Topaz
Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:
During the Middle Ages topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death.
The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight. The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is the crystalline form of zirconium dioxide that is a mineral that is widely synthesized for use as a diamond simulant. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless, but may be made in a variety of different colors. Because of its low cost, durability, and close visual likeness to diamond, synthetic cubic zirconia has remained the most gemologically and economically important diamond simulant since 1976. Its main competition as a synthetic gemstone is the more recently cultivated material, synthetic moissanite..
| Traditional Birthstone | Modern Birthstone |
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| March | Bloodstone, Jasper | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond, Sapphire | Diamond |
| May | Emerald, Agate | Emerald |
| June | Alexandrite, Emerald | Moonstone, Pearl |
| July | Ruby, Onyx | Ruby |
| August | Sardonyx, Carnelian | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire, Peridot | Sapphire |
| October | Tourmaline, Pearl | Opal, Rose Zircon |
| November | Citrine, Topaz | Topaz, Citrine |
| December | Zircon, Ruby | Tourquoise, Blue Topaz |