Birthstones!

Most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones

arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment
set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel.
Many found a correspondence with the twelve signs of the zodiac.
In later times, the stones became associated with the
twelve months of the year and many believed that the stones
possessed power when worn or owned.
Thus, the tradition of giving and wearing birthstones began
January!
Birthstone: Garnet

Legend has it, that Noah hung a large garnet in the ark
for illumination!
The garnet was believed to protect from nightmares
and give guidance at night.
The rusaders used them as protection against
wounds and accidents during their !ourne"s.
Toda", it is a s"mbol for
guidance and constanc".
February!
Birthstone: #meth"st

The Greeks believed that if an ameth"st was
placed under the tongue while drinking
it would prevent into$ication!
%or man" "ears the ameth"st has been a s"mbol
of peace and tran&uilit"!
't is also said to be the stone of (aint )alentine,
who wore an ameth"st engraved with the figure
of his assistant, upid.
(aint )alentine*s +a" is still observed in %ebruar".
March!
Birthstone: #&uamarine


,eople believed this stone had the abilit"
to aid seafarers.
't was also believed that if "ou dreamed a&uamarine
it meant "ou were going to
meet a new friend!
#&uamarine has also been a s"mbol for "outh
and health for man" "ears!
April!
Birthstone: +iamond

The diamond is the hardest of all gems.
'n ancient times the" were believed to be
hardened dewdrops or splinters of lightning
and stars that fell to the earth.
-arriors believed if the" wore diamonds into
battle that the gems would give them
strength and courage.
'n ancient times, onl" men wore diamonds.
The tradition of giving diamond engagement rings
came much later.
Toda", the gem is a s"mbol that reflects
the strength of love!
Birthstone: .merald

The .meralds magnificent color has
been said to rest and relieve the e"e.
/omans dedicated the gem to the
goddess )enus because it s"mboli0ed
the reproductive forces of nature.
.arl" hristians considered the gem
a s"mbol of the resurrection of hrist!
'n present time, the emerald is a
s"mbol for happiness and fertilit".

Birthstone: ,earl
#ccording to 'ndian m"tholog",
a pearl was formed when dew drops
during a full moon
fell from the heavens into the sea
and were captured b" shellfish.
-arriors in 'ndia encrusted pearls
into the handles of their swords
to s"mboli0e the tears a sword can bring.
'n present time, the pearl
is a universal s"mbol of purit".
Birthstone: /ub"


The rub" is known as
1The Lord of the Gems1!
'n the 2rients it was believed to be the
spark of life and was thought to be drops of
blood from the heart of 3other .arth!
'n other parts of the world, the rub" was perceived
as self4luminous and was called
glowing stone or lamp stone.
+uring medieval times, man" thought the
rub" could warn of misfortune or illness to its owner
b" turning a deeper red.
Toda", it is a s"mbol for nobilit".
August!
Birthstone: ,eridot

The peridot is formed b" a
volcanic action.
Greeks believed it brought
ro"al dignit" upon its wearer
and it was also considered
a s"mbol for the sun.
#ncient legends considered the
peridot as a powerful amulet
that warded off evil.
Birthstone: (apphire

't is a common theor"
that the Ten ommandments were written on
tablets made of (apphire.
'n ancient times, the sapphire was believed
to hold special powers.
3an" felt the gem gave its owner the abilit"
to foretell the future.
't has been a s"mbol for wisdom ever since!
October!
Birthstone: 2pal

Throughout histor", there are as man" different legends about the opal as
there are colors in this precious gem. There is an 'ndian legend about the
origin of the opal. 5uoted from 1Gemstones1 b" -illard 6eaps: 1...the gods
Brahma, )ishnu and (hiva once vied in !ealous love for a beautiful woman.
This angered the .ternal, who changed the fair mortal into a creature made
of mist. Thereupon each of the three gods endowed her with his own
colorso as to be able to recogni0e her. Brahma gave her the glorious blue
of the heavens, )ishnu enriched her with the splendor of gold, and (hiva
lent her his flaming red. But all this was in vain, since the lovel" phantom
was whisked awa" b" the winds. %inall", the .ternal took pit" on her and
transformed her into a stone,the opal, that sparkles in all the colors of the
rainbow.1 'n #ustralia,a legend e$isted of
a huge opal that governs the stars and guides human love, as well as
controls the gold in all the mines. The #borigines have an altogether
different legend concerning the opal. The" believed it to be the devil that
lurks in the ground made up of half man and half serpent that lures men to
destruction. #rabs believed the wearer of an opal had the power of
invisibilit", hence it became a popular talisman of thieves and spies. The
/omans considered the gem to be a s"mbol of love and hope. 'n the
orients, it was called the anchor of hope. The two beliefs of love and
hope, above all the others has carried over into toda"*s beliefs.
Birthstone: Topa0
The name Topa0 is derived from the
(anskrit word meaning 1fire1.
'n ancient lore, it was believed that
topa0 could control heat and cool
boiling water, as well as
calm e$cessive anger.
+uring the 3iddle #ges, the topa0
was used mostl" b" ro"alt" and clerg".
# 78th centur" belief held that a topa0 engraved
with a falcon helped its wearer cultivate
the goodwill of kings and princes.
Topa0 was once thought to
strengthen the mind, prevent mental disorders,
and increase wisdom.
December!
Birthstone: Tur&uoise
Tur&uoise was used in some of the earliest !ewelr"
known to man. ,haraohs in .g"pt have been
unearthed wearing tur&uoise !ewelr" that date
back to 99oo B..
Native #mericans in the southwest
called tur&uoise 1hal4cui4hui4ta1 which means
1The highest and most valued thing in the world.1
The" believed the blue represented heaven and
the green earth.
Tur&uoise was considered b" some as a s"mbol of
good fortune and success.
't was also believed to bring prosperit" to its wearer.