Birthstones are precious gemstones that represent each month of the year or a person’s month of birth. The legend of their origin can be traced back to 1912 and it is believed that these birthstones correspond to the twelve stones on the breastplate of Aaron. According to the myth, each of them represents a different Israeli tribe. Though the origin of the twelve birth stones is being connected to Israel’s story, each gem has its own story from the Ancient Greeks to the Egyptian pharaohs. It is also believed that each stone has a certain natural property that act as good luck charm for the stone bearer and they are usually worn in the form of jewelry.
To further know about their characteristics, here are short overviews of the twelve birthstones.
January
JanuaryJanuary’s stone is Garnet. It signifies trust, friendship, and reliability. Garnet has different colors but the most popular has a warm, red color that makes it look like a pomegranate seed. It is also considered as an energy cleansing stone which helps boosts self-confidence and achieve balance in life. Garnet honors Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war who was considered the most powerful goddess of Egypt. Most of the Garnet stones in the world are from Sri Lanka, Africa, and India.
If you want to get some nice garnet-embedded jewelry, you might want to start with some lever back earrings. There are some options with sterling silver and gold plating, plus tiny garnets inside the design.
February
February’s stone is Amethyst. It is a purple-colored stone, also known as the gem of fire. It was considered as unique and expensive as diamonds in ancient times. Up to the discovery of some very large deposits in Brazil, amethyst was considered to be the rarest gemstone.
Amethyst is also recognized as the wisdom stone. It is believed that its wearer will gain humility, piety, and spiritual insight from it. This is why Catholic bishops wear this jewel on their rings. It is also known as the stone of protection, as it is said to shield its wearer from negative thoughts and actions.
Since amethysts are a cost-effective option, you might want to get more of these at once.
March
MarchAquamarine is March’s stone. It is the stone of the water; also known as the poor man’s diamond. Aquamarine represents love, youth, and hope. It is believed to help its wearer achieve emotional and mental stability. Presenting this stone to a newlywed bride used to symbolize the guarantee of a long and prosperous marriage in the pre-historic Roman era.
If you’d like to follow the Roman traditions or just love the pale blue color of the aquamarine, you might want to consider getting a wedding ring with this stone.
April
For people born in April, their birthstone is Diamond. This is also known as the symbolic stone for the flame of eternal love in Greek. This is the reason why traditional rings are adorned with diamonds. This stone has a detoxifying capability, which cleanses and protects its wearer from emotional, physical, as well as intellectual negative energy.
The diamond is also recognized as the stone of strength in personal accomplishments and relationships. Of course, we all know how expensive diamonds are, but they’re worth it for their sparkle and elegance.
May
The stone for May is emerald. Its lush green color reflects new spring growth. Emeralds were once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. It is also believed that presenting it to your lover will make them stay faithful to you. This stone is associated with Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
These lovely drop earrings by Ross-Simons are backed with sterling silver, making them perfect for anyone with a May birthday.
June
June’s stone is the pearl, known as the oldest gem of all time. It’s difficult to find an original pearl, as these are very rare and expensive. According to the Greeks, this gem was formed by the hardened tears of the goddess of love. It symbolizes loyalty, wealth, purity, and generosity. Since it is obtained from the sea, it possesses water and lunar properties which help to stabilize emotions. Not every pearl option has to cost an arm and leg.
July
July’s stone is Ruby. It is known as the queen of all stones and is considered by some to be the most powerful gem in the universe. It has a deep color known as the pigeon’s blood. It is associated with passion and is believed to stir up emotions. Some believe that this stone can help people who lack self-love to gain self-confidence. Rubies were also used by adventurers in the past as a protection from evil spirits and to attract good fortune.
August
For people born in August, their birthstone is the lime-green Peridot. This stone is a symbol of the sun and is believed to protect its wearer from evil and night terrors. It was also used by Romans to cure depression and by Egyptians to treat heart problems. Peridot is known to attract good fortune and prosperity.
September
The birthstone of people born in September is Sapphire. This stone is known as a protector of love and it symbolizes heaven. It comes in different colors, and each color has certain properties, but all of them are attributed to intuition, serenity, open-mindedness, and calmness. Sapphire is also believed to treat blood and throat disorders.
October
October’s stone is Opal. This is known to be a fragile stone which can crack under the light of the sun. This stone symbolizes imaginations, dreams, and visualizations. It is believed to give its wearer prosperity in business as well as in personal relationships.
November
The birthstone of people born in November is Citrine, also known as the healing quartz. It is transparent with a pale yellow color. This stone is believed to attract wealth and happiness and is associated with positivity. It is also believed to enhance its wearer’s productivity and creativity and to ward off negative emotions as well.
December
December’s stone is Blue Topaz. The word ‘topaz’ in Greek means ‘precious stone’. This stone is associated with honesty, forgiveness, and openness. It is believed to help its wearer acquire freedom of mind, inner strength, plus clarity of thoughts and emotions. It is also used to cure asthma, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Blue Topaz can be found mostly in China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil and in the United States.
Mixed Options
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we should only wear jewelry with our particular birthstone. Gemstones can have all sorts of healing energies, and we ourselves might prefer a certain color. There’s nothing wrong with wearing any type of gemstone, but it is interesting to know the background for our particular birth month. Plus, this knowledge comes in handy when you want to gift jewelry to a friend or any loved one.
If you just want gemstones for their beautiful color or their healing energy, you might want to go with a more versatile option. There are several jewelry pieces available online that you can customize with the gemstone of your choice. On the other hand, a piece with several kinds of gemstones woven into it will be a gorgeous gift for yourself or a loved one.