"The February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they an amethyst will wear."
- Birthstone Poem, first published by Tiffany and Co., 1870
If you talk to mathematicians, the number twelve is where it's at. They call it the duodecimal or "dozenal," system—and have written dozens (ha!) of papers arguing for its adoption.
The mathematicians aren't alone, either. When you look at human history, the number twelve has a lot of staying power:
And, of course ...
There are many systems of birthstones, coming from multiple cultures and histories, and each has their own origin story.
A great many of the birthstone beliefs used in the United States and Europe come from Biblical sources and the medieval church. Many of the gemstones currently used as birthstones are listed in the breastplate of Aaron, the High Priest (Exodus 28:17-20). During the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, those stones were frequently assigned to specific saints. Believers would wear that saint's gemstone as a way of encouraging their attention or assistance with a specific physical, emotional or spiritual problem. This system of belief eventually evolved into the current system of metaphysical or healing associations with particular gemstones.
In the 900s, the use of gemstones to treat a range of spiritual ailments was emerging in Tibet. Meanwhile, Ayurvedic medicine was taking off in India, with different gemstones associated with different months and different personality types. This came out of a long tradition of birthstones in ancient Indus Valley writings. Some gemstone names have been translated—others are still a mystery.
Not all birthstone lists run on a per-month basis. Some are yearly—like the Chinese Zodiac—while others are based on the day, or even the hour, of birth.
Birthstones are a popular gift item for both women and men. From class rings to full jewelry sets, there's birthstone jewelry that appeals to everyone. With all the different sources of birthstones, jewelry makers have some unusual options to make their designs stand out:
Create birthstone jewelry that uses every single one of a particular month's birthstones. For example, offer that March-born customer jewelry which includes aquamarine (modern American), bloodstone (ancient Hebrew), jade (Mystical / Tibetan) and jasper (Russian)! Be sure to include the different sources for your gemstones and customers can choose according to their cultural interests and ethnic heritages.
The mystical or Tibetan birthstone chart was originally derived for healing purposes. Crystal healing or metaphysical uses of gemstones are still popular. Create jewelry designed to target certain life challenges—health, serenity, spiritual growth, etc.
Create ultra-personalized birthstone rings using the month / day of week / hour charts by adding them to a mother's ring setting. For example, the first baby of 2015 born in your area would be born Thursday, January 1st, between midnight and 1 a.m. That means a birthstone triad of garnet to mark the month, sapphire (or carnelian or emerald) for the day of the week and onyx for the hour!
The Chinese Zodiac is year-based, with a new sign taking precedence on the lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Rabbit, Year of the Horse, etc. Lunar New Year varies from year to year, usually falling sometime between January 1st and February 20th. If your customers were born within that time frame, you'll need to pay special attention in order to identify their proper year and get them the proper birthstone.
Meanwhile, American newspapers tend to list the Babylonian Zodiac, also called the western, tropical or sidereal Zodiac, with its familiar list of names: Aquarius, Taurus, Virgo, etc. This Zodiac traces the sun's progress across the sky over the course of a single year, marking its position within 12 named zones. The zones are named after particular constellations, but those constellations are not the only ones within each zone of the sky.
Here's the sidereal Zodiac, with its traditional birthstones, per George F. Kunz's seminal book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones:
Some adherents of sidereal astrology include the sign Ophiuchus (aw-fee-YEW-kuss), while others stick to the standard and traditional twelve. The constellation now known as Ophiuchus ("snake-bearer") was called Asclepius by the Romans, named after a son of Apollo. In myth, Asclepius was famous for his healing powers.
With the inclusion of Ophiuchus, the sidereal Zodiac dates change. Here's what it looks like with the "thirteenth sign":
If you choose, you can offer these birthstones for the "snake-bearer" sign: fluorite, bloodstone, tanzanite, kyanite and black tourmaline. As astrologers' adoption and use of Ophiuchus is new and nonstandardized, there are a variety of other gemstones also associated with this Zodiac sign. Explore the alternatives and make your own choices!
Russian -
Alexandrite
Ancient Hebrew - Chrysolite
Russian - Chrysolite
Garnet - Calmness.
Sleep tight; this gem is said to help prevent nightmares.
Amethyst - Power
Ancient lore claims it can be worn to prevent intoxication.
Aquamarine - Rapport
It is believed that wearing this gem ensures a long and happy marriage.
Diamond - Endurance
This timeless stone is claimed to instil strength and courage.
Emerald - Clarity
Ancient cultures believed emeralds could cure eye problems.
Pearl - Joy
Believed to foster love and fertility.
Ruby - Harmony
Its deep beauty has been used to reconcile differences and protect warriors in battle.
Peridot - Purity
Believed to protect its wearer from evil spirits.
Sapphire - Loyalty
The true blue is said to encourage honesty and fidelity.
Opal - Hope
Many believe wearing opal provides foresight and prophecy.
Citrine - Success
This crystal is known for its value in aiding manifestation of abundance and prosperity.
Turquoise - Peace
This ancient gemstone is said to grant health and good fortune.
7:00 AM - Chrysolite
1:00 PM - Zircon
11:00 PM - Lodestone
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
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**Please note that all metaphysical or healing properties listed are collected from various sources. This information is offered as a service and not meant to treat medical conditions. Fire Mountain Gems and Beads® does not guarantee the validity of any of these statements.