birthstone jewelry - Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery

November Birthstones Topaz and Citrine

Suzanne Crudden — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:29:56 +0000

A Little Sunshine for November Birthdays

As the days get shorter here in Toronto and the grey November skies roll in, it’s nice to have something warm and golden to hold on to. And that’s exactly what November birthstones topaz and citrine bring.

Topaz and citrine are both glowing, cheerful stones that seem to catch the light of autumn’s last sunshine. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, looking for a gift or just love these rich golden gems, November birthstones make beautiful jewellery.

Yellow Topaz: The Traditional November Birthstone

The traditional birthstone for November is yellow topaz, a gem known for its golden radiance and incredible clarity. Throughout history, topaz has been seen as a stone of warmth, strength, and good fortune. Ancient Egyptians even linked it to the sun god Ra, believing it carried the energy of the sun itself, perfect for brightening the darker days of late fall.

Topaz is found in many parts of the world including Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The most famous golden topaz comes from Brazil’s Minas Gerais region. This is also where the most coveted variety, Imperial Topaz, originates.

Imperial Topaz : The Rare Royal Gem

Imperial Topaz is the crème de la crème of the topaz family. With its deep golden-orange or blush-pink tones, it seems to glow from within. The name dates back to 19th-century Russia, where it was reserved for the Czar’s family, hence “Imperial.”

Today, natural Imperial Topaz is rare and sought-after, making it a beautiful choice for custom jewellery that feels truly one-of-a-kind.

A Rainbow of Topaz Colours

While the birthstone for November features topaz in its sunny yellow shade, this gem actually comes in a whole spectrum of colours, blue, pink, champagne, green, and even colourless.

These colours form naturally due to tiny trace elements and natural irradiation in the earth, though some are gently enhanced with heat to bring out their most vibrant hues.

That means if yellow isn’t your colour, there’s a topaz for you, from cool London Blue Topaz to soft pink champagne tones. All of them can be lovely alternatives for November birthstone jewellery, especially if you aren’t a big fan of yellow.

Citrine: A Cheerful Alternative

The other birthstone for November is citrine, a gem that seems to hold sunshine inside it. Citrine is actually a variety of quartz, and its name comes from citron, the French word for lemon.

Its warm yellow and amber tones are caused by traces of iron in the crystal. While natural citrine exists, most citrine you’ll find today is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. The heat gives it that deep, golden colour that ranges from honey to amber to sunset orange.

Citrine is found in Brazil, Spain, Madagascar, and Uruguay, and it’s known for being bright and budget-friendly. A lovely option for November birthstone gifts if you want something warm, sparkly, and meaningful.

Finding Your November Birthstone Jewellery in Toronto

Whether you fall for the rare fire of Imperial Topaz or the soft, golden glow of citrine, both gems carry a warmth that feels so fitting for November.

They shine beautifully in rings, necklaces, earrings, and make thoughtful birthday gifts. Or even just a little self-care sparkle before winter sets in.

If you’re looking for November birthstone jewellery in Toronto, we’d love to help you create something that captures your story. From a golden citrine pendant to a warm topaz pair of earrings that feels like a little bit of sunshine you can wear.

The post November Birthstones Topaz and Citrine first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

October Birthstone Jewellery: Opal and Tourmaline

Suzanne Crudden — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 23:28:36 +0000

October Birthstone Jewellery: Opal and Pink Tourmaline

October is a month of changing colours, cozy sweaters, and crisp autumn air. And beyond that, October babies are in luck because they have two beautiful gems to call their own: opal and pink tourmaline.

Both stones full of colour and meaning, making them perfect for creating October birthstone jewellery that tells a story. Whether you’re gifting someone special or treating yourself, these gems bring warmth to any design.

The Magic of Opal: Fire in Stone

Opal feels a bit like autumn itself, full of light, layers of colour, and unexpected beauty. Its rainbow-like flashes have long made it a favourite among gem lovers.

History & Symbolism

Ancient Rome: Opals were seen as symbols of hope and purity. They were believed to bring good fortune.
Medieval Europe: Because opals contain so many colours, people thought they carried the power of every gemstone in one. Some even believed they granted invisibility!
Folklore: Through the centuries, opal has been tied to love, healing, and protection.

Where It’s Found

Most of the world’s opals come from Australia, famous for its fiery black opals. Other sources include Ethiopia, Mexico, and Brazil—each producing stones with their own distinct character.

In jewellery, opal pairs beautifully with warm yellow gold. Opal is a soft gemstone so yellow gold is a also a better option than white gold because it’s softer. It’s less likely for the opal to be damaged during setting in yellow gold, especially a higher karat.

Pink Tourmaline: October’s Modern Gem

If opal is like autumn leaves dancing in the light, then pink tourmaline is like a late October sunset—soft, glowing, and full of warmth.

History & Symbolism

Ancient Egypt: Legends said tourmaline travelled along a rainbow from the earth’s core, explaining its many colours.
18th Century Europe: Tourmaline became popular when Dutch traders brought it from Sri Lanka, where its unusual ability to attract small objects when heated earned it a reputation as a “magnet stone.”
Symbolism: Pink tourmaline is thought to bring love, compassion, and emotional balance—a gemstone for the heart.

Where It’s Found

Most pink tourmaline comes from Brazil, though it’s also found in Afghanistan, Mozambique, and the U.S. Its soft blush tones make it a versatile stone for both everyday jewellery and one-of-a-kind statement pieces.

October Birthstone Jewellery

Here in Toronto, October is the month where fall really arrives. The changing colour of the leaves, the need to pop on a sweater, all as we recognize a time of thanks giving and gratitude.

At our Toronto studio, we love creating custom opal and pink tourmaline jewellery for October babies and those that love them. Whether it’s a family birthstone ring, a pendant for an October birthday, or a pair of earrings just because.

Opal, being a soft stone, is more suitable for pendants and earrings. If you’d like to create a family birthstone ring we’d recommend pink tourmaline because it’s a bit more durable.

Alternatives for October Birthstones

Not everyone chooses opal or pink tourmaline. Some prefer alternatives that capture October’s romantic, colourful feel while offering a different look or durability:

Tourmaline – Other colours such as green and blue.

Rose Quartz – A gentle pink stone symbolizing love and peace.
Morganite – A peachy-pink cousin of emerald, popular for its elegance.
Moonstone – With its glowing, mystical sheen, it shares opal’s magical play of light.

Each carries its own meaning, making them lovely substitutes for October-inspired jewellery.

Final Thoughts

October’s birthstones, opal and pink tourmaline, capture the richness of the season. From the fiery flashes of opal to the tender glow of pink tourmaline, each stone carries history, symbolism, and beauty.

If you’re in Toronto and looking to create custom October birthstone jewellery that is as meaningful as it is beautiful, these gems are the perfect way to celebrate the season and the people you love.

The post October Birthstone Jewellery: Opal and Tourmaline first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Birthstone List

Suzanne Crudden — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 23:57:04 +0000

THE COMPLETE BIRTHSTONE LIST

Have you ever wondered why birthstones are such a big deal? In our birthstone list we will explore their history, discover the traditional and alternate stones, and learn some cool facts about each gem.

If you just looking for quick rundown of which stone corresponds to which month we’ve created this handy graphic below.

A Brief History of Birthstones

The idea of birthstones dates back to ancient times. The tradition is thought to have originated with the Breastplate of Aaron, a religious garment described in the Bible that was adorned with twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Fast forward to the 18th century, and people in Poland began wearing gemstones corresponding to their birth month. This trend spread, and in 1912, the American National Retail Jewelers Association (now Jewelers of America) officially adopted a standardized list of birthstones.

Traditional Birthstone List

January – Garnet

Chemical Description: Garnets are a group of silicate minerals with similar physical properties but different chemical compositions.
Where It’s Found: Garnet deposits are found in places like India, Sri Lanka, and the USA.
Fun Fact: Garnets come in almost every color except blue!

February – Amethyst

Chemical Description: Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, composed of silicon dioxide.
Where It’s Found: Major sources include Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
Fun Fact: Ancient Greeks believed amethyst could prevent drunkenness.

March – Aquamarine

Chemical Description: Aquamarine is a blue to blue-green variety of beryl, containing beryllium aluminum silicate.
Where It’s Found: This gem is commonly found in Brazil, Nigeria, and Madagascar.
Fun Fact: Aquamarine is said to calm the waves and keep sailors safe at sea.

April – Diamond

Chemical Description: Diamonds are pure carbon, arranged in a crystal lattice.
Where It’s Found: Diamonds are primarily mined in South Africa, Russia, and Canada.
Fun Fact: Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth.

May – Emerald

Chemical Description: Emerald is a green variety of beryl, colored by trace amounts of chromium and vanadium.
Where It’s Found: Significant sources include Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil.
Fun Fact: Cleopatra was famously obsessed with emeralds!

June – Pearl

Chemical Description: Pearls are organic gems formed inside mollusks, composed mainly of calcium carbonate.
Where It’s Found: They are primarily harvested in Japan, China, and the South Pacific.
Fun Fact: Pearls are the only gems created by living organisms.

July – Ruby

Chemical Description: Ruby is a red variety of corundum, made of aluminum oxide with chromium.
Where It’s Found: Notable sources are Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Fun Fact: Rubies are known as the “king of gemstones” for their deep red color and rarity.

August – Peridot

Chemical Description: Peridot is a gem-quality variety of olivine, composed of magnesium iron silicate.
Where It’s Found: Major sources include the USA (Arizona), China, and Pakistan.
Fun Fact: Peridot has been found in meteorites!

September – Sapphire

Chemical Description: Sapphire is a variety of corundum, an aluminum oxide mineral.
Where It’s Found: Sapphires are mined in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Australia.
Fun Fact: While blue is the most common, sapphires come in nearly every color except red (which are rubies).

October – Opal

Chemical Description: Opals are hydrated silica, with a significant water content.
Where It’s Found: Australia is the primary source, followed by Ethiopia and Mexico.
Fun Fact: Opals can display a stunning play-of-color, with flashes of rainbow colors.

November – Topaz

Chemical Description: Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine.
Where It’s Found: Brazil is the largest producer, along with Pakistan and Russia.
Fun Fact: Pure topaz is colorless, and impurities give it various colors.

December – Turquoise

Chemical Composition: Hydrated copper aluminum phosphate.
Where Found: Iran, the United States (Southwest), and China.
Fun Fact: Turquoise has been prized for thousands of years and is one of the oldest known gemstones.

Alternate Birthstone List

In addition to traditional birthstones, there is an alternate birthstone list for each month. They were introduced over time to provide more options and sometimes better availability.

June – Alexandrite

When It Became an Alternate: Added as an alternate in the late 20th century.
Fun Fact: Alexandrite changes color from green in daylight to red under incandescent light.

August – Spinel

When It Became an Alternate: Officially recognized in 2016.
Fun Fact: Spinel was often mistaken for ruby in the past; the “Black Prince’s Ruby” in the British Crown Jewels is actually a spinel.

October – Pink Tourmaline

When It Became an Alternate: Recognized in the early 20th century.
Fun Fact: Tourmaline comes in many colors, with pink being one of the most popular.

November – Citrine

When It Became an Alternate: Added in the early 20th century.
Fun Fact: Citrine is known as the “merchant’s stone” for its supposed prosperity-bringing properties.

December – Blue Zircon and Tanzanite

When Became Alternatives: Zircon in the 1950s, Tanzanite in 2002.
Fun Fact: Zircon is double refractive which makes it very sparkly and Tanzanite is prized for its deep blue-violet hue.

What's your Stone?

So there you have it, your comprehensive birthstone list! Next time you admire your birthstone, you’ll know a bit more about its history, origins, and the science that makes it shine.

If you are thinking of making a piece of birthstone jewellery we’d be happy to help! You can either reach out to us or request a quote and we’ll get back to you asap.

The post Birthstone List first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Custom Mother’s Day Jewellery

Suzanne Crudden — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 22:04:55 +0000

Mother’s Day is a day where we pause the demands of everyday life to recognize and cherish our mothers. Traditionally accompanied with gifts, large or small, but always thoughtful. A macaroni necklace made by a child can be just as valuable to a mother as a necklace made of gold. What is important is the meaning. This is why custom mother’s day jewellery is such a great idea for a Mother’s Day gift. Lasting, heirloom quality jewellery invested with meaning.

Custom Mother’s Day jewellery doesn’t have to be studded with diamonds to be meaningful. For example, we could cast one of those pieces of pasta from a macaroni necklace in silver so it lasts forever. In this post we’re going to take a look at custom Mother’s Day jewellery ideas that are both thoughtful and meaningful.

Custom Mother's Day Jewellery: Necklace Ideas

We’ve found that necklaces or pendants are a very popular gift for Mother’s Day. Likely because they are easy to wear everyday and sit close to the heart.

Birthstone Necklaces

Personalized Necklaces

There are many ways to include a special touch of personalization in a necklace. You could include names or initials. You could include an engraving of a fingerprint. You could even scan a piece of your child’s artwork or handwriting that we could then engrave on a pendant.

Custom Mother's Day Jewellery: Rings

The other most popular custom Mother’s Day jewellery idea is a ring. It is an especially popular gift for adult children to give to their mother, or a husband to give to a wife. Usually these rings contain the birthstones of the family.

The nice thing about a family ring is that it doesn’t have to adhere to a certain style. This gives us the opportunity to include, not only personal style preferences, but thoughtful, symbolic touches in the ring.

Other Custom Mother's Day Jewellery Ideas

Bracelets are probably the next most popular Mother’s Day gift after necklaces and rings. There are certainly a number of charm-type bracelets that are very popular. Although you could say that charm bracelets are personalized, it’s more of a generic personalization. To add more meaning, you could use some of the ideas above such as custom engraving, birthstones or fingerprints.

Earrings seem to be less popular for Mother’s Day in particular, although they are very popular as a gift for other special occasions.

As with anything, the sky is the limit. If you have an vision for something you’d like to create fill out our quote request form. Or check out our shop, we have a lot of really special ready to ship pieces.

The post Custom Mother’s Day Jewellery first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Holiday and Winter Birthday Gift Guide

Suzanne Crudden — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:33:18 +0000

Our holiday and winter birthday gift guide is out now!

Full of thoughtful gift ideas for the holidays as well as December and January Birthdays!

We’re offering a sneak peak here.

Holiday and Winter Birthday Gift Guide Collections:

The Mulled Wine Collection

The Mulled Wine Collection features tangy rhodolite set in warm 14k rose gold. Garnet is also the January birthstone, rhodolite garnet being a nice alternative to the standard red of traditional birthstone jewellery.

A cocktail ring set with a show stopping oval rhodolite garnet.
A slider pendant set with an exceptional cut, cushion shaped rhodolite garnet.
And finally unique pair of half moon shaped stud earrings.

The Holly Jolly Collection

The Holly Jolly Collection features two separate pairs of stud earrings. But, if worn together, they would make a holly, jolly pair! Your set of holiday earrings for this season and many holiday seasons to come! As a bonus for January babies, demantoid garnet {like rhodolite) is a nice alternative to the standard red of traditional birthstone jewellery.

Tart red, rose cut rubies set in solid 14k yellow gold
Rare, super sparkly, green demantoid garnet in 14k yellow gold
(sold seperately)

The Birthstone Buffet Collection

Focusing on December birthstones, our birthstone buffet features a feast of options for anyone with a December birthday. We have the traditional turquoise, the alternative blue zircon and the newest December birthstone, tanzanite.

Rose cut turquoise stud earrings features both of the most sought after colours of turquoise, azure blue and robin’s egg blue set in 14k white gold
Electric blue zircon set in martini style three prong 14k yellow gold stud earrings
Vivid tanzanite, displaying the ‘not quite blue’ and ‘not quite violet’ colour that tanzanite is known for, set in 14k yellow gold

The Champagne Holiday Collection

Celebrate the holidays with our Champagne Holiday Collection. From rings designed for holiday engagements to special, one of a kind piece to celebrate yourself and the ones you love.

Our pear cut champagne diamond engagement ring set in rich 18k yellow gold will have you celebrating everyday for the rest of your life
Uniquely cut, half moon rose cut diamond earrings set in 14k rose gold are the perfect extra special gift for that one of a kind person
A vintage inspired diamond cluster engagement or anniversary ring in 14k rose gold will help ring in the new year with some extra sparkle

The post Holiday and Winter Birthday Gift Guide first appeared on Suzanne Crudden Custom Jewellery.

Garnet Gemstones

Suzanne Crudden — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:38:28 +0000

Garnet Gemstones: More than Just January's Birthstone

Garnet Quick Facts

garnet is available in many colours but most commonly red, orange, yellow, purple and green
garnet is rarely treated, the colour and clarity of garnet is all natural
garnet is a relatively soft stone, it has roughly the same hardness as glass
it is best used in a pendant, earrings or cocktail (occasional wear) rings

Why I Love Garnet

My dad was born in January. He wasn’t really a winter person and I don’t think he much liked having his birthday during the cold months. But one thing he did seem to like was his birthstone. He had a yellow gold and garnet ring that he wore all of the time.

The wear and tear of everyday life slowly started to soften the facet edges of the stone. But rather than make the ring less beautiful, I feel like the wear made the ring even more special. It was like the ring experienced the same life and took it in. I love that ring.

So I’ve always had an appreciation for garnet gemstones. But once I became a jeweller I found an even greater appreciation. I had no idea of all of the varieties and colours of garnet!

But isn’t garnet just a deep red, you say? Oh no, there’s much more to this stone than the classic colour we all have in our mind. Let’s have a closer look together.

What is a Garnet?

Garnet gemstones are actually a group with many sub species. They are all very similar minerals but have slightly different chemical compositions and are grouped together because their crystal structures are so alike. Most varieties are very common and are found all over the world. But there are also some very rare kinds of garnets that are pretty fascinating.

Typically the subspecies of garnets are split into two groups. Pyrope, almandine and spessartine form one group and grossular, andradite and uvarovite form the other.

Pyrope and almandine garnet are typically what we think of when we think of garnet, a stone ranging in hue from reddish brown to deep red to reddish purple. Spessartine is rarer and can range in colour from deep red to orange-red to orange. A true orange is the most prized colour.

Garnet Gemstones Used in Jewellery

Mozambique Garnet

I would wager that Mozambique garnet is what most of us think about when we think about garnet, that deep, dark red colour. Whereas most people would just call this “garnet”, jewellers call these garnets Mozambique garnets in order to distinguish them from other varieties. Obviously some of the most prized samples of this kind of garnet come from Mozambique.

Mozambique garnet is most often a combination of the pyrope and almandine varieties of garnet.

This is the traditional colour on the birthstone lists. But, if you’re not a fan, keep reading!

Rhodolite Garnet

Rholodite garnet is one of my favourite garnet gemstones. It’s from the pyrope group of garnets and the colour can range from reddish pink to pink to reddish purple. I call them raspberry garnets.

I have this rhodolite garnet that I’m planning to make into a stunner of a cocktail ring!

Spessartine Garnet

Spessartine garnet is one garnet, I will admit, I have not had much experience with. They are from (you guessed it) the spessartine group, are found all over the world and tend to be coloured in the red to orange to yellow spectrum.

What I find most interesting is the category of blue pyrope-spessartine garnets that are colour change stones. Colour change garnets change from blue-green to purple depending on the colour temperature of the light. All colour change stones are very rare and usually much more expensive.

Hessonite Garnet

Hessonite garnet is typically found in orange hues ranging from orangey-yellow to orangey-red. Sometimes it’s called a cinnamon stone. A hessonite garnet is from the grossular sub species of garnets.

I’ve had a few really pretty hessonite garnets over the years. I still have one that I’ve been mulling over ideas for but haven’t quite had the time to make into something.

Tsavorite Garnet

What in the heck is tsavorite and, more importantly, how do you pronounce it? The answer to the first question is it’s a green garnet from the grossular garnet group. The answer to the last question is, just drop the “T”.

It was first discovered in the Tsavo region of Kenya, hence the name. Sometimes it has been used in place of emerald due to it’s similar brilliant green and because tsavorite is less brittle than emerald, although less hard. High quality tsavorite is not always a less expensive choice than emerald. It’s actually 200 times more rare than emerald.

Demantoid Garnet

This is my other favourite garnet. Partly because of the name and partly because it’s so sparkly.

Demantoid garnet is the green variety of andradite and is very rare. It has a very high refractive index meaning it has a similar play of colour to diamonds. It is also slightly magnetic due to the iron content.

I have a pair of green demantoid garnet stud earrings in the shop that I set in 14k green gold that I just love. I think that’s the key. Make sure you love everything you make so that if they never sell you have a wonderful jewellery collection one day!

If you would like to explore this fascinating gemstone further I encourage you to check out more information on the GIA website.

Also, both the rhodolite and hessonite garnet gemstones pictured in this blog are available to make into your own one of a kind garnet jewellery. For more information please request a quote!

Thank you for joining me on our epic garnet adventure.

‘Til next time!

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