Birthstones by Month - History and Meanings

The concept of birthstones has its beginnings in the time of Moses. According to the Book of Exodus, Aaron, the brother of Moses, was tasked with being the first High Priest of the twelve tribes of Israel. When on the job, Aaron was bid to wear a special breastplate designed by God Himself, upon which was set twelve gemstones, each representing one of the twelve tribes. They are as follows:

Judah (sardius)

Issachar (topaz)

Zebulon (carbuncle)

Reuben (emerald)

Simeon (sapphire)

Gad (diamond)

Ephraim (ligure)

Manasseh (agate)

Benjamin (amethyst)

Dan (beryl)

Asher (onyx)

Naphtali (jasper)

In a not so surprising turn of events, it is understood that at some point the world of Astrology took numerological meaning from these twelve gemstones and subsequently connected them with both the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the calendar year, respectively. Believing that mystical properties could be attributed to each gemstone, a tradition was born.

Initially, only the wealthy elite were in possession of "birthstones", owning the entire set and wearing them interchangeably, each during its corresponding month. As the eighteenth century dawned however, a new tradition came to life. It being economically prohibitive for the proletariat at large to have expensive sets of jewelry, the custom of wearing only the stone that corresponded with one's month of birth was adopted. And thus began the tradition of birthstones in true.

This traditional list of birthstones continued up until 1912, when in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Jewelers created a modern list which is now the most common and widely utilized here in North America. This list, along with the common associations of each birthstone is as follows:

January (garnet): While naturally occurring in a wide variety of colors, a garnet is most often red. As such, it is linked to blood and is believed to protect its wearer against physical illness.

February (amethyst): This purple form of quartz is associated with mental clarity and emotional well being. It is believed to be a stress reliever as well, bringing a state of tranquility to its wearer.

March (aquamarine): Meaning "water of the sea", this slightly turquoise colored gem is known as a protector of sailors. It is also associated with good health, granting its wearer a higher degree of physical vigor.

April (diamond): The hardest natural material known to man, a diamond is a symbol of pure and undying love.

May (emerald): This famous green gem is a symbol of friendship, a physical restorative, and according to some sources it allows its wearer to see into the future.

June (moonstone): Moonstones come in many colors, ranging from green and blue to even yellow and pink. However the most common color is a silvery gray. They are believed to bring good luck and to be a protective charm for both women and children.

July (ruby): The red ruby, like the diamond, is a symbol of love. It is also known as a protective charm.

August (peridot): The green peridot is essentially a good luck charm. Some specific associations are the ability of the wearer to attract love and to dispel negative emotions. It is also said to protect the wearer in the dark and during sleep.

September (sapphire): A sapphire can come in any color and in its red form is actually a ruby. Popularly known as a blue gemstone, sapphires are associated with innocence and like emeralds are said to give the ability to see into the future.

October (opal): Usually multicolored, opals are most commonly seen as blue laced with green. Said to promote inner beauty, good eyesight and to be a symbol of fidelity, it is also believed to give its wearer that which he or she desires.

November (topaz): Symbolizing strength and self-confidence, the yellow topaz is also associated with physical healing and the prevention of death.

December (turquoise): This bluish green mineral is said to be both a protective and a good luck charm, and to also promote happiness.

And there you have it, a crash course in birthstones.