Birthstone 生辰石

生辰石据说同圣经中的十二基石、胸甲十二颗宝石、伊斯兰的十二天使和天体十二宫的传说有关。久而久之，已成为一种佩戴诞生月宝石的习俗。

九月生辰石：蓝宝石（Sapphire）

蓝宝石——六方晶系 硬度：9

蓝宝石是刚玉的一种，而那些具有宝石特性的非红色刚玉都是蓝宝石，所以它会展现多种色调，但以清澈的深蓝色宝石最为珍贵。自中世纪以来，它便象征天国的宁静，可使佩戴者平静，亲善，并能抑制邪恶不洁的意念。

代表星座：天秤座（9月23日～10月23日）


十一月生辰石：托帕石（Topaz）

托帕石——斜方晶系 ；硬度： 8

托帕石又名黄玉。有各种颜色的品种以黄色及粉红色最贵重，还有蓝色和绿色的品种。[黄玉]这个名称源自梵语的[tapus]，意思是火彩。传说将黄玉镶在金子中，然后戴在颈项上，便可驱除凶兆，治疗弱视并平息怒气。

代表星座：射手座（11月23日～12月21日）


Although some gemstones are more identifiable than others, topaz and sapphire share many physical characteristics that make them difficult for the untrained eye to tell apart. Their similarities in color varieties, hardness and luster are comparable, but there are also individual qualities of each stone that distinguish them from one another. With a few observations and tests, it's possible to tell the difference between the two.


Identification


1 Examine the color of the stone. Topaz varieties occur most commonly in golden brown to yellow tones but also in orange, red, blue, green and pink. The most popular sapphire variety is the blue sapphire, but it can occur in almost any color (except red, which is classified as a ruby.)

2 Observe the lustre, or shine, of the gemstone. Sapphires can have a slightly higher lustre as the result of a higher refractive index, but because the two are so similar it would be best to use a refractometer to measure these qualities. A refractometer measures the amount of light that is bent when passing through a material. A topaz has a refractive index of approximately 1.61-1.64, while a sapphire measures around 1.76-1.78.

3 Test the hardness of the stone. There are testing kits that examine the hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale, which is used by gemologists. The scale ranges from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). A topaz ranks at an 8 on the Mohs, while sapphire is a 9. The kit will usually come with different specimens or minerals that are used to scratch the gemstone, which will allow you to identify where the gemstone lies on the hardness scale.

4 Consult a professional jeweler or gemologist. If you're still in doubt after these tests and observations, find a reliable and qualified professional to examine your stone. There can be a great difference in value between topaz and sapphire gemstones, so it's important to find out before you consider buying or selling.