Birthstone – Anything You Might Want To Know! We’ve all heard of birthstones and come across them at some point, and with this article I am going to look at birthstones in general but also look where the concept came from and what kind of magic van be woven using birthstones.
What is a birthstone?
Birthstones are precious or semi-precious stones and crystals that are associated with the month that you are born or your zodiac signs. Each crystal has its own powerful metaphysical properties, and while in the corresponding month these properties are amplified giving them a little more oomph.
Where and when did birthstones originate?
The concept of birthstones has been around for a very long time and initially were given as gifts to bring good luck on the day you were born. In Tibet, a type and a type of healing from India called Ayurvedic birthstones have been used, studied and taught for thousands of years. The Traditional birthstones as we know it has been used since the 15th Century, however the modern birthstone list was first created in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewellers in an attempt to bring a standarised list for jewellers.
The difference between the traditional and modern lists of birthstones is their core reason for being created. The traditional list is purely based on the societal constructs and traditions of the time period in which they are created. The modern list was created by jewellers to bring a set order to birthstones, making a list that all jewellers could work from.
Traditional Birthstone List (click on the crystal to read its properties)
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Bloodstone
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl
July – Ruby
August – Sardonyx
September – Sapphire
October – Tourmaline
November – Citrine
December – Turquoise
Another list was created and adopted in Britain in 1937, and while there have been additions to the list in 1952, 2002 and 2016 there hasn’t been a complete overhaul of an existing list or the creation of a new list since 1937.
In 1952 the American list was updated by adding Alexandrite for June, Pink Tourmaline for October and Citrine for November.
Later, In 2002 the American was once again updated by adding Tanzanite for December.
In 2016 the list was updated once more by adding Spinel for August.
US Birthstone list as of 2016
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine and Bloodstone
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite
July – Ruby
August – Peridot and Spinel
September – Sapphire
October – Opal and Pink Tourmaline
November – Topaz and Citrine
December – Turquoise, Zircon and Tanzanite
UK Birthstone List as of 2013
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine and Bloodstone
April – Diamond and Clear Quartz
May – Emerald and Chrysoprase
June – Pearl and Moonstone
July – Ruby and Carnelian
August – Peridot and Sardonyx
September – Sapphire and Lapis Lazuli
October – Opal
November – Topaz and Citrine
December – Tanzanite and Turquoise
Tibetan ‘Mystical’ Birthstone List
January – Emerald
February – Bloodstone
March – Jade
April – Opal
May – Sapphire
June – Moonstone
July – Ruby
August – Diamond
September – Agate
October – Jasper
November – Pearl
December – Zircon and Turquoise
Ayurvedic Birthstone List
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Bloodstone
April – Diamond
May – Agate
June – Pearl
July – Ruby
August – Sapphire
September – Moonstone
October – Opal
November – Topaz
December – Black Onyx
Astrological Birthstone List
Aries – Diamond, Bloodstone, Jasper and Topaz
Taurus – Sapphire, Amber, Coral, Emerald, Rose Quartz and Turquoise
Gemini – Agate, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Moonstone, Pearl and White Sapphire
Cancer – Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl and Ruby
Leo – Onyx, Carnelian, Sardonyx, Golden Topaz, and Tourmaline
Virgo – Carnelian, Jade, Jasper, Moss Agate, and Sapphire
Libra – Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, Opal and Chrysolite
Scorpio – Beryl, Apache Tear, Aquamarine, Coral and Obsidian
Sagittarius – Topaz, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire and Turquoise
Capricorn – Ruby, Agate, Garnet and Black Onyx
Aquarius – Garnet, Amethyst, Moss Agate, Opal and Sugilite
Pisces – Amethyst, Aquamarine, Bloodstone, Jade, Rock Crystal and Sapphire
“Birth Day” Stones
The term birthstone is sometimes used as a synonym for birth day stones (click here to see what the day of your birth means). Each day of the week has its own associated crystals which are separate from the stones associated with each month.
Monday – Pearl and Rock Crystal
Tuesday – Ruby and Emerald
Wednesday – Amethyst and Lodestone
Thursday – Sapphire and Carnelian
Friday – Emerald and Tiger’s Eye
Saturday – Turquoise and Diamond
Sunday – Diamond and Topaz
Each month of the year has characteristics that each month has which correspond to why those certain crystals and stones have become associated with that month.
Month and their Qualities
January – faith, eternity and truth
February – luck, wittiness and health
March – happiness and understanding
April – eternity, courage and health
May – fidelity, goodness and love
June – peace, nobility and beauty
July – love, enthusiasm and strength
August – success, peace and love
September – Serenity and Truth
October – purity, hope and health
November – Wisdom, Courage, Sincerity
December – love, happiness and luck
Birthstones can also be found in 3 of the popular world religions too.
Judaism
In Jewish tradition, there was once a connection between the months of the year, the signs of the zodiac and the twelve stones that appeared on the ceremonial breast plate of the high priest; and this breast plate was believed to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Back in the 8th to 10th centuries these stones were also associated with the growing Christian movement and the twelve apostles and their names would be engraved into the stone with their virtues. In those times, all of the stones were kept and one stone was worn during the corresponding month. The tradition of only having one stone is actually a relatively new custom, and the stones that we use today have very few similarities to those of Jewish customs.
Hinduism
Birthstones can also be found in Hinduism, in a text called the Mani Mala, but I can’t find much information on this outside of the months and their associated crystals.
January – Serpent Stone
February – Moonstone
March – Gold Shiva Lingam
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl
July – Sapphire
August – Ruby
September – Zircon
October – Coral
November – Tiger’s Eye
December – Topaz
Christianity
As I previously mentioned birthstones have been associated with the twelve apostles, and the foundation stones of New Jerusalem. The gates were situated at each of the cardinal compass points. Within each ‘quarter’ contained 3 gates. Thus it makes a total of twelve gates. Also, the walls of New Jerusalem contained 12 foundation stones. Each of these foundation stones was engraved with the name of one of the apostles. Furthermore, these stones would be adorned with precious and semi-precious stones. Twelve is a powerful number in Christianity. The twelve apostles relate to the twelve foundation stones. Moreover, the twelve gates and by extension the twelve tribes of Israel – Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian.
**Note** Each stone in the following lists have ties that can be traced back to the first temple era
Original Version List
11th Foundation – Jacinth (Zircon)
New Version List
8th Foundation – Golden Quartz
Moreover, the twelve foundation stones not only carried the name of one of the apostles and encrusted in gems. But they were also given specific qualities. The crystals relate to the qualities of Jesus Christ, and qualities he taught.
Stones and Qualities of Christ
Emerald – Kindness and Goodness
Chrysoberyl – Excellence of his Divine Nature
Beryl – Control of the Passions
Chrysoprase – Sternness towards Sinners
