Everything You Need to Know About Birthstones
Birthstones have fascinated people for centuries, with people believing they hold mystical powers and give each month unique properties. Understanding their history and gemological properties can help provide insight into their symbolism and meaning.
This guide will introduce you to various birthstones for those who are shopping for jewelry or are interested in the gemstone for their birth month.
History of Birthstones
Twelve Stones as an Altar
This happened during the period when the once powerful nation of Israel was divided into the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. Elijah and the prophets of Baal were going to build altars and pray to their gods to burn sacrifices with fire.
The prophets of Baal cried, shouted, screamed, danced, and even cutting themselves for hours in an attempt to get a response, but the fire did not appear.
Elijah took twelve stones to built an altar according to the number of the tribes of sons of JAcob.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, the fire of the Lord came down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, dust.
Zodiac Signs and Stone
The concept of the zodiac originated in Babylonian astronomy around 1000 BC. They divided the ecliptic (the apparent trajectory of the sun) into 12 zones, each 30 degrees, corresponding to 12 constellations, for calendar compilation.
In the 7th century BC, Greece absorbed this system and combined it with mythology, giving the constellations animals or gods (such as Leo and Scorpio). The word "Zodiac" (animal circle) originated from Greek.
Josephus, a historian in the first century AD, linked these gemstones to the zodiac, believing that wearing specific gemstones in the corresponding months could enhance their power.
Modern Standardization of Birthstone
The National Association of Jewellers held a meeting in 1912 to standardize birthstones. They officially recognized the gemstones associated with each calendar month. Since then, the list has only been adjusted three times (in 1952, 2002, and 2016), giving us the "traditional" modern birthstones that are popular today.
January Birthstone: Faith, Eternity, Truth
Garnet
Garnet, January's birthstone, is celebrated for its deep red hue symbolizing protection and vitality. Historically worn by travelers for safety, this durable gem ranges from crimson to vibrant green. Its affordability and rich color saturation make it ideal for statement jewelry that withstands daily wear.
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February Birthstone: Luck, Wittiness, Health
Amethyst
Amethyst, February's regal purple gem, embodies clarity and calmness. Ancient Greeks crafted wine goblets from this quartz variety, believing it prevented intoxication. Displaying hues from pale lilac to deep violet, its accessibility and crystalline transparency maintain its popularity across eras.
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March Birthstone: Happiness, Understanding
Aquamarine
Aquamarine, named "seawater" for its serene blue tones, symbolizes courage and tranquility. Sailors carried this beryl gem as protection against ocean storms. Its glass-like clarity and cool hues evoke clear tropical waters, making it a timeless choice for spring jewelry.
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Bloodstone
Bloodstone, March's alternative birthstone, features dark green with red speckles symbolizing strength. Medieval warriors believed this chalcedony variety could staunch wounds. Its earthy, opaque appearance and historical use in seals and carvings reflect its grounding energy.
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April Birthstone: Eternity, Courage, Health
Diamond
Diamond, April's birthstone, represents eternal love through its unmatched brilliance and hardness. Formed under extreme pressure, this gem occurs in colorless and vivid fancy colors. As nature's hardest substance, it symbolizes invincibility and commitment in heirloom pieces.
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May Birthstone: Fidelity, Goodness, Love
Emerald
Emerald, May's birthstone, is famed for its lush green hue symbolizing renewal. Cherished since Cleopatra's reign, it's believed to bring foresight and fortune. The finest specimens display a vivid "emerald green" with unique jardin inclusions that authenticate its natural origin.
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June Birthstone: Peace, Nobility, Beauty
Pearl
Pearl, June's organic birthstone, embodies purity and wisdom through its luminous glow. Formed inside mollusks, these gems require no cutting or polishing. Their soft iridescence and historical association with lunar energy make them unique among gemstones.
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Alexandrite
Alexandrite, June's rare birthstone, mesmerizes with color-changing magic (green to red). Discovered in 1830s Russia, it symbolizes adaptability. Its exceptional trichroism and scarcity in large sizes make it a collector's treasure.
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Moonstone
Moonstone, June's ethereal birthstone, displays a blue adularescence resembling moonlight. Associated with intuition and new beginnings, this feldspar mineral was revered in ancient Rome. Its milky translucence and floating light effect create dreamlike jewelry.
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July Birthstone: Love, Enthusiasm, Strength
Ruby
Ruby, July's birthstone, radiates passion with its blood-red chromium-rich hue. Dubbed "king of gems" in Sanskrit texts, it symbolizes vitality. The finest "pigeon's blood" rubies from Myanmar glow with internal fire under light.
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August Birthstone: Success, Peace, Love
Peridot
Peridot, August's vibrant birthstone, shines in olive-green tones symbolizing strength. Volcanic in origin, this gem was called "sun stone" by Egyptians. Its signature lime-green sparkle and occasional lily-pad inclusions distinguish it from other gems.
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Sardonyx
Sardonyx, August's layered birthstone, features reddish-brown bands symbolizing courage. Used in Roman signet rings for seals, this agate variety displays striking parallel stripes. Its durability and bold patterns suit carved cameos.
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Spinel
Spinel, August's versatile birthstone, occurs in vivid reds and blues historically confused with rubies. Found in royal crowns like the Black Prince's Ruby, it symbolizes rejuvenation. Its high refraction and range of neon-bright colors make it increasingly popular.
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September Birthstone: Serenity, Truth
Sapphire
Sapphire, September's birthstone, epitomizes wisdom in velvety blue hues. Medieval kings wore it for divine favor, while star sapphires display asterism. Beyond blue, it occurs in every color (except red), with padparadscha orange-pink being rarest.
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October Birthstone: Purity, Hope, Health
Opal
Opal, October's birthstone, enchants with rainbow "play-of-color" symbolizing hope. Aboriginal Australians believed these gems formed where creator spirits touched earth. Each stone's unique pattern of shifting flashes makes it a personal cosmic canvas.
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Tourmaline
Tourmaline, October's birthstone, dazzles in more colors than any gem, representing creativity. Watermelon tourmaline's pink-green zoning resembles the fruit. Its piezoelectric properties (generating charge under pressure) fascinated early scientists.
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November Birthstone: Wisdom, Courage, Sincerity
Citrine
Citrine, November's sunny birthstone, glows in honey-yellow to amber tones symbolizing abundance. Often formed from heat-treated amethyst, its affordability and warm brilliance earned the nickname "merchant's stone" for attracting wealth.
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Topaz
Topaz, November's birthstone, ranges from icy blue to imperial orange symbolizing clarity. While blue topaz is most common, rare "imperial" orange-pink hues command premium prices. Its perfect cleavage and vitreous luster create exceptional brilliance.
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December Birthstone: Love, Happiness, Luck
Turquoise
Turquoise, December's birthstone, captivates with sky-blue hues symbolizing protection. Ancient Pharaohs inlaid it in burial masks, while Native Americans used it in sacred rituals. Its webbed matrix patterns and waxy luster reflect desert landscapes.
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Tanzanite
Tanzanite, December's birthstone, shifts from violet to blue under light, symbolizing transformation. Found only near Kilimanjaro, this zoisite variety's trichroism and limited supply make it a generation-defining gem.
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Zircon
Zircon, December's fiery birthstone, displays intense dispersion resembling diamonds. Medieval Europeans believed its brilliance could ward off evil. Available in blue, honey, and cinnamon shades, it's among Earth's oldest minerals.
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Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli, December's birthstone, features ultramarine blue with gold pyrite flecks symbolizing wisdom. Renaissance artists ground it for priceless pigments in masterpieces. Its opaque depth and celestial sparkle evoke starry nights.