As coloured stones evolved as talismans and amulets, these stones came to be associated with the time of a person’s birth and thus we have ‘birthstones’.
There are four general birthstones alternatives for the months – the traditional, modern, mystical and Ayruvedic stones.
Traditional birthstones have been used since approximately the 15th century. Modern birthstones are the “official” list, adopted in the early 20th century. Mystical birthstones are Tibetan in origin and date back over a thousand years. Ayurvedic birthstones are from ancient India circa 1500BC.
|
|
Traditional
|
Modern
|
Mystical
|
Ayruvedic
|
|
January
|
garnet
|
garnet
|
emerald
|
garnet
|
|
February
|
amethyst
|
amethyst
|
bloodstone
|
amethyst
|
|
March
|
bloodstone
|
aquamarine
|
jade
|
bloodstone
|
|
April
|
diamond
|
diamond
|
opal
|
diamond
|
|
May
|
emerald
|
emerald
|
sapphire
|
agate
|
|
June
|
alexandrite
|
pearl or moonstone
|
moonstone
|
pearl
|
|
July
|
ruby
|
ruby
|
ruby
|
ruby
|
|
August
|
sardonyx
|
peridot
|
diamond
|
sapphire
|
|
September
|
sapphire
|
sapphire
|
agate
|
moonstone
|
|
October
|
tourmaline
|
opal or tourmaline
|
jasper
|
opal
|
|
November
|
citrine
|
topaz or citrine
|
pearl
|
topaz
|
|
December
|
zircon, turquoise or lapis lazuli |
blue topaz, turquoise or tanzanite
|
onyx
|
ruby
|
There are also birthstones ascribed to the signs of the zodiac.
|
Aquarius
|
January 21-February 18
|
garnet
|
|
Pisces
|
February 19 – March 20
|
amethyst
|
|
Aries
|
March 21 – April 20
|
bloodstone
|
|
Taurus
|
April 21 – May 21
|
sapphire
|
|
Gemini
|
May 22 – June 21
|
agate
|
|
Cancer
|
June 22 – July 22
|
emerald
|
|
Leo
|
July 20 – August 23
|
onyx
|
|
Virgo
|
August 24 – September 22
|
carnelian
|
|
Libra
|
September 23 – October 23
|
peridot or aventurine
|
|
Scorpio
|
October 24 – November 22
|
beryl
|
|
Sagittarius
|
November 23 – December 21
|
topaz
|
|
Capricorn
|
December 22 – January 20
|
ruby
|
For more information on each of these stones, please go to the appropriate gemstone facts and lore sections: