A birthstone is simply a gemstone that is linked to a person’s date of birth. Wearing a birthstone is thought to bring luck and good health. Due to their connections to the planets, several gemstones are said to possess supernatural abilities. Many societies used to associate a particular gemstone with births occurring during each sign of the zodiac, but throughout time, this custom was changed to correspond with calendar months.
Birthstones have their origins in ancient astrology, and over time, several different lists of birthstones have been employed. The one that is most widely used now is based on a list that the US jewelry industry initially made public in the 1950s.
According to calendar months, birthstones are categorized as follows:
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January BirthstoneGarnet
This stone is thought to protect its wearer from harm. A garnet also represents unwavering loyalty and friendship. This stone has a long history of being connected to blood purification and is thought to ward off food poisoning, snake bites, and hemorrhaging.
March BirthstoneAquamarine
This gemstone was thought to protect seafarers and ensure a safe journey. The calming hue of aquamarine is thought to soothe the temper, enabling the wearer to maintain composure and objectivity. Additionally, it is thought that this stone delays the effects of aging.
May BirthstoneEmerald
This stone symbolizes rebirth, and those who wear it are said to receive wisdom, luck, and youth. Some people think that wearing an emerald will grant them patience, progress, and wisdom. For its capacity to convey deep love, it is also highly regarded.
July BirthstoneRuby
Rubies are thought to ensure health, intelligence, fortune, and success in love. They also excite the senses and the imagination. Ruby is thought to make the wearer intelligent and provide protection from all kinds of misfortunes.
August BirthstonePeridot
According to legend, peridot possesses magical abilities and healing qualities that can ward off nightmares and grant the wearer strength, influence, and a happy year. Additionally, this diamond was worn as a form of occult defense.
September BirthstoneSapphire
The wearer of sapphire and their loved ones are shielded from harm and enmity. Priests in antiquity thought sapphires were able to foretell the future. The gem is linked to contentment and calm.
October BirthstoneOpal
Through the ages, opal has stood for optimism, purity, and innocence. It was said that wearing it would improve the wearer’s vision. Additionally, it was believed to drive away evil spirits and to favor kids, entertainment, friendships, and emotions.
November BirthstoneCitrine
The wearer’s hope, enthusiasm, and warmth are supposed to be encouraged and guided by this golden gemstone, which is also said to boost vitality and health. Citrines have also been employed as a talisman against the plague, bad skin, and evil thoughts, as well as an antidote for snake poison. They are thought to facilitate digestion and help the body get rid of impurities.
December BirthstoneTurquoise
This gemstone is said to bring happiness and luck to the wearer. Turquoise was a hue that Native Americans connected to the blue sky and the green ground.
Do you get to pick your birthstone?
A birthstone is a gemstone that symbolizes the month of birth of a person. They were previously thought to possess mystical abilities that helped the user, whether through healing, protection, or fostering joy. Contrary to common assumption, choosing a gemstone isn’t restricted to just one type of stone or color; instead, one can select a birthstone based on their zodiac sign, as well as their month, day, and season of birth. These gemstones are frequently used to create jewelry or pendants for necklaces that can be worn singly or in combination. Here are some methods for picking the ideal birthstone for you:
Wearing a birthstone was thought to provide good fortune, good health, and protection from negative energy, according to ancient astrologers. Some gemstones were thought to possess supernatural abilities, like magnets for love and friendship optimism, mindfulness, and focus. For instance, pink tourmaline encouraged healing, amethysts boosted knowledge, and ruby stones gave their users vigor.
There are one or more gemstones associated with each month of the year. The US National Association of Jewellers has established modern birthstones as an alternative to conventional birthstones for the many months with different birthstones. For instance, bloodstones were traditionally associated with those born in March, even though Aquamarine is the current equivalent.
Birthstones can also be chosen based on the person’s western astrological sign, often known as their zodiac sign or horoscope sign, in addition to the month of birth. Leos, for instance, go well with onyx stones, whilst Pisces go well with amethysts.
The person’s birth week can also be taken into consideration while choosing a gemstone.
The seasons, in addition to the days and months, also play a part in determining which of the four major gemstonesthe emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamondis associated with each season of the year.
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Are there two birthstones for each month?
Although each month has a single birthstone traditionally, certain months have numerous birthstones. This fact does cause some confusion, but the variety of possibilities for some months was developed to give customers a choice of less expensive selections in addition to the more typical, pricey stones.
What birthstone has the rarest stone?
All gemstones, especially expensive gemstones, are thought to be relatively rare, yet some birthstones are more common than others. Although some highly expensive stones are not that rare, and vice versa, price tags can be deceiving when it comes to rarity. For instance, although expensive, April’s diamond is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite. Speaking of alexandrite, it is now the most expensive and rarest gemstone on the list of birthstones. Additionally extremely rare, black opals are.
An intriguing technique to select jewelry is by birthstone. They enable people to investigate jewels that they might otherwise avoid. However, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you are buying birthstone jewelry for the right reasons while making your selection.
How are birthstones picked out?
Birthstones are a well-established and valued custom. They are a lovely gift for any occasion, even though they are frequently given for birthdays and anniversaries. Each birthstone has a long history and is endowed with special qualities and, in the opinion of certain experts, special powers.
According to scholars, the Breastplate of Aaron, which is mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Exodus, is where birthstones first appeared. The Breastplate had 12 distinctive gemstones that stood for Israel’s 12 tribes. It was a religious garment with distinct tribal symbolism. The jewels were arranged in four rows of three to emphasize the distinctive characteristics of each tribe.
Despite the fact that birthstones have religious roots, modern custom requires that the stones be given according to birth month. The first scholars to make the connection between the 12 stones in the Breastplate of Aaron and the 12 zodiacal signs were Flavius Josephus from the first century A.D. and St. Jerome from the fifth century A.D. However, gemstone designations for birth months didn’t start until the 18th century. According to experts, Poland is where the custom of birthstones for each month first started.
The National Association of Jewelers established the current list of birthstones in 1912, and the list has not changed. There are three lists of birthstones available today: traditional, traditional, and ancient. While stones on the “traditional list have been available for use for the past 500 years, stones on the “ancient list have been well known and used for thousands of years. Gems that have only recently become publicly accessible are featured on the “contemporary list of birthstones.” Many of the lists contain jewels that fall into both the “ancient and “contemporary” categories. Birthstones are frequently grouped by color rather than individual stones today because there are so many gemstones that can be used.
Although it is no longer widely accepted that birthstones have a religious meaning, some experts assert that the stones do have healing properties. Opal, the birthstone for October, is actually claimed to have invisibility powers and to offer protection from spiritual collapse. There are enduring beliefs about birthstones’ supposed magical properties in addition to specific powers. For instance, depending on where it is worn, a birthstone bracelet is said to bring the wearer various rewards. A birthstone bracelet is thought to encourage openness when worn on the left wrist and to instill confidence when worn on the right wrist. Birthstones are a time-honored method to show uniqueness, whether you subscribe to superstitions or simply like owning a stone that is all your own.
Who decided on birthstones?
Now, how did diamonds transition from being zodiac healing symbols to being birthstones? The idea that everyone should always wear the gemstone that corresponds to the month of their birth dates back to Poland in the 18th century, when Jewish gem traders first arrived in the country.
The current list of birthstones was established in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers (Jewelers of America). Since then, tanzanite has been listed as a birthstone for December, according to a 2002 declaration by the American Gem Trade. What is the cause? The Jewelers of America predicted that adding a second gemstone will increase jewelry sales. With the tagline “Be Born to Tanzanite,” a marketing campaign pushed tanzanite as the birthstone for all children in 2006.
Birthstones Have Healing Properties
It’s believed that birthstones have healing qualities. The barriers in the physical, mental, and spiritual stages may be released by wearing them. These mystical jewels are thought to have the ability to focus the planet’s healing energy on your body through contact, making you feel calmer and more collected. Each stone has a special characteristic that can both cure and energize you. As an illustration, the garnet stone, which is the stone for the month of January, serves to enliven your spirit and liberate you from negativity.
Birthstones Offer Protection
Birthstones help you and the person you truly love to forge a powerful spiritual bond. This aids in transmitting the good vibes and power of your bond in keeping and guarding you. This will at all times safeguard your young ones, your immediate family, and your friends.
Help You In Meditation
Birthstones are thought to focus the energy of the earth on you, allowing you to concentrate more effectively and stress-free. Overall, it aids in dispelling negativity and enhancing your spirituality.
They Restore The Cosmic Colour
Birthstones not only give you protection or relieve tension and anxiety, but they also help your zodiac sign connect with you. According to the planet that is situated the furthest away, the earth lacks the hue of the month you were born. The cosmic colors also align when your being is in harmony with nature. You become considerably stronger physically, psychologically, and emotionally as a result of the cosmic color.
They Help In Uplifting Your Fashion
Birthstones can complement your attire because they are highly colorful. If you want to dress in a traditional hippie and bohemian style. Then, along with all its other advantages, birthstones aid in enhancing your appearance. Wear your birthstone, then, if you’re hoping to develop a stronger bond with nature, practice meditation, or just be calm and comfortable.
What birthstone has the lowest price?
A silica-based mineral called topaz is available in practically every hue. Its hardness of 8 makes it suitable for almost any sort of jewelry, and compared to some other birthstones, it is quite inexpensive. Red, blue, and orange topaz are extremely precious, but colorless topaz is practically worthless.
The most valuable topaz specimens, like with all gemstones, are those that are naturally vivid and highly colored, and their price rises with size. Although there are topaz mines in India, Pakistan, Russia, and China as well, Brazil now produces the most natural topaz.
Is amethyst an uncommon gemstone?
Amethyst, along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald, was among the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones until the 18th century. However, since the discovery of large deposits in places like Brazil, its value has largely decreased. Today, it is regarded as a semiprecious stone.
Collectors want for color depth, potentially with red flashes on traditionally cut pieces. Since amethyst is frequently found in huge structures, its value is not primarily determined by its carat weight. This is distinct from most gemstones because the value of a gemstone normally increases exponentially as the carat weight increases. The color that is seen is the main determinant of amethyst value.
Amethyst of the highest quality, sometimes known as “Deep Russian,” is extremely uncommon. When one is discovered, its value is determined by collector demand. Even the most expensive rubies or sapphires are still hundreds of times more expensive than amethyst.
What jewel will be the rarest on Earth in 2022?
The brilliant stones form over millions and billions of years, making gemstones an uncommon occurrence on this planet. The most valuable gemstones in the world are diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, out of the more than 200 varieties of gemstones known to man. However, in terms of their known amounts, certain gemstones are at least a thousand to a million times rarer than others.
It goes without saying that their worth much exceeds that of even some of the most sought-after jewels. They are all fairly uncommon in the globe because each one of them has a distinctive quality. Here are 5 of the world’s rarest jewels along with descriptions of each one’s special qualities.
Tanzanite: After being discovered for the first time in Tanzania, Africa, in 1967, tanzanite eventually found its place on the market. It was one of the few gemstones in existence to exhibit excellent trichroism, or the ability to display three different colors depending on the angle from which they are viewed. Blue, violet, and burgundy are the colors present in Tanzanite. The great scarcity of Tanzanite throughout the globe, however, is what truly makes it unique. There is only one mine in the world that produces it, and it will likely run dry in the next 30 years. The mine is around 7 km long and 2 km wide.
Red Beryl: Red Beryl, an ore of the same mineral family as emeralds and aquamarines, was found in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah. The fact that more than 95% of Red Beryl discovered each year is of poorer quality, however, is what makes the material special. There are very few gem-quality stones that are suitable for use as jewelry. However, as they are seldom faceted, these make excellent collectors’ items. One Red Beryl crystal out of every 150,000 is of gem quality.
Black Opal: Due to light diffraction and color play, opals are known to be creamy-white with an explosion of colors inside them. Opals typically come in shades of white, grey, or green. The rarest Opal, nevertheless, is the black variant, which is unique to Australia. It appears to be the Northern lights because of the dark background in the colors. About $763,000 was paid for one of the most expensive black opals ever sold.
Alexandrite: Known as Emerald by day and Ruby by night, this mineral is well-known for its propensity to change color under various lighting conditions. In that, Alexandrite exhibits a blue to green color in natural light, and a red to purple color in artificial light. The gemstone was named after Czar Alexander II, the then-next-in-line Russian Emperor, when it was found in the Ural Mountains in 1830. Given that its source in Russia was depleted within a few decades of its discovery and that it is currently only found in Brazil and a few other mines, its scarcity can be understood.
The mineral known as Painite, which also holds the Guinness World Record for being the rarest gemstone, is extremely rare. For several years following its discovery in 1951, there were only 2 examples of Painite. Less than two dozen gemstones were known as of 2004. There are less than 1,000 painite gemstones in existence, the most of which are unfaceted, despite the recent opening of two specialized mines in Myanmar.