November birthstone: blue topaz and the stones that go with it

Which stone actually belongs to November? A question I get regularly, and the answer is richer than a single stone. For my own birthstone collection, I chose blue topaz, but the November birthstone has more than one face, and it's not just that one cool shade of blue.

In this blog, I explain where the list of birthstones comes from, which seven stones belong to November, and why I chose blue topaz.

Why a month has more than one stone

The idea that every month has a fixed birthstone feels like an age-old tradition, but the list as it is known today, with one or two stones per month, was established in 1912 by an American jewelry association to make jewelry sales more organized. The list was updated again in 1952. Topaz has long been on that list for November.

In addition to that official list, there is an older tradition in which each zodiac sign has its own stones. This makes the November birthstone much more versatile than the list might suggest at first glance.

Two zodiac signs in one month

November falls under two zodiac signs: Scorpio, up to and including November 21, and Sagittarius, from November 22. In the zodiac tradition, each sign has a long list of stones, more than twenty per sign. I will only mention the stones that also appear in my own birthstone collection.

Scorpio: topaz, aquamarine, emerald, garnet, and ruby.

Sagittarius: topaz, amethyst, garnet, pink tourmaline, and ruby.

If you put those two lists next to each other, seven stones remain: topaz, aquamarine, emerald, garnet, ruby, amethyst, and pink tourmaline. Topaz, garnet, and ruby appear in both signs. Topaz is also one of the official November birthstones.

Why I chose blue topaz

Of those seven, I chose topaz, and a bright, cool shade of blue. That color can be worn all year round, not just in November, and suits gold just as well as silver.

There was also a practical reason. Topaz scores 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. The higher that number, the better a stone is resistant to scratches from daily wear. Amethyst scores 7, garnet 6.5 to 7.5, and pink tourmaline 7 to 7.5. Only ruby, with a 9, is harder, while aquamarine and emerald, with 7.5 to 8, are close to topaz.

Topaz does have lower toughness. This means that a sharp blow can cause the stone to chip rather than scratch. It is perfectly suitable for a ring you wear every day, as long as you take it off during activities where a hard impact could occur.

How to choose between the seven stones

If you are unsure which of the seven stones suits you, here are a few points to consider:

• If you like cool tones, look at blue topaz or aquamarine, the lighter and calmer blue.
• If you like warm, deep colors, garnet and ruby are natural choices.
• If you like green, there is emerald. It often has small inclusions, which are part of this stone's character, but also make it more fragile than its hardness suggests.
• If you like purple or pink, amethyst and pink tourmaline are the choices.

If you want a stone that can handle everyday wear, choose one of the harder stones: ruby, topaz, aquamarine, or tourmaline. Ultimately, there is no wrong choice. Whichever stone you choose, it belongs to November just as much as the rest.

The ring I made from it

View the Luna birthstone ring in gold with blue topaz or the Luna birthstone ring in silver with blue topaz, both available in multiple sizes. Not only for those born in November, the ring is worn just as often as a personal piece of jewelry or as a gift, without a specific occasion.

You can find the other stones from this list in the Luna collection under their own birth month: garnet in January, amethyst in February, aquamarine in March, emerald in May, ruby in July, and pink tourmaline in October.

How to care for a topaz piece of jewelry

• Take off the ring when exercising, doing chores, or participating in other activities where a hard impact could occur.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as hot water immediately after being out in the cold.
• Apply perfume, body lotion, and hand cream first, then the ring.
• Store the ring separately in its box so it does not rub against other jewelry.
• Polish carefully with the included polishing cloth.
  

Frequently asked questions about the November birthstone

Which stone is the November birthstone? Topaz is one of the official November birthstones. In addition, Scorpio and Sagittarius each have a long list of their own stones in the zodiac tradition, of which topaz, garnet, and ruby appear in both signs.

Is blue topaz a real stone? Yes, topaz is a natural gemstone. Natural blue topaz is rare. Most of the blue topaz on the market is colorless topaz that has been made blue with heat and radiation, a common treatment in the gemstone industry.

Is topaz suitable for a ring you wear every day? Topaz scores high on the hardness scale and is therefore well resistant to scratches. Do pay attention to hard impacts, as the stone is more likely to chip than scratch.

Do you have to be born in November to wear this ring? No. Some people deliberately choose their own birthstone, others simply wear it because they like the color, or give it as a gift to someone born in November.

You only need to choose one stone, not the right one

Of the seven stones that belong to November, none has more right to the month than the rest. I chose blue topaz for its color and for its practical qualities. Someone else can choose ruby, aquamarine, or garnet with just as much right. Both are correct; it is up to you.

Are you born in November, and which stone appeals to you the most? I would love to hear from you.

Love, Imme