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Birthstone Guide
Although dating back to biblical times, 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 symbolize 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 please see 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.
The Official British Birthstones List
Defined in 1937
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JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALGarnet Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety of colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows |
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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALAmethyst Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALAquamarine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEBloodstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Dark Green and Red |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALDiamond Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVERock Crystal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALEmerald Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green hues |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEChrysoprase Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALPearl Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Iridescent |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEMoonstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALRuby Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVECarnelian Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Red |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVEOnyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Black |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALPeridot Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Lime Green hues |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVESardonyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALSapphire Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVELapis Lazuli Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALOpal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVETourmaline Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Multi Coloured |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALTopaz Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVECitrine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNTanzanite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALTurquoise Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Green , Teal and Aqua tones |
The Official American Birthstones List
In 1912, in an effort to standardize Birthstones, the organizations 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, Canada and many other locations including the Far East and Australia. (Source: The American National Association of Jewelers)
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JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALGarnet Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows |
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FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALAmethyst Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALAquamarine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens |
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MARCH BIRTHSTONES – MODERNBloodstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Dark Green & Red |
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APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALDiamond Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear |
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MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALEmerald Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green hues |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – MODERNAlexandrite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALMoonstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White |
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JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALPearl Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Iridescent |
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JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALRuby Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALPeridot Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Light Green hues |
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AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – MODERNSardonyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown |
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SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALSapphire Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALOpal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues |
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OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALTourmaline Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Multi Coloured |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALYellow Topaz Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue |
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NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALCitrine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNTanzanite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERNZircon Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALTurquoise Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Green, Teal and Aqua tones |
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DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONALBlue Topaz Birthstones Birthstones 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
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MONDAY BIRTHSTONESPearl Birthstones |
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TUESDAY BIRTHSTONESRuby Birthstones |
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WEDNESDAY BIRTHSTONESAmethyst Birthstones |
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THURSDAY BIRTHSTONESSapphire Birthstones |
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FRIDAY BIRTHSTONESCarnelian Birthstones |
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SATURDAY BIRTHSTONESTurquoise Birthstones |
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SUNDAY BIRTHSTONESTopaz Birthstones |
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