May's birthstone is the emerald ... Queen Cleopatra was believed to have had an affinity for the stone and used them in her jewelry. Another famous example is the Crown of the Andes – created ...

While such notions may leave some of us feeling cynical, we nevertheless hold a soft spot for our own birthstones which, in the hands of skilful jewellery designers ... The handcrafted ‘Bamboo’ cuff ...