may birthstone jewelry

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.

Sterling beads frame a silver rod that suspends stylized hearts. By Aparna, these delightful earrings feature citrine's golden allure.

.925 Sterling silver

Sunny droplets of amber enclose mysterious shadows. Clasped in a sterling embrace, they dance beneath lustrous pearls. Guillermo works with silver mined in Taxco to create these lovely earrings.

.925 Sterling silver

When used in jewelry, amber beads can include a stunning arrangement of tones and hues. Natural amber ranges from yellow to deep orange. It may sometimes even have a green cast to it, as well as opaque swirls within. Because amber is the preserved resin of prehistoric trees that grew millions of years ago, it sometimes has tiny inclusions of plants and insects -- making it highly prized.

Mexico's Guillermo Arregui designs a luminous choker of arresting beauty. It is cast of sterling silver and centered by a glowing amber gem. Crowned with an iridescent pearl and peridot, the pendant glistens with tumbaga, a gold and copper alloy developed since pre-Hispanic times.

.925 Sterling silver

When used in jewelry, amber beads can include a stunning arrangement of tones and hues. Natural amber ranges from yellow to deep orange. It may sometimes even have a green cast to it, as well as opaque swirls within. Because amber is the preserved resin of prehistoric trees that grew millions of years ago, it sometimes has tiny inclusions of plants and insects -- making it highly prized.