Gemstones add enticing splashes of color to jewelry, from classic birthstone rings to diamond-studded earrings. Whether you want to celebrate your birth month or add brilliant colors to your fine jewelry, you have plenty of options to choose from. Here is a rundown of birthstone gems and what they symbolize:

• January – Garnets come in a wide range of colors, from pale orange to deep red. They symbolize faith, constancy and truth.
• February – Amethyst is the most valuable crystal in the quartz family. It symbolizes intelligence, success and good judgment.
• March – Aquamarine has a stunning turquoise color and is often linked with happiness and everlasting youth.
• April – Diamonds are the most valuable gemstone and come in a rainbow of colors, with sparkling transparent being the most common. Diamonds symbolize power, success, friends and lasting youth.
• May – Emeralds are a rich green and are often associated with healing, faith and kindness.
• June – Pearls are not stones but are taken from substances in the sea. Wealth, love and purity are often linked with pearls.
• July – Rubies are a rich red color and are symbolic of peace and health.
• August – Peridots are bright olive green and symbolize purity and kindness.
• September – Sapphires are a deep blue. They’re said to ward off evil and bring good fortune.
• October – Opals include a mix of many colors. They symbolize purity and clairvoyance.
• November – Topaz is a yellowish hue and denotes courage and intellect.
• December – Tanzanite is blue-purple. It brings sophistication and self-confidence.