Each of the 12 months of the year is symbolized by one, or in some cases several, of the world’s most beautiful gemstones, and each of these birthstones has its own importance and meaning, making them great birthday gifts. But where did the idea of birthstones originate, and what traits are linked with them?
Birthstones appear to have their roots in the Bible. Moses orders special robes to be produced for Aaron, the Hebrew High Priest, according to Exodus 28. This contained a breastplate encrusted with twelve gemstones, each representing one of Israel’s twelve tribes. Emerald, sapphire, diamond, topaz, carbuncle, sardius, agate, ligure, amethyst, onyx, jasper, and beryl were among the twelve jewels.
The stones were then identified with the twelve zodiac signs between 1 and 5 AD, and in the 18th century, gem sellers in Poland associated each gemstone with a person’s birth month. The American National Association of Jewelers published an official list of birthstones in 1912, and while some alterations have occurred since then, the 1912 list is still in use today.
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Do birthstones correspond to the signs of the zodiac or the months of the year?
It’s unclear when the Zodiac Signs were established.
Although the Babylonians and Sumerians devised the first comprehensive zodiac system, some type of zodiac use predated them.
Our contemporary zodiac signs are listed on an early Persian tablet in the British Museum in London.
Early people believed in the magical abilities of stones, and it became fashionable to correlate precious and semiprecious stones with the signs of the zodiac.
While that constellation was visible in the night sky, it was thought that the stones’ powers were stronger.
As a result, wearing the stone of your zodiac sign was thought to boost the virtues and powers associated with that sign.
This list eventually evolved into Birthstones.
Though the two lists have some similarities, birthstones are assigned to the month of birth, whereas zodiac birthstones are assigned to the zodiac sign.
Is there a connection between birthstones and zodiac signs?
While modern birthstones indicate your month of birth, zodiac stones are supposed to bring out and highlight the greatest qualities of your personality based on the characteristics of your sign.
The more modern zodiac stones deviate from the originals in that they can contain a number of stones, allowing the user to select from a variety of possibilities to locate the stone that best suits them.
What is my birthstone and where can I find it?
A birthstone is simply a gemstone that is related with the day of one’s birth and is thought to bring good luck and health to those who wear it. Certain gemstones are thought to have supernatural properties and are linked to specific planets. Many societies used to designate a distinct gemstone to each sign of the zodiac to denote birth, but this custom has since been switched from the zodiac to calendar months.
Birthstones have its origins in ancient astrology, and several birthstone lists have been utilized over the years. The most popular one now is based on a list first published in the 1950s by the US jewelry industry.
January Birthstone Garnet
This stone is thought to protect the wearer from danger. A garnet is also a symbol of everlasting friendship and trust. This stone has long been linked to blood purification and is thought to protect against food illness, snake bites, and hemorrhage.
March Birthstone Aquamarine
This gem was thought to protect sailors as well as ensure a safe journey. Aquamarine’s peaceful tint is supposed to settle the wearer’s anger, allowing them to stay calm and levelheaded. This stone is also thought to have anti-aging properties.
May Birthstone Emerald
This stone symbolizes rebirth, and it is said that those who wear it will gain foresight, good fortune, and youth. Wearing an emerald is thought to provide wisdom, progress, and patience, according to some. It’s also revered for its capacity to convey genuine affection.
July Birthstone Ruby
Rubies stimulate the senses and the imagination, and are supposed to bring good health, intelligence, riches, and love success. Ruby is thought to help the wearer become smart and protect them from all kinds of catastrophes.
August Birthstone Peridot
Peridot is claimed to have magical and healing characteristics, as well as the ability to shield the wearer from nightmares and to bestow power, influence, and a beautiful year. This stone was also used to ward off evil spirits.
September Birthstone Sapphire
Sapphire shields the user and those close to them from danger and envy. Sapphires were thought to aid ancient priests in foretelling the future. The diamond is linked to pleasure and tranquility.
October Birthstone Opal
Throughout history, opal has been associated with hope, innocence, and purity. It was claimed to have a positive influence on the wearer’s eyesight. It was also supposed to ward off evil spirits and to bring good fortune to children, amusements, friendships, and feelings.
November Birthstone Citrine
This golden gemstone is thought to promote vitality and health in the wearer, as well as inspiring and guiding hope, energy, and warmth. 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 help with digestion and the removal of toxins from the body.
December Birthstone Turquoise
This gemstone is thought to bring happiness and good fortune to those who wear it. Turquoise was once identified with the blue sky and the green ground by Native Americans.
Is it true that Pisces has two birthstones?
What are the birthstones for Pisces? Aquamarine, bloodstone, and amethyst are the birthstones for Pisces. We’ll take a deeper look at these jewels in our gemstone guide and explain why they’re worthy of being called Pisces stones.
What is the most valuable birthstone?
While some birthstones are more common than others, all gemstones, particularly expensive gemstones, are extremely uncommon. However, in terms of rarity, price tags can be deceiving, as some really expensive stones are not so uncommon, and vice versa. April’s diamond, for example, is less rare than rubies, emeralds, and alexandrite, despite its high price. While we’re on the subject of alexandrite, it’s worth noting that it’s the rarest gemstone on the birthstone list and may be quite costly. Black opals are extremely rare as well.
Birthstones are an intriguing approach to select jewelry. They allow people to look at jewels that they might otherwise avoid. At the same time, birthstones are not always what people think they are, so make sure you’re buying it for the right reasons before you buy it.
Why are there three birthstones in June?
Why are there three birthstones in June? Because many historical stones have become too rare to be sold on the market and to suit customer preferences, some months contain multiple birthstones.
Do birthstones have any significance?
A birthstone is a one-of-a-kind gemstone that represents each month of the year. Individual birthstones have specific meanings and properties, and can be worn to signify the wearer’s unique characteristics. Wearing your birthstone has long been thought to be a symbol of wellness and good fortune, bringing good luck and warding off bad karma and disease to the wearer. The birthstone for each month usually has a particular color, but certain gemstones come in a variety of colors.
Continue reading to discover about the official birthday gemstone for each month, as well as its color and meaning.
What is the total number of birthstones for each zodiac sign?
The twelve zodiac signs represent the exact alignment of the planets, sun, and moon on the day we were born. It is thought that the sky map on the day of your birth might have a significant influence on your life. It can have an impact on your abilities, fears, talents, and defects, as well as serve as a guiding light. Knowing your Zodiac sign allows you to make judgments based on this deeply felt universal knowledge of yourself. You’ll have a better understanding of which elements (earth, air, fire, and water) speak to you and which chakras require a bit more nurturing attention to aid you along the journey.
Knowing which gemstones correspond to your astrological sign might help you maintain your dedication to balance and healing on a daily basis. Birthstones have been existed since the 5th century, and their origins may be traced back to the 12 stones engraved on Aaron’s Breastplate, as well as the 12 months of the year and the 12 zodiac signs. It’s thought that each stone has a cosmic connection, and that those who chose stones that correspond to their birth month will reap the benefits of having this gem in their life.
The stones associated with your Zodiac know precisely what you require and can send profound healing vibrations into your environment. The spiritual energy aids in the stabilization of your mind, the calming of internal storms, and the provision of a therapeutic dose of strength or mild temperance, depending on your needs at the time. They also work in unison with your soul and the rest of the planet. When you focus on your birthstone, you may see an increase in your manifestation abilities.
The best part about birthstones is that there are no hard and fast rules; you can choose from a variety of sparkling stones. There is a signature stone for each Zodiac sign, but other stones that come under the same element or have the same ruling planet will also work for you. Selecting a stone that resonates to your intuition, as with any gemstone, is an important component of the selection process. Take a look at our quick guide on choosing Zodiac Birthstones that will benefit you.
Take a look at our simple guide to vital gemstones if you want to learn more about which crystals can help you in your life.