Guide to Birthstones, Birthstone Colours & Birthstone Meanings
Although dating back to biblical times (Book of Exodus 28 and 39), the custom of wearing Birthstones in Europe first became popular in Poland in the 16th century. By the 17th century, gemstones had become firmly associated with specific months of the year. Wealthy members of society would wear each months stone over the course of that month in order to be in harmony with the celestial spirits. As the months changed, the wearer hoped each stone would bring them the specific properties associated with each celestial period. For instance, Garnet would bring the wearer tranquility, protect against fevers as well as harm during travel. Whilst Ruby would bring clarity of mind and protect against harm from natural causes. This meant each individual had to invest in a set of twelve gemstones and a piece of jewellery with which to wear them. By the 18th century, probably as a financial necessity, society members began wearing only the gemstone that represented their birth month. Nowadays Birthstones are offered as gifts to symbolise the qualities attributed to the month of birth of the recipient.
What Are The Twelve Birthstones By Month
For historical, national and commercial reasons there are actually more than twelve birthstones and the number depends on the Birthstones Chart that you follow. Below you will find the Official British Birthstones List and the Official American Birthstones List along with an indication of whether birthstone beads or gemstones are Traditional Birthstones, a Modern Birthstones or Alternative Birthstones. Each entry comes with a description of the traditional Birthstones Meanings as well as a Birthstones Colours Chart.
For a wider understanding of each gemstone in these Birthstones Lists we have provided a link through to our Gemstones and MInerals Guide for each birthstone. This Gemstone Glossary provides the physical characteristics of each stone plus colour variations, history, sources, therapeutic properties, and the traditional meanings of gemstones.
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JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety of colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows |
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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Dark Green and Red |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Green hues |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Green |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – White Iridescent |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – White |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Red |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Red |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Black |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Lime Green hues |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Deep Blue |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Multi Coloured |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBirthstones Colour – Yellow |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Blue Green , Teal and Aqua tones |
The Official American Birthstones List
In 1912, in an effort to standardise Birthstones, the organisations associated with the Jewelers of America officially adopted a list of gemstones, detailed as Traditional in the table below. The list was not changed until 1952 when a nationwide survey of men’s buying preferences showed that the available choice between June and December was not being followed and that a new buying pattern had emerged. These changes are detailed as Modern in the table below. More recently two attempts were made to add Tanzanite as December’s stone. Although December already had two stones representing it the American Gem Trade Association announced in 2002 that they had added tanzanite to December’s birthstone list Later in 2006 the Tanzanite cartel decided that a new marketing strategy would help their business and announced that Tanzanite would be a birthstone not just for a particular month of the year but should be presented on the birth of each child, no matter which month they were born in. The Jewelers of America accepted the idea hoping it would help increase sales of birthstone jewellery. This list is currently the most widely used in the United States and many other locations including the Far East and Australia. (Source: The American National Association of Jewelers)
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JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows |
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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – Dark Green & Red |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Green hues |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – Green |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – White |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – White Iridescent |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Red |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Light Green hues |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Multi Coloured |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Yellow |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBirthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Blue Green, Teal and Aqua tones |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBirthstones Colour – Blue |
If that is not enough choice there are also Birthstones Lists for the hour, day of the week, and season! This article ends with a Day of the Week Birthstones List which identifies a Birthstone for the day of a persons birth:
Day of the Week Birthstones List
MONDAY BIRTHSTONES
TUESDAY BIRTHSTONES
WEDNESDAY BIRTHSTONES
THURSDAY BIRTHSTONES
FRIDAY BIRTHSTONES
SATURDAY BIRTHSTONES
SUNDAY BIRTHSTONES
Further Reading – History of Birthstones
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz – a compendium of all the powers that have been associated with gemstones through the ages.
Official Birthstones List – Free Adobe PDF to download and keep
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