Birthstone Facts

If you were to ask the majority of folks what their birthstone was, most would be able to tell you without second thought. The reason that most folks know the answer is because they still enjoy the mysticism associated with the tradition of birthstones, and they like the idea that wearing birth stone jewelry, such as gemstone necklaces, may bring them good luck and protection.

These beliefs go back as far as 1400 BC and the time of the Assyrians. Even then, folks assigned rare and beautiful gemstones with magical properties and believed that minerals contained forces or possessed certain values and powers. For example, some believed that amethyst prevented intoxication.

Traditionally assigned to each sign of the zodiac based on a color system, the color of a birthstone was thought to unleash the power attributed to the stone. As time went on, it became associated with calendar months instead of the zodiac. Today, folks select birth stones in colors other than those originally assigned.



The following birthstones list, which is the one commonly used today, was adopted in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers.

• January - Garnet is the acknowledged birth stone for the month of January as well as being the approved anniversary gemstone for the second year of marriage.
• February - Amethyst is identified as the birth stone for February and the approved anniversary gemstone for the sixth year of marriage.
• March - Aquamarine is the traditional birth stone for March and is also the approved anniversary gem for the nineteenth year of marriage.
• April - The Diamond is the birth stone for the month of April. Besides being the most popular gemstone for engagement rings, it is the approved anniversary gem for the tenth and sixtieth years of marriage.
• May - Emerald is the birth stone for the month of May while also being the anniversary gemstone for the twentieth and thirty-fifth years of marriage.
• June - Pearl is the birth stone for the month of June. It is also the anniversary gemstone for the third and thirtieth years of marriage.
• July - The Ruby is the traditional birth stone for July while also being the approved anniversary gemstone for the fifteenth and fortieth year of marriage.
• August - Peridot is the August birthstone as well as being the anniversary gemstone for the sixteenth year of marriage.
• September - The Sapphire is the September birthstone, as well as the anniversary gem for the fifth and forty-fifth years of marriage.
• October - Opal is the October birth stone in addition to being the approved anniversary gemstone for the fourteenth year of marriage.
• November - Topaz is the November birthstone with blue topaz being the anniversary gemstone for the fourth year and imperial topaz being for the twenty-third year of marriage.
• December - Turquoise is the December birthstone and is the approved anniversary gemstone for the eleventh year of marriage.

Birthstone gems have been around for eons and are thought to have magical properties that help and protect the person who possesses or wears them. In ancient times, they were prescribed as per the birth zodiac of the person. However, in more recent times, birthstones have been linked with the calendar months in a birthstone chart and each month has its own designated birth stone that has its own unique traits. Even in modern times, the myths and stories behind these gemstones have never been forgotten.