Birthstones and Zodiac stones
by Gina Primero
Birthstone lists vary somewhat, but in 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers adopted the list below, and it is currently used in the United States and in many other countries. It is thought that the assignment of a particular gemstone to a given month originally came from the qualities that symbolized that month in the Gregorian Calendar. The breastplate of Aaron in the Bible, containing the twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel may be the origin of the idea of birthstones.
| Month | Birthstone |
|---|---|
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl, Moonstone or Alexandrite |
| July | Ruby |
| September | Peridot, Sardonyx or Sapphire |
| October | Tourmaline or Opal |
| November | Yellow Topaz or Citrine |
| December | Zircon, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Topaz or Tanzanite |
There is also a table matching gemstones to astrological signs. This Zodiac stone table is below.
| Astrological Sign | Gemstone |
|---|---|
| Aries | Diamond |
| Taurus | Sapphire |
| Cancer | Emerald |
| Leo | Ruby |
| Virgo | Opal |
| Libra | Peridot |
| Sagittarius | Topaz |
| Capricorn | Garnet |
| Aquarius | Amethyst or Moonstone |
| Pisces | Diamond |
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org.
