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Few experts can agree on where the stones were adopted from or originally began to be used for a given month. Some historians believe that the practice originated over 4500 years ago with the ancient Egyptians or Sumerians who carried the stones as amulets after consulting with their astrologers to acquire the magical powers associated with the stones. The time of one's birth and its relationship to the movement and properties assigned to the planets was what determined which color stone to wear as protection against sickness and suffering, or for its perceived magical ability to attract good fortune.
The Western birthstone system probably originated out of the writings of two early authors. They were Josephus (writing in the first century AD) and St. Jerome (writing during the fifth century AD). Both of them trace the custom of wearing certain types of gems to the stones that stood for the 12 tribes of Israel. They also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year, appearing on the Hebrew High Priest's Breastplate. The breastplate was originally said to be worn by Aaron, the brother of Moses (as referred to in Exodus 28:15-20).
One example of the stones mentioned in this system follows:
+ Stone 1 - Aries was represented by Carnelian
+ Stone 2 - Taurus has been symbolized using Peridot
+ Stone 3 - Gemini was regarded to use Emerald
+ Stone 4 - Cancer was demonstrated by Ruby
+ Stone 5 - Leo used the gemstone Lapis Lazuli
+ Stone 6 - Virgo has been associated with Onyx
+ Stone 7 - Libra used beautiful Sapphire
+ Stone 8 - Scorpio was represented by Agate
+ Stone 9 - Sagittarius was symbolized by Sapphire
+ Stone 10 - Capricorn was shown with Yellow Topaz (Citrine)
+ Stone 11 - Aquarius was displayed by Beryl
+ Stone 12 - Pisces was exhibited by Jasper
The stones that have been associated with each month have changed frequently throughout the years. One reason is that the actual identification of gemstones has been haphazard and was often based on the description of the color, not the actual mineral composition of the stone. This led to confusion between gems like garnet and ruby.
Even today, historians argue over exactly what stones appeared on the breastplate, depending on which translation of the Bible is consulted. After the mid-1500s, the birthstone custom eventually appeared to die out in Europe, but there are a number of sources that indicate that the beliefs revived again in 18th-century Poland.
The transition from stones that were linked with astrological signs, planets or star signs to being chosen for specific months came with the early movement of Christianity as it spread throughout pagan lands. The church sought to eliminate the importance of astrology, especially among pagan converts, and gemstone lore instead linked stones with the twelve apostles. Sometime thereafter, a belief that all people born in a certain month became wards of a specific guardian angel arose where specific gems were assigned to each angel, adding to existing birthstone lore.
The most common listing of birthstones that people refer to today, also known as the "traditional" listing (sometimes also called the "modern" listing even though it contains stones from older sources), was adopted officially in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers to aid in jewelry sales. This is generally the list of birthstones referred to in the US. As people became more interested in wearing birthstones once again, less expensive gemstones have been given as alternatives for some of the rarest gems, although the color of the gem is very close to the original stone chosen on the list (for example, a purple stone can be worn in place of the amethyst chosen for February, or cubic zirconium in place of the diamond for April).
Even on this "official" list there is considerable leeway possible for a few of the months. For example, a person who is born in March could choose either aquamarine or bloodstone, while someone born in June has the most alternatives as alexandrite, pearl and moonstone are equally appropriate for them. Tanzanite, virtually unknown at the time the original list was compiled, was added as another birthstone choice for December by the American Gem Trade Association in October of 2002.
You can also choose your birth gemstones by colors as follows:
* January -- Dark Red
* February -- Purple
* March -- Pale Blue
* April -- Clear
* May -- Bright Green
* June -- Cream
* July -- Bright Red
* August -- Pale Green
* September -- Deep Blue
* October -- Variegated
* November -- Yellow
* December -- Sky Blue
If you find you don't like the stone for your birth month, you can also choose a birthstone based on the day of the week you were born on. Stones that correspond include:
* Sunday - Topaz (any color)
* Monday - Pearl
* Tuesday - Ruby
* Wednesday - Amethyst
* Thursday - Sapphire
* Friday - Carnelian
* Saturday - Turquoise
Cheaper stones like Swarovski crystals in the color of a gemstone let almost anyone afford to wear a stone that simulates the color of the gem assigned to their birth month or day.
