Birthstones

Gemstones have been associated with the months of the year for a long time. In many cultures this use can be found and every culture basically has its own list of gemstones that is considered standard. The use of birthstones originates in Jewish religion, in the Thora and also in the Old Testament in the Bible, it is described how Moses makes a breast plate for the Jewish high priest, Aaron. Moses used twelve gemstones to create this breast plate, and these stones represent the twelve sons of Jacob, the founding fathers of the tribes of Israel.

Later on these stones were associated with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the months of the year. All stones that were associated with the months of the year were worn alternatively by one person, to make sure that this person could rely on the maximum amount of positive forces throughout the year. Catherine de Medici, for instance, wore a belt in which all birthstones were set so she would be able to obtain the highest result possible.

In 18^th century Poland it became fashionable to wear the stone that was associated with the month one was born in. Gemstones are also associated with the days of the week and the hours of the day, which makes the subject birthstones a little more complicated. Below you will find two tables in which the associations with the days of the week and the hours of the day are displayed.

Days of the Week Day: Gemstone: Talisman: Sunday Topaz Pearl Monday Pearl Emerald Tuesday Ruby Topaz Wednesday Amethyst Turquoise Thursday Sapphire Sapphire Friday Emerald Ruby Saturday Turquoise Amethyst

Hours of the Day Hour: Gemstone: Hour: Gemstone: 00.00 Onyx 12.00 Diamond 01.00 Morion 13.00 Jacynth 02.00 Hematite 14.00 Emerald 03.00 Malachite 15.00 Beryl 04.00 Lapis Lazuli 16.00 Topaz 05.00 Turquoise 17.00 Ruby 06.00 Tourmaline 18.00 Opal 07.00 Chrysolite 19.00 Sardonyx 08.00 Amethyst 20.00 Chalcedony 09.00 Kunzite 21.00 Jade 10.00 Sapphire 22.00 Jasper 11.00 Garnet 23.00 Magnetite

Birthstones

In various traditions birthstones play a significant role, below you will find a table in which the various traditions are displayed. In the US and Europe the modern birthstones are used, but sometimes the traditional birthstones are used.

	Month	Modern	Traditional	Mystic	Ayurveda	Alternative
	January	Garnet	Garnet	Emerald	Garnet	Rose Quartz
	February	Amethyst	Amethyst	Bloodstone	Amethyst	Moonstone Onyx
	March	Aquamarine	Bloodstone	Jade	Bloodstone	Clear Quartz
	April	Diamond	Diamond	Opal	Diamond	Quartz White Sapphire
	May	Emerald	Emerald	Saffier	Agate	Beryl Chrysoprase
	June	Moonstone Pearl	Alexandrite	Moonstone	Parel	Opal
	July	Ruby	Ruby	Ruby	Ruby	Carnelian
	August	Peridot	Sardonyx	Diamond	Sapphire	Jade
	September	Sapphire	Sapphire	Agate	Moonstone	Lapis Lazuli Diamond Chrysolite
	October	Opal Tourmaline	Tourmaline	Jasper	Opal	Aquamarine Pink Tourmaline Zircon
	November	Citrine Golden Topaz	Citrine	Pearl	Topaz	Diamond
	December	Blue Topaz Turquoise	Lapis Lazuli Turquoise Zircon	Onyx	Ruby

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