Birthstones by zodiac & month - Gemstones assigned to your Birthday

Contents

Birthstones – a birthday gemstone is a very popular accessory and has been a common gift for some time! Already thousands of years ago, each month had a gemstone, and a specific zodiac sign.

Which jewel represents your month and which one is the right one for your birthday?

Birthstones by month

Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May – Jun – Jul – Aug – Sep – Oct – Nov – Dec

Birthstones by star sign

Aquarius – Pisces –Aries–Taurus –Gemini –Cancer –Leo –Virgo –Libra–Scorpio –Sagittarius –Capricorn

Birthstones by month – birthday gems

In the Middle Ages it was common to wear a different gemstone every month, with the belief that the gem is more effective when you wear it at the right time.

Back in the olden days, knowledge of minerals was not as accurate as it is today. Gemstone traditions varied from culture to culture, moreover, the Gregorian calendar used today was not yet created.

For these reasons, even today the opinions on the correct attribution of gem effects diverge.

However, many gem/mineral associations have tried to unify birthstone attributes. Today most manufacturers of birthstone jewelry go according to these collective suppositions.

History and origin

How did the idea of birthstones come about? Where did the tradition of gemstones for months come from?

The history of birthstones can be traced back to the Old Testament, more precisely in Moses’ second book, the book of Exodus. In those days, each month or zodiac sign was assigned a gem, and these in turn represented the 12 tribes of Israel.

There was no way of accurately classifying gems as there is today, so many stones were simply considered to be the same species based on their color. The differences in the ascription of gems varies depending on country, culture and tradition.

In 1912, the first attempt was made to codify birthstones – The Jewelers of America and The American National Association of Jewelers met to create an “official” list. This list was revised in 1952 by the Jewelery Industry Council, and in 2002 by the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA).

Birthstones by month

January

Garnet

The Garnet is a gem found in many colors. However, the most popular is the characteristic red Garnet. It is often associated with trust and friendship. The name comes from the Latin word “granatum”, meaning “seed” and also indicates its similarity to the pomegranate.

February

Amethyst

The Amethyst has a very long and interesting history. Thanks to its beautiful violet color, it has captivated people since antiquity. Even today, the Amethyst is highly sought after. The name derives from Greek and means something like “not drunk”. In the former times, the gem used to protect one from drunkenness.

March

Aquamarine

The name Aquamarine is Latin and means “water of the sea”, which describes this beautiful stone really well. The turquoise green to ocean blue gemstone is a variety of Beryls.

The gemstone owes its beautiful color to the iron content – depending on the iron concentration, the blue nuances and tones may vary.

April

Diamond

Children born in April are particularly fortunate because they are assigned the hardest material: the Diamond.

The word Diamond comes from the Latin diamond, which comes from the Greek adamas (ἀδάμας), meaning indomitable. The gem is invincible, because there is no other material that can damage it.

May

Emerald

This light to dark green gemstone has been a favorite since Antiquity. A special feature of the mineral is its luminance, giving it luster and radiance, the Emerald is silky and fervid.

The Emerald cut, especially used on Emeralds, creates the same luminous effect.

June

Alexandrite and Pearl

Children born in June are lucky to have two precious stones to choose from.

Firstly, Alexandrite, a very unique and valuable stone that changes color depending on the light. In daylight it shimmers a turquoise-blue to emerald-green, while in artificial light it looks light cherry-red to violet. The Alexandrite Effect gets its name from this rare mineral variety.

Secondly, the Pearl is the only gemstone produced by a living creature, the shelled mollusk.

July

Ruby

Ruby red – the term is no coincidence!

The Ruby is a dazzling gem that leaves a strong impression, making it a coveted jewel throughout Antiquity.

Even today it is one of the most popular and precious gemstones.

August

Peridot

Peridot is a lime to grass-green gem that usually manifests in volcanic eruptions.

The gem was used for healing in Antiquity, and possessed the power to protect against nightmares.

Peridot, or Chrysolite, are the names given to low-inclusion and light green olivine stones.

September

Sapphire

The Sapphire is a highly sought after gemstone, usually with an intense, royal blue to bright, sky blue color.

The colors may also vary depending on the cut and light effect.

The name Sapphire is probably originally derived from Sanskrit. Some linguists say it means “worshiped by Saturn”.

October

Opal

The Opal is an impressive and unique stone, whose name is from Greek, meaning change. This is truly a fitting name for this stone.

The Opal shows an extraordinary play of colors called opalizing. Because of its beautiful play of colors, it is not surprising that the Opal was highly valued in Antiquity.

November

Topaz

Topaz represents the month of November, though in some traditions this month’s gem is Citrine.

While the distinguishing feature of Citrine is its yellow color, Topaz comes in a range of colors. However, the most sought-after version of Topaz is the blue Topaz.

Topaz’s especially rare character is that it shines different colors depending on the angle you view it at. This phenomenon is called pleochroism.

December

Turquoise & Tanzanite

The month of December has Turquoise or Tanzanite as representatives. These blue stones remind us of the sea and the sky. Turquoise made up of water and so symbolizes the turquoise-blue sea even more. The color, turquoise, is named after this gem.

Tanzanite can also be found in violet, not only in blue. It is a variety of the Zoisite mineral.