History of Birthstone Jewelry
Ancient Traditions Link Gemstones with Months and Astrology Signs
Apr 10, 2009 Victoria Anisman-Reiner
Most people are aware of the gemstone for their month of birth, but the history behind the birthstone custom is another story. The connection between gemstones and birthdays is both ancient and modern, with legends dating to Biblical times and contemporary traditions begun in the early 1900s.
Biblical Breastplate of Aaron and the Twelve Tribes of Israel
The earliest mention of a set of twelve gemstones is from the Bible, in the Book of Exodus. Aaron, the brother of Moses, is named the first High Priest of the Jews and along with that charge comes a detailed description of the breastplate of the High Priest, adorned with twelve gemstones to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The gemstones listed in Exodus 28:15-30 may be the original twelve birthstones.
The tradition continues with European priests who, in the 8th 9th centuries, reinterpreted Biblical scripts to link one of these gemstones with each of the twelve apostles.
Although these lists set the precedent for what became the modern list of birthstones, the gemstones of the apostles and of the twelve tribes are different from the stones worn today – even though the names are the same. In ancient times, without modern scientific tools, "sapphire" meant any blue stone, emerald any green gem, and ruby anything red. Other gemstone names may have shifted over the years to mean different minerals – yet despite that uncertainty, the tradition remains.
India, Ayurveda and the Birthstones for the Twelve Astrology Signs
Long before anyone was interpreting the Bible, as much as 5000 years ago, priests and healers in India (and elsewhere in Asia) believed that gemstones had special properties that correspond to different body types, organs, and diseases and that these stones could harm or heal. Indian Ayurveda links different gems with each of the ruling planets and may have been the basis for assigned gemstones to each zodiac sign.
Modern Birthstones for Each Month
The birthstones for each month were made official in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers, in an attempt to revitalize the jewelry market by making gemstone jewelry into a gift with a personal, symbolic significance. This is the list that has been followed, with a few changes, ever since.
The modern gemstone list is:
- January – Garnet
- February – Amethyst
- March – Aquamarine, Bloodstone
- April – Diamond
- May – Emerald
- June – Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
- July – Ruby
- August – Peridot, Sardonyx
- September – Sapphire
- October – Opal, Tourmaline
- November – Topaz, Citrine
- December – Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite
There are many variants on these birthstones, some of which include the older birthstones that predate the 1912 list. In general, though, the colors of the gemstones will be similar for each month, even from one list to the next.
In addition to stones for the months and zodiac signs, there are birthstones for days of the week and for the hours of the day.
Reference
- International Colored Gemstone Association, "The Breastplate of the High Priest," Gemstone.org, 2009.
- International Colored Gemstone Association, "Birthstones: Choosing a gem for you," Gemstone.org, 2009.
- Kellogg, E. Susan, "All About Birthstones," LoveJoyJewelry.com, 2009.
- Smith, Jerry, "Birthstones a History," JSBeads.com, 2009.
Birthstones Match by Month or Astrology Sign
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