Birthstones
A birthstone, otherwise known as a birthday stone, is a gemstone or other precious material which traditionally symbolise the month of birth in the Gregorian calendar, though some birthstone lists are linked to signs of the zodiac. Whilst there is plenty of confusion as to what material relates to what month since birthstone lists vary amongst different cultures, there have been efforts to standardise these lists. The table below shows birthstones associated with the months of the year from modern, traditional and mystical culture:
| Month | Traditional Birthstone(s) | Modern Birthstone(s) | Mystical Birthstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet | Emerald |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst | Bloodstone |
| March | Bloodstone, Jasper | Aquamarine | Jade |
| April | Diamond, Sapphire | Diamond | Opal |
| May | Emerald, Agate | Emerald | Sapphire |
| June | Alexandrite, Emerald | Moonstone, Pearl | Moonstone |
| July | Ruby, Onyx | Ruby | Ruby |
| August | Sardonyx, Carnelian | Peridot | Diamond |
| September | Sapphire, Peridot | Sapphire | Agate |
| October | Tourmaline, Aquamarine | Opal, Tourmaline | Jasper |
| November | Citrine, Topaz | Topaz, Citrine | Pearl |
| December | Zircon, Ruby | Turquoise, Blue Topaz | Onyx |
As mentioned earlier, gems of different colours have also been assigned to the twelve signs of the zodiac, as shown in the table below. Astrologers claim these gemstones help people influence the planets in their favour.
| Sign of the Zodiac | Birthstone (Gemstone) |
|---|---|
| Aquarius (20 January - 18 February) | Garnet |
| Pisces (19 February - 20 March) | Aquamarine |
| Aries (21 March - 19 April) | Diamond |
| Taurus (20 April - 20 May) | Sapphire |
| Gemini (21 May - 20 June) | Agate |
| Cancer (21 June - 22 July) | Emerald |
| Leo (23 July - 22 August) | Onyx |
| Virgo (23 August - 22 September) | Carnelian |
| Libra (23 September - 22 October) | Peridot |
| Scorpio (23 October - 21 November) | Beryl |
| Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December) | Topaz |
| Capricorn (22 December - 19 January) | Ruby |
