Birthstone Origins – Stranger than Fiction
By Sam Serio
In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus tells the story
of the Breastplate of Aaron, used in religious ceremonies. (Aaron…just in case you
were absent from Sunday school that day…was the Biblical figure who performed, at
Moses' direction, the miracles that confounded Pharaoh and his magicians.)
Aaron's breastplate was adorned with four rows of
gemstones, three gemstones in each row, in the following pattern: Sardius, topaz,
carbuncle; emerald, sapphire, diamond; ligure, agate, amethyst; beryl, onyx, jasper. These
twelve gemstones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve positions were later
co-opted by astologers who linked them to the twelve months of the calendar year and the
twelve signs of the zodiac.
The Traditional Birthstone List contains these older
birthstones and represents birthstone traditions heralding back to the 15th century. The
Modern Birthstone List was created by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912 in
Kansas City, Missouri. Gemstone purists complained that the NAJ list was devised solely
for commercial purposes (they probably didn't believe in Santa Claus either!). As a
result, astrologers who prescribed gems often substituted alternate or secondary stones.
The Mystical Birthstone list below originated in from Tibet over a thousand years ago. The
Ayurvedic Birthstone list is derived from age-old Ayurvedic Indian Medicine, a practice of
native people for more than a century.
| Month |
|
Modern |
|
Traditional |
|
Mystical |
|
Ayurverdic |
| January |
Garnet |
Garnet |
Emerald |
Garnet |
| February |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Amethyst |
Bloodstone |
| March |
Aquamarine |
Bloodstone |
Jade |
Bloodstone |
| April |
Diamond |
Diamond |
Opal |
Quartz |
| May |
Emerald |
Emerald |
Sapphire |
Agate |
| June |
Pearl |
Alexandrite |
Moonstone |
Pearl |
| July |
Ruby |
Ruby |
Ruby |
Ruby |
| August |
Peridot |
Sardonyx |
Diamond |
Sapphire |
| September |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Agate |
Lapis Lazuli |
| October |
Opal |
Tourmaline |
Tourmaline |
Jasper |
| November |
Yellow Topaz |
Citrine |
Citrine |
Pearl |
| December |
Turquoise |
Lapis Lazuli |
Onyx |
Ruby |
|
Astrologically speaking, your place on the Zodiac is more
meaningful than your birth month for tapping into your "power," which has led to
the creation of the following list of "Star Stones" related to the star under
which you were born, rather than the day.
| Capricorn (Dec.
22 – Jan. 19) – |
Ruby, Agate, Garnet |
| Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
– |
Garnet, Moss Agate, Opal, Amethyst |
| Pisces (Feb. 19
– Mar. 20) – |
Rock Crystal, Sapphire,
Amethyst, Bloodstone |
| Aries (Mar. 21 – Apr. 19)
– |
Bloodstone, Diamond |
| Taurus (Apr. 20
– May 20) – |
Sapphire, Turquoise,
Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald |
| Gemini (May 21 – Jun. 20)
– |
Agate, Chrysoprase, Pearl |
| Cancer (Jun. 21
– Jul. 22) – |
Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl,
Ruby |
| Leo (Jul. 23 – Aug. 22) –
|
Tourmaline, Sardonyx, Onyx |
| Virgo (Aug. 23
– Sep. 22) – |
Jasper, Carnelian, Jade,
Sapphire |
| Libra (Sep. 23 – Oct. 22)
– |
Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot |
| Scorpio (Oct. 23
– Nov. 21) – |
Aquamarine, Topaz |
| Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec.
21) – |
Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz |
|
So whether you choose an emerald from the Breastplate of
Aaron, a moonstone from Tibet's mystical birthstone list, an opal for its ayurvedic
birthstone properties, or your very own "star sign" representative…may the
force (of the birthstone) be with you!
Shop our beautiful selection of Birthstone Jewelry.
(click here) |
