Birth Stone & Flower Rings

January carnation, February violet, March daffodil, April daisy, May lily of the valley, June rose, July larkspur, August gladiolus, September aster, October marigold, November chrysanthemum, December narcissus. Some months have a second flower in the British list — honeysuckle for June, poppy for August — and both are used.

The flower is the design; the stone is the accent. A birthstone ring leads with the gem. A birth flower ring leads with the bloom and sets the stone at its centre, so it reads as a floral piece first. It's the quieter of the two, and it works better for someone who doesn't wear much colour.

Older than birthstones as a commercial idea, and vaguer. Assigning flowers to months comes out of Victorian floriography — the language of flowers — where each bloom carried a meaning. Unlike birthstones, there's no single standardised list, which is why American and British versions differ.

It's the version of personalized jewelry that doesn't announce itself. No name to spell, no initials to explain, and the meaning is only obvious to someone who knows. That makes it a safer bet than a name ring for someone whose taste you're unsure of.

Raised petals are high points, and high points are where plating thins first on any ring. Ours is 3.0 microns of gold over solid sterling silver, against an industry standard of 0.2 — that buys years rather than months. Take it off for the gym and washing up and it lasts considerably longer.

The band can be sized a little, but the raised flower limits how much a jeweller can safely stretch it. Measure properly rather than guessing, and if you're between sizes take the larger — a ring that spins is comfortable, one that binds gets taken off.