  This stunner is one of the largest and most famous uncut emeralds in the world. Currently residing at the Smithsonian Institution in New York, the Gachala was discovered in 1967 in Colombia, where rare types of emeralds are often found.  Weighing a hefty 858 carats (172 g), the Gachala Emerald is an example of the pure beauty of uncut gems.

Mom’s wisdom

Emeralds are not meant just for May babies. May is also the month we celebrate Mother’s Day and what mother wouldn’t love a vibrant emerald pendant?  Said to be a symbol of hope, wisdom and tranquility, the emerald embodies all the values a mother possesses.  These emerald earrings with colorful accents are the perfect representation of the balance and beauty a mother finds in her life every day.

Rejuvenate with emeralds

The rich green color of an emerald is reminiscent of nature and inner beauty.  Said to be a source of positive and rejuvenating energy a brilliant emerald is sure to make its wearer smile.  Whether it is accented with yellow or white gold an emerald evokes a sense of peace and joy.  We love experimenting with such a versatile gem.  Like these gorgeous rings we think the emerald is perfect for any occasion!

For all our May Babies we wish you a Happy Birthday and hope your month shines as bright and radiant as an emerald!

December babies, you sure know how to make your entrance!  With Tanzanite as your stone, how could you not?  Your birthstone is the newest and one of the most rare gems in the world! It can only be found in Tanzania in a small region between Mt. Kilimanjaro and Olduvai Gorge.  

The actual discovery of Tanzanite is still widely debated, but Maasai legend says that the land was set on fire by the “magic fire from the sky,” which then transformed the ground into gorgeous shimmering blue-violet gems. The Maasai tribesmen filled their pouches with these gems knowing that the stones would bring them a better life.

The Queen

Please, make way for the Queen of Kilimanjaro. 

She is a hefty 242 carat piece of tanzanite, accented with 803 brilliant cut tsavorite garnets and 913 brilliant cut diamonds.  The Queen is one of the only tanzanites, not to mention the largest, to ever be put in a tiara. Gorgeous, isn’t she?

Although we can’t own that gorgeous hunk of jewelry, why not try out this tanzanite ring from our Pacifica collection? 

Mothers wear Tanzanite for baby’s health

This gorgeous blue and purple stone isn’t used just for its dashing good looks – although, it is definitely a great reason to wear it – it has a lot of properties that better your life too!

Tanzanite represents transformation and good fortune, it elevates one’s mood and frees the bearer from negative habits and energy. According to the Maasai, if given as a gift to a mother after the birth of their baby, their child will live a healthy, positive and successful life.

I think this 2.72 carat tanzanite and white diamond drop necklace would make a great gift for any mother! 

Stressed out before the holidays? Relax with Tanzanite!

This stone is a natural stress reliever. It relaxes and brings you back to a slower, more manageable pace if you deal with high pressure lifestyle.  It also wakens the mind and heart, and lowers blood pressure. It even clears the body of toxins that cause skin disorders!

So put it close to your skin and see the stress just melt away. I would be infinitely less stressed out if I could have these  drop earrings on my ears all the time!

Now, December babies, wear your stone proudly and make everyone in the room jealous of you at those upcoming holiday parties!

Wake up, November babies!  The sun is shining on your stone this month – the citrine!  The citrine is most known for its warm, sunny golden color – but it ranges from pale yellows to a rich, dark amber color. Citrine comes to us primarily from the sunny country to Brazil, but some has been found in our native California!

This citrine and diamond ring with an 18 kt gold band certainly has a way with lighting up a room — especially in the cold months of November!

Not only is its sunny color a great way to brighten up your wardrobe, back in the Middle Ages, it was believed to hold “Sun Energy.”  The “Sun Energy” was used to treat those whose energy and moods became a depressed state during long winter months or extended periods of rainy and overcast weather.  (Oh, the overcast fog, that’s something that we San Franciscans know well!) 

These gorgeous citrine earrings and matching citrine pendant necklace from our fairytale collection would brighten up anyone’s mood! Don’t ya think? 

Unlike most stones, the citrine is the only stone that doesn’t accumulate or hold any negative energy. It simply takes the negative energy off of the person or situation and transforms it into good energy.

Which is why the citrine is such a strong symbol of hope and strength, and it’s warm, happy color is perfect for helping anyone get through some rough patches in their lives.  It’s been known to help cleans, purify and eliminate poisons that are built up, or even calm and sooth someone in distressed conditions.

This citrine and diamond ring would get anyone through those murky times in life. I mean, with a ring this gorgeous, who wouldn’t immediately be happier?

Now everyone, I want you to meet Malaga. She is the largest and most unique citrine ever found, weighing at 200,200 carats and measures at 20x15x10 cm! SHE’S HUGE! (Not to mention, an absolute stunner!) Malaga was discovered in Brazil in the late 1980s but wasn’t carefully cut until 2009 by a team of Brazilian experts. Malaga permanently resides in the Royal Collection at the Art Natura Malaga complex in Spain, where they proudly show her off as largest gemstone of its kind. We love how gorgeously sunny she looks! It would certainly brighten up the room… office… city… you name it! 

And remember November darlings, the sun is always shining on your month — so wear your citrine proudly! 

September babies can sure call themselves lucky as their birthstone is sapphire, one of the most vibrant gems with a royal upbringing!

While sapphire, the cousin of ruby, can come in many different color tones, its most famous (and valuable) is of course the deep, intense blue, which is known to symbolize truth and faithfulness and is a symbol of the heavens.

Fun Facts about Sapphire!

Did you know that according to the Ancient Hebrew legend, the tablet with the Ten Commandments was made out of sapphire?

Sapphire, like its cousin ruby, was thought to have strong medicinal powers and ancients used it for protection against sorcery, believing that it would banish evil spirits and rebound negative spells. Seems like a very good reason to always have sapphire on :) 

Because of these powers, sapphire was the gem of choice for kings, queens and high priests throughout the centuries. Kings even wore sapphire whenever they signed a treaty to ensure a true resolution between nations.   

All Hail the Queen

The British Crown Jewels are adorned with large sapphires, so it was no real surprise when Prince Charles presented Lady Di with a large sapphire engagement ring. Princess Diana also received this impressive diamond and sapphire pendant from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. 

Of course, more recently, that ring has been seen on Princess Kate’s finger. However, that’s not the only sapphire Princess Kate owns. Prince William gave Kate a pair of his mother’s sapphire stud earrings, which she remade into drop earrings.

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana’s Sapphire Earrings

Modern Sapphire Jewelry by Yael Designs

Feeling royal yet? We love working with sapphire, so here is a set of sapphire earrings, sprinkled with a dash of diamonds designed by yours truly!
Or how about this platinum “Triad” ring featuring a 6.34 ct unheated blue sapphire accented with white Diamonds, which won the 2011 AGTA Spectrum Platinum Honors?

We wish the happiest of birthdays to all September babies. May sapphire give you strength and protect you from evil.

This month we’re celebrating a vivid green gemstone with cosmic origins and magical powers:

No, it’s not an emerald. It’s peridot, the birthstone for the month of August! A vivid green stone that varies from yellow to olive to brownish green and is a great option for summer outfits. Its nickname is “emerald of the evening” because its radiant green shine doesn’t change even in artificial light.

We use peridots the hue of fresh cut grass in our playful and colorful Fairytale Collection:

Wards nightmares, attracts lovers

Having nightmares lately? Legend says that if the gem is set in gold and worn on the right arm, it becomes a talisman with power to dispel terrors of the night, fears and bad dreams.

Peridot has been long considered to be an aid to friendship, freeing the mind of envious thoughts. Legends also credit peridot with bringing happiness and attracting lovers.

Cosmic origins recycled

Did you know peridot is the only gemstone found in meteorites?? That’s what inspired this pendant made with peridot and blue topaz in recycled 18K white gold with a few diamonds sprinkled in:

Peridot is an ancient stone and can be found in Egyptian jewellery from the early 2nd millennium B.C. Some jewelry historians believe that some, if not all of the emeralds Cleopatra was famous for wearing, were not actually emeralds, but Peridots from Egypt.

In the late 18th century, jewelers took peridot from Egyptian ecclesiastial and other ornaments and reused them in jewelry. Now, that’s recycling :)

July is ruby month, so we wanted to celebrate the precious red stone that has adorned beautiful crowns, ornaments and people through the ages.

Ruby Fun Facts

The ruby is considered one of four precious stones together with sapphire, its sister gemstone from the corundum family, emerald and diamond.

Found throughout Asia, ruby has been used in some unusual ways. Ruby gems were laid beneath the foundation of buildings to secure good fortune to the structure - I think we may want to bury one under our San Francisco headquarters in case there’s an earthquake :)

And some cultures even believed that rubies, when ground to a powder, cure blood diseases and sooth indigestion. Ruby cocktail, anyone??

Famous Rubies

Some famous ladies including Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth and Jacqui Kennedy owned some impressive ruby jewelry.

Taylor’s third husband, Mike Todd, gave her a Cartier ruby and diamond necklace.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing
Cartier Ruby and Diamond Suite (1958)
Photo © Photofest

“He was holding a red leather box, and inside was a ruby necklace, which glittered in the warm light. It was like the sun, lit up and made of red fire.” - Elizabeth Taylor, My Love Affair with Jewelry.

Sounds like a husband with a great taste! Why did she leave him again? Oh, right…

Most recently, ruby made a splash in the bridal world when Jessica Simpson received a ruby engagement ring. 

Ruby Jewelry by Yael Designs

As for our own version, we at Yael Designs recently made this ruby engagement ring set in a halo or diamonds and a 18k white gold band. Check it out:

We also used rubies in combination with black and white diamonds in our Magic Mushroom ring from our Lyra fall 2011 collection: