Birthstones are a select group of precious and semi-precious gemstones, each connected to the different months of the year. Learn more about your birthstone and the unique spiritual properties it is believed to possess!
January Birthstone: Garnet
Garnet gemstones range in color from a brownish-black to a vibrant red. It is believed that garnet can provided the wearer guidance during difficult times and protect you during travel. The Chinese, meanwhile, believe garnet offers special healing properties and can clear energy blockages to bring you greater mental balance.
February Birthstone: Amethyst
In a soothing purple hue, amethyst is a healing crystal that relieves stress by pressing the gemstone against your skin to calm your buzzing senses. Amethyst is believed to keep the wearer from getting drunk and cleanses the body of toxins to hopefully keep your post-birthday party hangover at bay.
March Birthstone: Aquamarine
Between its name and crisp pale blue color, it’s little surprise aquamarine is readily associated with the ocean and water. To wit, sailors often wore aquamarine pendants in the shape of the sea god Neptune to protect them throughout their sea-faring adventures. Aquamarine is thought to wash away stress and bolster the wearer’s courage.
April Birthstone: Diamond
Diamonds are immediately associated with love and romance, thanks in large part to their widespread use in engagement rings. However, diamonds are also believed to give any wearer courage, strength, and endurance—a powerful second spiritual meaning for the incredibly popular gemstone.
May Birthstone: Emerald
Looking upon the emerald’s vibrant green color is said to refresh the eyes and therefore revitalize the body. More recently, emeralds have been associated with prosperity and abundance, likely again because of its rich (no pun intended) green tone. Ancient Romans associated emeralds with the goddess of love and beauty, Venus, and considered emeralds the stone of passion and fertility.
June Birthstone: Pearl and Alexandrite
June babies have their choice of birthstone: pearl or alexandrite. Pearls are produced by mollusks and have the elite classification as the only gemstone produced by a living creature. Throughout many cultures, pearls are readily associated with purity and innocence, making them a popular choice for bridal jewelry.
Meanwhile, alexandrite is a fascinating-looking stone that changes in color from green to red under different light sources. Because of its complex chemical composition, alexandrite is the symbol of concentration and learning, believed to foster creativity in the wearer.
July Birthstone: Ruby
Rubies come in a surprisingly vast range of colors, from deep purple to orange-tinged stones. However, red rubies are by far the most sought after colorway of this precious stone. In turn, the dazzling red ruby’s color is immediately associated with the vitality of blood. Wearing ruby jewelry is believed to pump up your energy levels and life force.
August Birthstone: Peridot
Good news of August babies: Peridot is considered a particularly lucky birthstone. Like amethyst, peridot has healing properties and protects the wearer from evil, cloaking you in peace and happiness. Because of its lime green color that sparkles in even low light, peridot often symbolizes wealth and good fortune.
September Birthstone: Sapphire
While you may readily thing of sapphires in royal blue, this precious gemstone comes in an array of colors including pink, yellow, and red (which are re-classified as rubies, interestingly enough). Sapphires symbolize nobility and loyalty and are thought to help wearers build self-discipline and focus their mind.
October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline
If you’re born in October, you have your choice of birthstone: opal or tourmaline. Opal offers an incredibly unique kaleidoscope of colors across its surface, shimmering and reflecting all colors of the rainbow. This mesmerizing stone brings the wearer good luck but there is some folklore suggesting opal will bring bad luck to anyone not born in the month of October who wears opal.
Tourmaline comes in an impressive variety of colors—red, purple, green, greenish blue—but black tourmaline offers the most by way of mystical properties. Black tourmaline protects against negative and evil energy forces to shield wearers from both literal and figurative toxins and pollutants.
November Birthstone: Citrine
Citrine is a sunny birthstone in hues of orange and happy yellow. It’s natural that this cheerful looking gemstone offers positive energy in the form of manifesting fresh beginnings. Citrine has been dubbed the “healing quartz” as it’s thought to calm wearers by warding off negative thinking.
December Birthstone: Turquoise
Turquoise has been traced as far back as 3,000 BCE when ancient Egyptians incorporated it into their jewelry. Turquoise’s spiritual properties vary regionally: ancient Persians thought turquoise would offer protection and ward off danger. Native Americans would fashion their bows with turquoise, believing it would improve their accuracy.
By TrueFacet on 01/22/2019
TrueFacet is an online marketplace for pre-owned fine jewelry and watches. Every item sold is verified by our in-house team of gemologists and watch experts to ensure its authenticity.