Aquarius - Jan 20 to Feb 18 - Garnet

Enhances loyalty and constancy, and was said to protect the wearer from all manner of poisons, cure depression and prevent nightmares.

Pisces - Feb 19 to Mar 20 - Amethyst

Enhances authority, sincerity and peace of mind. It is said to have been St. Valentine's favourite stone.

Aries - Mar 21 to Apr 19 - Aquamarine

Enhances bravery and unchanging love. It ensured safe and prosperous voyages.

Taurus - Apr 20 to May 20 - Diamond

Enhances caution and harmony in marriage. It is said to banish worries, curb violent feeling and strengthen love. The first use of diamonds was presumed to be in India where tiny diamonds were sprinkled over a baby's head at its naming ceremony. By so doing the child assumed qualities of virtue and purity. It also had the power to protect the wearer from evil especially when worn on the left side. This belief could have added to the popularity of diamonds being used in engagement rings.

Gemini - May 21 to Jun 21 - Emerald

Enhances success in love, warm affection and the ability to succeed. During the middle ages jewellers were said to find rest if they looked at an emerald from time to time.

Cancer - Jun 22 to Jul 22 - Pearl

Enhances health and charm of manner. In early Christian times they were thought to be the tears of angels shed for the sins of mankind and lodged in the depths of the sea!

Leo - Jul 3 to Aug 22 - Ruby

Enhances contentment of the mind and true devotion. It was thought to have the power of prolonging youth. In the 13th century the king of Siam was said to own a fabulous ruby the size of a man's hand. Each night and morning the king rubbed the ruby over his face and neck and supposedly when he died at the ripe old age of ninety he still had the complexion of a young man.

Virgo - Aug 23 to Sep 22 - Peridot

Enhances conjugal fidelity and amiability. The Romans wore it to ward off evil and melancholy.

Libra - Sep 23 to Oct 23 - Sapphire

Enhances a sunny nature , love and sincerity. In the Middle Ages the sapphire was a symbol of purity - the priests used to wear it to prevent impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh!

Scorpio - Oct 24 to Nov 21 - Opal

Enhances hope and good fortune. An Indian legend tells of how the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva vied for the same beautiful woman. Driven by jealousy they changed her into a creature of the mist. In order to recognise her, each god gave the woman his own colour - Brahma a heavenly blue, Vishnu gold and Shiva red, but all this was in vain and she was whisked away by the winds. However the gods did not want to lose her entirely so with their combined force they transformed her into the opal, reflecting the colours of the rainbow.

Sagittarius - Nov 22 to Dec 21 - Topaz

Enhances long life, fidelity and intelligence. It was thought to derive certain powers from the sun and kings and princes wore it in the belief that it endowed them with authority and wealth.

Capricorn - Dec 22 to Jan 19 - Turquoise

Enhances prosperity and an optimistic outlook. During the 17th century gentlemen of quality wore turquoise as it was believed that in the case of a fall from a horse or some height, the turquoise would absorb the force of the impact, so that the owner would not suffer any broken bones!