Birthstones - OH MY!
Birthstone-History & LoreBirthstone-history and lore have been a part of various cultures' belief systems for centuries. The origin of the belief that a special stone was dedicated to each month, and that the stone of the month possessed a special virtue or “cure” that it could transmit to those born in that month, goes back at least the first century. Birthstone-history may have roots in the religious traditions of Judaism and Christianity. There is speculation that the twelve stone in the great breastplate of the Jewish High Priest may have had some bearing on this evolution. In the eighth and ninth centuries, the interpreters of Revelation began to ascribe to each of these stone attributes of the twelve apostles.
There is no doubt that the owner of a ring or ornament set with a
birthstone is impressed with the idea of possessing something more
intimately associated with his or her personality than any other stone,
however beautiful or costly. The idea that birthstones possess a
certain indefinable, but none-the-less real significance has long been
present and still holds a spell over the minds of all who are gifted
with a touch of imagination and romance.
You may be surprised to learn that the color you associate with your birthstone may be only one of the several available. For example, most people think garnet is dark red and are surprised to learn it can be green, orange, yellow, white, purple – virtually every color in the rainbow except blue. Before discarding your birthstone as a choice, check out all the colors in which it may be available. Accents with diamonds with the personal significance of the birthstone for a lovely, deeply, meaningful, and often much more affordable piece of jewelry. In addition to birthstones, the choice of a particular colored stone may be connected to mystical powers, attributed or symbolism with which the stone has been historically identified. There is an almost limitless wealth of information about colored gems, enough to stir the imagination of even the greatest cynic. Besides the list of birthstones and zodiacal or talismanic stone and anniversary stones, there are lists of stones for days of the week, hours of the day, and states of the union, for each of the seasons.Birthstones. . . How They've Changed
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Birthstones-Gemstones
MONTH |
TRADITIONAL BIRTHSTONE |
MODERN BIRTHSTONE |
OLD TESTAMENT BIRTHSTONE |
SPANISH BIRTHSTONE |
JEWISH BIRTHSTONE |
January |
Garnet
|
Garnet |
Jasper |
Hyacinth Yellow/Red Zircon |
Garnet |
February |
Amethyst
|
Amethyst |
Sapphire |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
March |
Aquamarine Bloodstone
|
Aquamarine |
Chalcedony |
Jasper |
Jasper |
April |
Diamond
|
Diamond |
Emerald |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
May |
Emerald |
Emerald |
Sardonyx |
Agate |
Agate Carnelian Chalcedony |
June |
Pearl Alexandrite Moonstone |
Alexandrite |
Sardonyx |
Emerald |
Emerald |
July |
Ruby
|
Ruby |
Chrysolite |
Onyx |
Onyx |
August |
Peridot Sardonyx |
Peridot |
Beryl Emerald Aquamarine |
Carnelian |
Carnelian |
September |
Sapphire
|
Blue Sapphire |
Topaz |
Chrysolite |
Chrysolite |
October |
Opal Tourmaline Rose Zircon |
Rose Zircon |
Chrysophrase |
Aquamarine |
Aquamarine |
November |
Golden Topaz Citrine
|
Golden Topaz |
Bloodstone |
Topaz |
Topaz |
December |
Turquoise Blue Topaz Blue Zircon Lapis Lazuli |
Blue Zircon |
Amethyst |
Ruby |
Ruby |
| I never liked my birthstone. I never knew I had a choice! |
Tradional Birthstones |
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CAPRICORN (21 Dec - 19 Jan) Snowflake Obsidian, Rose quartz, Ruby, Black Onyx, Hematite, Smoky Quartz, Botswana Agate, Azurite (Traditional: Garnet) |
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AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb) Agate, Onyx, Turquoise, Malachite, Labradorite, Fluorite, Chrysoprase, Iolite, Aquamarine and Moonstone. (Traditional: Amethyst) |
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PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar) Amethyst, Jade, Moonstone, Aquamarine, Opal, Bloodstone, Fluorite, Unakite, Blue Lace Agate, Calcite, Chrysoprase, Howlite (Traditional: Bloodstone) |
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ARIES (21 Mar - 20 Apr) Bloodstone, Garnet, clear Quartz, Ruby, Jasper, Red Carnelian (Traditional: Diamond) |
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TAURUS (21 Apr - 20 May) Rose quartz, Chrysoprase, Sapphire,Lapis lazuli, Topaz, Rhodonite, Azurite, Mookite, Rhyolite (Traditional: Emerald) |
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GEMINI (21 May - 20 Jun) Pearl, Black Onyx, Citrine, Tigers eye, Moonstone, Rock crystal. (Traditional: Agate) |
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CANCER (21 Jun - 20 Jul) Aventurine, Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Pink Tourmaline, Moss Agate, Lavender Jade (Traditional: Ruby, pearl) |
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LEO (21 Jul - 21 Aug) Sunstone, Carnelian, Tiger Eye, Cat's Eye, Fire Agate, Citrine, Garnet, Amber, Red Obsidian, Peridot, Quartz crystal (Traditional: Sardonyx) |
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VIRGO (22 Aug -22 Sep) Carnelian, Jasper, Sapphire, Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot, Sodalite, White Jade, Amazonite, (Traditional: Zircon) |
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LIBRA (23 Sep - 22 Oct) Green Adventurine, Citrine, Tourmaline, Opal, Jade, Rhodonite, Emerald. (Traditional: Sapphire) |
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SCORPIO (23 Oct - 22 Nov) Rhodonite,Topaz, Carnelian, Garnet, Ruby, Jasper, Malachite, Green Turquoise, Red Tiger Eye, Obsidian, Bloodstone. (Traditional: Citrine) |
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SAGITTARIUS (23 Nov - 20 Dec) Sodalite, Turquoise, Zircon, Topaz and Snowflake Obsidian, Smoky Quartz, Blue Lace Agate (Traditional: Lapis Lazuli) |
Don't like your
birthstone? Just take your pick! |
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Gemstones
