march birthstone

A traditional symbol in Celtic culture, the Claddagh combines three elements: a heart for love, hands for friendship and a crown for loyalty. An aqua cubic zirconia centres the crowned heart on the ring, held by hands completing the circle. The ring is rhodium plated to keep its shine and luster. Inscribed inside the ring is “Love, Loyalty, Friendship.”

Hanzi are characters used in Chinese writing. As early as the sixth century A.D., many of these characters began to be simplified and adopted into Japanese writing, where they're known as kanji, a term that is more widely used in the West. Artisans in Yiwu, China, create these pendants by using sterling silver and the lost-wax casting method. Each character emulates the sweeping brushstrokes of traditional calligraphy. Choose based on birth month, favorite color, or simply the symbol that resonates with you most.

January: Garnet/Beauty, February: Amethyst/Generosity, March: Blue Topaz/Affection, April: White Quartz/Love, May: Green Quartz/Sweetness, June: White Pearl/Longevity, July: Carnelian/Perfection, August: Peridot/Purity, September: Iolite/Protection, October: Pink Tourmaline/Happiness, November: Citrine/Artistry, December: Turquoise/Imagination.

Members of the Jalapa Girl Jewelsmiths Association find a new take on a symbol originating in 1958. Crafted of silver, the pendant depicts the peace symbol so popular in the 1960s and '70s, and they add a heart, an olive branch and a creamy cultured pearl.

"We're inspired by what we're living today, and this made me think that we need to be united to create a better world and united to achieve peace," the Guatemalan artisan says. "This pendant represents the strength of union needed for us to achieve, together, the victory of peace. This image was designed for one of the first marches for Nuclear Disarmament in London, and later became widely used as a symbol for peace."

She displays the pendant on a brown leather cord.