The modern trend toward transparent gems replaced the traditional December birthstones of opaque turquoise and lapis lazuli with tanzanite, blue topaz, and blue zircon.
Although blue stones are the designated birthstones, zircons also come in colors like yellow, orange, green, red, and colorless. However, you are free to select the hue of your choice. Zircons, according to some, may reduce pain and increase appetite.
Look for transparent stones with few to no faults and uniform hue throughout when purchasing these jewels.
In This Article...
What are the 12 birthstones’ colors?
The gemstones that correspond to a birth month are known as birthstones, and each one has a special symbolism and historical significance. Birthstones have been popular since prehistoric times, when people thought they possessed extraordinary abilities like luck, good health, and prosperity. Normally, just one birthstone is linked with each month, but as you’ll see below, some months have more than one birthstone. The birthstones that are currently connected to particular birth months may not be the same ones that were utilized in the past. They did not discriminate between gems the way we do today since color was considered to be the most significant characteristic of a gemstone back then. For instance, they were incapable of telling a Ruby from a Garnet. The American Gem Society has approved the modern birthstone list that is represented by our list.
January | Garnet
The birthstone for January is garnet, which is mined in a variety of hues. It is regarded as a wonderful gift to represent friendship and trust, and comes in a variety of vibrant hues, including the flaming orange of Mandarin Garnet, the lush green of Tsavorite Garnet, and the most well-known color, Pyrope Garnet.
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 gemstone symbolizes each month’s birth?
What stones represent each month’s birth? Garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, alexandrite, ruby, peridot, sapphire, tourmaline, topaz, and blue topaz are the gemstones associated with the months of January through December. Find out more about these well-known gemstones.
Exactly which birthstone is the rarest?
While some birthstones are more accessible than others, precious gemstones in particular are thought to be relatively scarce. However, given that some really expensive stones are not all 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.
Birthstones provide an intriguing way to select jewelry. 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.
Is a birthstone determined by the month or the zodiac?
A birthstone is a gemstone that symbolizes a person’s month or zodiac sign at the time of birth. Birthstone jewelry or pendant necklaces are frequently worn.
Are birthstones symbolic?
A special gemstone known as a birthstone is used to symbolize each month of the year’s births. Each birthstone has a special meaning and distinctive qualities, and it can be worn to symbolize the wearer’s individual traits. It has long been common knowledge that wearing your birthstone is a sign of health and prosperity, bringing you good luck and protecting you from disease and negative karma. The birthstone for each month often has a particular color, but some gemstones are available in a variety of colors.
Continue reading to discover the official birthstone for each month, along with its accompanying color and significance.
The benefits of wearing a birthstone
Gemstones have a unique past. They were employed to remove restrictions in the mind, the spirit, and the body. Numerous gem therapists think that by wearing these crystals on your body, you can connect to the energy of the planet.
That same concept is used while wearing birthstone jewelry. They’ll make you feel calmer and more collected, and they can even be lucky charms.
Your birthstone is regarded as the ultimate lucky charm. Gemstones have been used as good luck charms for ages. It functions best when the wearer is wearing jewelry with their unique birthstone.
Additionally, it is thought that certain birthstones might offer protection against various threats. Others believe it may protect against natural disasters, while some wear it to prevent nightmares.
Even though these claims are unproven, wearing something lovely like a birthstone would undoubtedly make you feel lucky and safe. That is all you actually need at times.
What is written in the Bible regarding birthstones?
According to some experts, birthstones date all the way back to the Bible. Moses gives instructions for sewing special clothing for Aaron, the Hebrews’ High Priest, in Exodus 28. Twelve priceless gemstones, signifying the twelve tribes of Israel, were to be embedded in the breastplate.
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. The “contemporary list of birthstones” features gemstones that have only recently been generally accessible, roughly the last century. Many of the lists contain jewels that fall into both the “ancient and “contemporary” categories. Since there are so many gemstones that can be used today, birthstones are sometimes grouped by color rather than specific stones.
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. In addition to special supernatural abilities, birthstones are the subject of enduring superstitions. 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.