'Some may consider wearing gemstones to compensate for an element they're lacking,' she says.

Pearls and aquamarine are associated with water. Those who want to strengthen their fire element may wear stones with red hues such as rubies or pink sapphires. Whether you're wearing coloured gems to match your sign or just for fun, here's a rundown of the 12 birthstones.

January Garnet comes in a wide range of colours, from green and orange to red and yellow, but it's the deep red variety that's best known and which evokes passion.

February Amethyst has been popular for many years thanks to its hue, which ranges from light violet to intense purple. The word amethyst is derived from the Greek word amethystos, which means sober. In ancient Greece, amethyst was worn to dispel sleep and deter poison.

March Aquamarine represents courage, insight and victory. It's given as a symbol of lasting friendship. Ku says its subtle, limpid blue tones evoke purity.

April Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love and eternity, so buy the best you can afford. Remember the 'four Cs' - colour, clarity, cut and carat - and make it five by getting a certificate. The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to earth.

May Emeralds are considered one of the three most traditional precious stones along with rubies and sapphires. The best vivid green stones come from Colombia. Ku suggests getting a certificate from Gubelin or the SSEF Swiss Gemological Institute if you're buying one of considerable size. She says emeralds are very fragile and crack easily if dropped.

June Make a statement with pearls and look at lustre, colour, size and shape. 'The most coveted pearls are natural pearls as sources are depleted due to pollution and demand,' says Ku.

July Ruby means passion. It derives its name from the Latin word rubens (red). The best stones come from Myanmar. Ku says most rubies on the market have been subjected to heat treatment, making untreated stones of eight carats or above extremely valuable.

August Peridot is transparent with a subtle colour ranging from light yellowish green to a dark olive. The purer the green, the higher the value. Egyptians called it the 'gem of the sun' and believed it had powers to ward off anxiety, enhance speech and foster harmony in relationships and marriage.

September With a name from the Greek word sapphirus (blue), sapphires come in a wide range of colours besides blue, from clear to pink, lavender and a rare orange and pink variety called padparadscha. Kings and priests wore them as symbols of wisdom and purity. Make sure you get a certificate to ensure any sapphire you buy is natural and untreated.

October Australia produces the best opals, in black, white, orange and many other colours.

November and December

An unusual crystalline structure makes yellow topaz and blue topaz the birthstones for the last two months of the year. Blue and green topaz are rarer than the yellow variety.

Shopping list

Boucheron

Shop G5, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Central; tel: 2147 9908

Chaumet

St George's Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central; tel: 2536 9338. The latest Attrape-moi collection features spider webs and bees using amethyst and pink sapphires.

Claudia Ma

Available at Lane Crawford, IFC Mall; tel: 2118 2888 and Room 2004, New World Tower, 16-18 Queen's Road, Central; tel: 2522 0091. Besides her jade and diamond collections, Ma's Caitlyn baby collection features pieces made from rock crystals, gold and birthstones for special orders.

Piaget

Shop L2, The Peninsula, Tsim Sha Tsui; tel: 2311 1122