November’s birthstone, citrine, comes in the colors of citrus fruits, ranging from deep reddish orange, reminiscent of Madeira wines, to pale and saturated yellow hues. In fact, its name is derived from the French word “citron,” which means “lemon.” Citrine’s optimistic colors bring to mind the warmth of mid-day sunshine.

Tourmaline, the October birthstone, comes in almost every color of the rainbow. The most popular varieties range from rich reds, pinks and peach colors, to emerald greens and yellows, to blues and violets.

Opal, October’s birthstone, is a captivating gemstone because of its unique optical characteristics. Opals often exhibit a spectrum of colors called “play-of-color,” which is when viewed from various directions. The Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, referred to opal’s play-of-color in the 1st century AD when he wrote: “For in them you shall see the living fire of ruby, the glorious purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light.”

September’s birthstone, the sapphire, is known for its various shades of blue, however, these gemstones come in every color of the rainbow. A red sapphire is actually a ruby, the September gem’s sibling. Both of these gems are made from the durable mineral corundum. The rare pink orange variety known as padparadscha is especially prized, named after the color of a lotus flower.

Peridot, the August birthstone, is the gem variety of the mineral olivine. Instantly recognizable with its distinctive lime green color, peridot is known as the “extreme” gem because it is only found in harsh conditions. It is mined from rocks created by volcanoes and even found in meteorites that fall to Earth.

Ruby, July’s birthstone, has been esteemed since ancient times, even mentioned in the Bible as one of the gems used to represent one of the 12 tribes of Israel.