A Gem of a Year Trivia Quiz

JANUARY - Garnets have long been held as a protective stone, shielding one from injury, making them a popular choice to be worn by warriors and royalty. Garnets of the red variety (they can be found in multiple colours) are also associated with blood, and are thus connected to vitality, love, and light.

FEBRUARY - With their purple colouring, amethysts are often associated with royalty, and have thus been favoured by those amongst the aristocracy. As a birthstone, amethysts have also come to be associated with healing, spirituality, and mental clarity.

MARCH - Thought at one time to protect those who went to sea, aquamarine gemstones are named for the colouring of the sea ('aquamarine' is Latin for 'seawater'). In addition to the maritime connection, aquamarines are also connected with marital happiness and with a strong intellect.

APRIL - Their incredible hardness, durability, and (of course) scintillating beauty make diamonds the most popular gemstone in the world. Commonly used in engagement and wedding rings, diamonds are associated with strength and never ending love.

MAY - The beautiful green of emeralds are synonymous with renewal, and legend has it that they can endow the wearer with wisdom and intelligence, and even the ability to predict the future! But if the emerald is your birthstone, you probably knew I was going to say that.

JUNE - Pearls are the only gems that come from living creatures, and they are highly valued when they have an even (pearlescent) colouring and are blemish free. Pearls have come to be associated with honesty, purity, and wisdom, and in some cultures also with the divine.

JULY - Associated with strength and vitality (due to the blood-like red colouring), rubies were a favourite for warriors seeking an advantage over their enemies. And as for the clue, 'Ruby' is the name of an open source computer programming language created in 1995 by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto.

AUGUST - The yellowish green of peridots has caused it to be associated with the sun, and thus the idea that it gave protection from the evil spirits that reign in the dark of night. In a related way (sun association), some think that peridots carry the gift of "inner radiance", making the mind sharp and more open and aware.

SEPTEMBER - Sapphires come in many different colours, but are most associated with a brilliant blue (in fact, sapphire translates from the Latin 'saphirus', which means blue). In history, sapphires were believed to provide both physical protection and protection from the evil intent of others.

OCTOBER - Australia produces about 95% of the world's supply of opals, including the largest ever mined at 17,000 carats (3.4 kg in weight). They are dynamic in appearance, changing colour in different light, which is where the name comes from... the Greek term 'opallios', means 'to see a change in colour'. Opals are said to have healing properties, especially for the eyes.

NOVEMBER - Topaz gems come in many different colours, but pure topaz is colourless. In the Middle Ages, however, the term 'topaz' was used to refer to any yellow gemstone. Different beliefs have been held about topaz over the centuries, from protection while travelling, to increasing body heat to help fight colds or fevers, or to even curing lunacy.

DECEMBER - Turquoise was one of the first gemstones ever to be mined, and its colour ranges from sky blue to apple green, depending on the iron and copper content. As with many of the other birthstones, turquoise was thought to protect against evil, danger, and disease, and to release inhibitions to allow one's soul to better express itself.