The History of BirthstonesBirthstones
The idea of birthstones, as we know it today, comes from the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Natal stones are mentioned in the writings of Josephus in the 1st century AD, and later by St Jerome in the early 5th century. They originally depicted the 12 stones in the breastplate of Aaron (also known as the high priest's breast plate), mentioned in Exodus, each of which represented a month of the year or sign of the zodiac. The Book of Revelations refers to the same stones, with some variation, as the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. In the 9th century analogies were made between these stones and the apostles, and virtues assigned to them accordingly.
It wasn't until the 18th century, starting in either Poland or Germany, that it became fashionable to wear birthstones. Up until that time, crystals and stones were worn mainly for their specific therapeutic properties, protection, or ability to fulfil desires, and of course for decoration. There is also some speculation that early Christians associated the wearing of birthstones to have its origins in paganism, and were therefore slow to adopt the practise.
In 1912 the National Association of Jewellers (US) met in Kansas City, and agreed on a list of birthstones for each month, based loosely on the many lists from various versions of the breastplate and Foundation Stones. One source from the period states that this was for simplicity and convenience, but a later, more cynical source suggests that this was as a result of astrology falling out of favour, and purely a commercial attempt to make birthstones acceptable again.
With the advent of the New Age movement in the 1980's, many more stones were added to the list by crystal healers. These are based largely on the element of the star sign, as different crystals also represent the elements earth, air, fire and water. In her book, Love is in the Earth, Melody assigns one or more star signs to each stone. Judy hall, in The Crystal Zodiac, brings this a step further and suggest birthstones for ascendants and moons as well.
As you can see, there are many, many different interpretations. Below are listed the main birthstones for each star sign, followed by some of the other suggested stones from various sources.
Astrological Birthstones
Aquarius
20th January - 18th February
Main stone: Garnet
Other stones: Amber - Baltic, Amethyst, Angelite, Aquamarine, Cavansite, Diamond, Fuchsite, Garnet, Hematite, Jade, Labradorite, Moonstone, Quartz - Clear, Sapphire, Schalenblende, Tourmaline - Clear, Turquoise
Pisces
19th February - 20th March
Main stone: Amethyst
Other stones: Agate - Blue Lace, Amethyst , Angelite, Anglesite, Aquamarine, Bixbyite, Bloodstone, Calcite, Diaspore, Fluorite, Moonstone, Opal - Fire, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Schalenblende, Smithsonite, Staurolite, Sugilite, Topaz - Imperial, Turquoise
Aries
21st March - 20th April
Main stone: Carnelian
Other stones: Agate - Fire Agate, Agate - Grey Banded, Angelite, Aquamarine, Aventurine - Green, Axinite, Bloodstone, Cancrinite, Citrine, Crocoite, Diamond, Enstatite, Hematite, Herderite, Jade, Jasper, Kyanite, Opal - Blue Andean, Opal - Rose, Ruby, Ruby Zoisite, Stilbite, Sunstone, Tektite, Tourmaline - Brown
Taurus
21st April - 20th May
Main stone: Emerald
Other stones: Amber - Baltic, Amblygonite, Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Diamond, Emerald, Erythrite, Iolite, Jade, Kunzite, Kyanite, Peridot, Opal - Boulder, Rhodonite, Rose Quartz, Rutile, Scapolite, Selenite, Topaz, Tiger's Eye, Tourmaline - Blue, Xenotime, Zincite
Gemini
21st May - 21st June
Main stone: Citrine
Other stones: Agate (general), Amber - Colombian, Angelite, Apatite, Apophyllite, Calcite, Celestite, Chrysocolla, Citrine, Emerald, Epidote, Howlite, Jade, Lazulite, Lodestone / Magnetite, Phenakite, Rutile, Sphalerite, Tanzanite, Tiger's Eye, Tourmaline - Watermelon, Wolframite
Cancer
21st June - 22nd July
Main stone: Moonstone
Other stones: Amber, Calcite, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Endlichite, Microline, Moonstone, Opal - Fire, Orthoclase, Pearl, Tektite
Leo
23rd July- 22nd August
Main stone: Ruby
Other stones: Agate - Fire, Amber - Baltic, Carnelian, Childrenite, Chrysoberyl, Cinnabar, Citrine, Danburite, Diaspore, Dumortierite, Emerald, Garnet, Gold, Jasper, Kunzite, Labradorite, Larimar, Onyx, Opal - Fire, Peridot, Petalite, Pietersite, Pyrite, Quartz - Clear, Rhodochrosite, Sunstone, Tiger Iron, Tiger's Eye, Topaz - Imperial
Virgo
23rd August - 22nd September
Main stone: Peridot
Other stones: Agate - Moss (Green), Amazonite, Amethyst, Andalusite, Carnelian, Cerussite, Chromium Diopside, Chrysocolla, Diopside, Dioptase, Erythrite, Fossilised Wood, Garnet, Lodestone / Magnetite, Moonstone, Opal, Peridot, Quartz - Rutilated, Sapphire, Sardonyx, Smithsonite, Sugilite, Tourmaline - Watermelon, Xenotime, Zircon
Libra
23rd September - 22nd October
Main stone: Opal
Other stones: Ametrine, Apophyllite, Aquamarine, Aventurine - Green, Bloodstone, Chiastolite, Childrenite, Chrysoberyl, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Diamond, Diaspore, Emerald, Hemimorphite, Iolite, Jade, Kyanite, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Morganite, Opal, Opal - Fire, Peridot, Prehnite, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Scheelite, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline (general), Triphylite, Wolframite, Zincite, Zircon
Scorpio
23rd October - 22nd November
Main stone: Aquamarine
Other stones: Agate - Black Agate, Alexandrite, Anatase, Aquamarine, Astrophyllite, Charoite, Citrine, Herkimer Diamond, Hiddenite, Kunzite, Labradorite, Malachite, Moonstone, Obsidian, Opal, Rhodochrosite, Stibnite, Topaz, Tourmaline - Pink, Turquoise, Unakite
Saggitarius
23rd November - 21st December
Main stone: Topaz
Other stones: Agate - Black and Blue Lace, Amethyst, Azurite, Azurite-malachite, Chalcedony, Charoite, Garnet, Herkimer Diamond, Heulandite, Iolite, Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Lazulite, Malachite, Opal - Fire, Seraphinite, Smoky Quartz, Sodalite, Tanzanite, Titanite (Sphene), Topaz (general), Tourmaline - Pink, Tsavorite, Turquoise, Vesuvianite, Wulfenite, Zircon
Capricorn
22nd December - 19th January
Main stone: Black Onyx
Other stones: Amethyst, Aragonite, Azurite-malachite, Beudantite, Brazilianite, Chalcopyrite, Erythrite, Fluorite, Galena, Garnet, Jet, Malachite, Mimetite, Obsidian, Onyx - Black, Quartz - Clear and Smoky, Ruby, Stibnite, Tiger's Eye, Tourmaline - Black, Tourmaline - Green, Vesuvianite, Vivianite
Monthly Birthstones
The first modern birthstones listed are from the 1912 list produced in Kansas City, followed by others sometimes used as well. Because of confusion in various translations of the Bible, plus advances in our understanding of mineralogy, there are a number of traditional lists of stones, many with crystal names we no longer recognise. In some cases, one name used for two or more stones, such as chrysolite, once was interchangeable for peridot and topaz.
January
Modern Stones: Garnet, also Rose Quartz
Traditional Stones: Garnet, Hyacinth (old term for Zircon)
February
Modern Stones: Amethyst; also Onyx
Traditional Stones: Amethyst, Hyacinth (Zircon), Pearl
March
Modern Stones: Bloodstone, Aquamarine; also Tourmaline
Traditional Stones: Jasper, Bloodstone
April
Modern Stones: Diamond; also Sapphire and Clear Quartz
Traditional Stones: Sapphire, Diamond
May
Modern Stones: Emerald; also Chrysoprase
Traditional Stones: Agate, Emerald, Chalcedony, Carnelian
June
Modern Stones: Pearl, Moonstone
Traditional Stones: Emerald, Agate, Chalcedony, Turquoise, Pearl, Cat's Eye
July
Modern Stones: Ruby; also Carnelian
Traditional Stones: Onyx, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Ruby, Turquoise
August
Modern Stones: Sardonyx , Peridot; also Onyx
Traditional Stones: Carnelian, Sardonyx, Moonstone, Topaz, Alexandrite
September
Modern Stones: Sapphire; also Peridot
Traditional Stones: Chrysolite (old term defined as either Topaz or Peridot), Sardonyx
October
Modern Stones: Opal, Tourmaline; also Aquamarine
Traditional Stones: Beryl, Aquamarine, Opal
November
Modern Stones: Topaz; also Tiger's Eye
Traditional Stones: Topaz, Pearl
December
Modern Stones: Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli; also Zircon
Traditional Stones: Ruby, Turquoise, Chrysoprase, Bloodstone
©Janelle Scialla
May 2007
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