The practice of associating specific gemstones with birth months is a tradition steeped in history, culture, and personal significance. A birthstone chart serves as a comprehensive visual guide, displaying the official and traditional gemstones linked to each month of the year. These charts are more than mere lists; they are references that encapsulate centuries of belief, geological wonder, and gemological science. By consulting a birthstone chart, individuals can discover the gemstone tied to their birth month, understand its unique properties, and appreciate the symbolic meanings that have been attributed to it over time.
The concept of birthstones has evolved significantly. Different eras, countries, and cultures have developed their own charts, leading to variations between traditional, modern, and even astrological assignments. For instance, charts may differ between Polish, Italian, Arabic, or Hebrew traditions. To provide a clear and authoritative reference, this guide focuses on the modern and traditional birthstones recognized in the United States, whose official list was first established in 1912 and has been amended in 1952, 2002, and 2016. This article will explore the gemological properties, historical lore, and symbolic significance of each month's birthstone, providing a detailed resource for gemstone enthusiasts, jewelry buyers, and students of gemology.
The Significance of Birthstone Charts
A birthstone chart is a valuable tool for education, gift-giving, and personal connection. For jewelers and designers, it serves as a primary reference for creating custom pieces, from engagement rings to family heirlooms. For educators and students, it offers an accessible entry point into the fields of mineralogy, geology, and cultural anthropology. For the general public, it provides a way to select meaningful, personalized gifts, as each gemstone carries unique significance. Many believe that these gems offer protection, healing properties, and spiritual benefits specific to those born in their corresponding month.
The modern birthstone chart, which lists one primary official gemstone per month, is the most widely used version. However, many charts also include traditional or alternative stones, which reflect older historical assignments. This comprehensive approach allows for a richer understanding of each month's gemological heritage. The following sections delve into each month, detailing the gemstones' colors, hardness on the Mohs scale, and the key symbolism associated with them, as derived from established sources.
January: Garnet
The birthstone for January is Garnet, a gem renowned for its deep red hue. While commonly associated with a rich, dark red color, the garnet group actually encompasses a wide spectrum of shades, though the classic deep red remains the most iconic. Garnet is assigned a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a durable stone suitable for a variety of jewelry applications, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Historically, garnet has been a symbol of friendship, trust, and protection. Its name is derived from the Latin word granatum, meaning seed, due to its resemblance to the dark red seeds of a pomegranate. Ancient cultures believed that garnet could ward off evil and protect travelers from harm. The stone's primary symbolism is constancy, representing steadfastness, loyalty, and perseverance. For those born in January, garnet is said to embody these enduring qualities, making it a powerful and meaningful personal gem.
February: Amethyst
February's birthstone is the captivating Amethyst, celebrated for its beautiful purple coloration. This variety of quartz ranges from pale lilac to deep, royal purple. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, amethyst is a relatively hard and durable gemstone, though it can be susceptible to fading from prolonged exposure to intense sunlight. Its clarity and color make it a popular choice for faceted jewelry.
The key symbolism associated with amethyst is sincerity. Beyond this, it has long been linked to peace, protection, and tranquility. The ancient Greeks believed that amethyst could prevent intoxication and maintain a clear mind, a belief reflected in its name, which comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning "not drunk." Throughout history, it has been a stone of royalty and spirituality, thought to enhance calmness and clarity of thought for the wearer.
March: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
March is unique in that it is associated with two distinct birthstones: Aquamarine (modern) and Bloodstone (traditional). Aquamarine, the primary modern stone, is a variety of beryl known for its serene light blue to blue-green color, reminiscent of the sea. It has a hardness of 7.5 to 8, making it an excellent and durable choice for all types of jewelry. Its clarity and vitreous luster are highly prized.
Aquamarine's symbolism is tied to courage, honesty, and loyalty. Sailors historically wore it as a talisman for safe passage across treacherous waters, believing it offered protection and ensured a safe voyage. The stone is also associated with soothing energy and clear communication.
The traditional birthstone for March is Bloodstone, an opaque, dark green chalcedony (a variety of quartz) with distinctive red spots of iron oxide, resembling drops of blood. While not detailed in the provided hardness table, it is a durable stone. Bloodstone carries a symbolism of courage and was historically believed to possess healing properties, particularly for stopping bleeding and purifying the blood.
April: Diamond
The birthstone for April is the Diamond, the hardest known natural material with a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale. Renowned for its exceptional brilliance and fire, a diamond is a crystalline form of carbon. Its colorless appearance is the most classic, though it occurs in a full spectrum of colors. Its unparalleled hardness makes it the most durable gemstone, ideal for daily-wear jewelry like engagement rings.
Diamond's symbolism is profound, representing innocence, love, purity, and strength. For centuries, it has been the ultimate symbol of enduring love and commitment. Its name comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning "invincible," a testament to its unyielding nature. The diamond is also associated with clarity, balance, and abundance, making it a powerful gem for those born in April.
May: Emerald
Emerald is the vibrant green birthstone for May. As a variety of the mineral beryl, its captivating green color is caused by trace amounts of chromium and vanadium. Emeralds typically have a hardness of 7.5 to 8, but they are often included (containing internal fractures and inclusions), which makes them more fragile than other gems of similar hardness. These inclusions, however, are often accepted as part of the stone's character and are referred to as its "jardin" (French for garden).
The primary symbolism of emerald is rebirth, love, and wisdom. Its lush green color is associated with spring, renewal, and the vitality of nature. Historically, emeralds were revered by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, who associated them with eternal life. For those born in May, the emerald is a stone of growth, insight, and successful love.
June: Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone
June is one of the few months with three official birthstones: Pearl (modern), Alexandrite, and Moonstone. The most traditional of these is the Pearl, an organic gem formed within the soft tissue of a living mollusk. Unlike other gems, pearls are not mined from the earth. They range in color from white to cream and have a unique, soft luster. Their hardness is low, rated at 2.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, making them delicate and susceptible to scratches. Pearls symbolize purity, innocence, faith, and wealth. They have long been associated with elegance and are a classic choice for jewelry.
The alternative birthstone for June is Alexandrite, a rare chrysoberyl known for its dramatic color-changing properties. It appears green in daylight and fluorescent light and shifts to a purplish-red under incandescent light. Its hardness is an excellent 8.5. Moonstone, the third June stone, is a variety of feldspar known for its adularescence—a captivating blue or white sheen that moves across the stone's surface. It has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 and is associated with hope and intuition.
July: Ruby
The fiery red birthstone for July is Ruby, a variety of the mineral corundum. Its captivating red color, ranging from pinkish-orange to deep, blood-red, is caused by the presence of chromium. Ruby is one of the hardest gemstones, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond. This exceptional durability, combined with its vibrant color, makes it a highly prized and valuable gem.
Ruby's symbolism is as intense as its color, representing passion, protection, and prosperity. Throughout history, it has been a symbol of power and royalty, believed to bring good fortune and ward off evil. For those born in July, the ruby is a stone of vitality, energy, and intense love.
August: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx
August is another month with multiple birthstones: Peridot (modern), Spinel, and Sardonyx (traditional). Peridot is the most recognized August stone, a unique gem that is found in only one color: a vibrant lime green. This color comes from the presence of iron in its chemical composition. Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 and is a variety of olivine. Its symbolism includes strength, good fortune, and peace. It has been called the "evening emerald" for its ability to sparkle under artificial light.
Spinel comes in a wide array of colors, including the famous "ruby-red" spinel that has often been mistaken for ruby throughout history. It has a hardness of 8, making it a durable and excellent gemstone. Sardonyx is a banded variety of onyx, combining layers of sard and onyx to create a reddish-brown and black stone. It has been used for cameos and intaglios since ancient times and is associated with courage and communication.
September: Sapphire and Lapis Lazuli
The birthstone for September is Sapphire, a gem associated with wisdom, loyalty, and nobility. While most famous for its brilliant blue color, sapphire is a variety of corundum and occurs in every color except red (which is classified as ruby). With a hardness of 9, it is extremely durable and an ideal gemstone for all forms of jewelry. Its deep blue hue has been admired for centuries and is linked to the sky and the heavens.
The traditional alternative for September is Lapis Lazuli, a deep blue, opaque metamorphic rock composed of multiple minerals, including lazurite. It is softer than sapphire, with a hardness of 5 to 6, and has been prized since antiquity for its intense color, often used in beads, carvings, and inlays. Lapis Lazuli is associated with truth, wisdom, and royalty.
October: Opal and Tourmaline
October boasts two beautiful birthstones: Opal and Tourmaline. Opal is a unique and mesmerizing gem known for its "play-of-color," a phenomenon where iridescent flashes of rainbow light appear as the stone is moved. This silica-based gem has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, making it more delicate and requiring careful handling. Opal's symbolism is centered on hope, creativity, and innocence. Its ever-changing colors are said to inspire imagination and artistic expression.
The second October stone is Tourmaline, known as the "rainbow gemstone" because it occurs in more colors and color combinations than any other gemstone. It has a hardness of 7 to 7.5, making it a durable choice. Tourmaline is believed to promote inspiration and protect against negative energies.
November: Topaz and Citrine
November's birthstones are Topaz and Citrine. Topaz, the traditional stone, is most often associated with a rich yellow-orange color, though it can be found in a variety of shades, including blue. It is a hard and durable gem, with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. Its symbolism is love, affection, and strength. It is believed to promote clarity of thought and soothe tempers.
Citrine is a variety of quartz known for its warm yellow to brownish-orange hues. Its name comes from the French word for lemon, citron. With a hardness of 7, it is a durable and affordable gem. Citrine is often called the "merchant's stone" and is associated with prosperity, success, and generosity.
December: Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Zircon
The final month of the year, December, has three official birthstones: Tanzanite (modern), Turquoise, and Zircon. Tanzanite is a relative newcomer to the gem world, discovered in the 20th century. It is a variety of zoisite known for its mesmerizing violet-to-blue color. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7, it requires some care. Its symbolism is tied to protection, healing, and wisdom.
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that has been prized for millennia. It is a phosphate mineral with a hardness of 5 to 6 and is often stabilized with a resin to enhance its durability. Turquoise is a universal symbol of protection, luck, and health. Zircon, not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia, is a natural gemstone that occurs in a variety of colors, with the red and golden-brown varieties being the most common. Blue zircon is a popular modern birthstone. It is the oldest mineral on Earth and has a hardness of 7.5, making it a durable gem. Zircon is associated with honor, purity, and wisdom.
Conclusion
The study of birthstones offers a fascinating intersection of geology, history, and cultural tradition. From the brilliant hardness of the April diamond to the organic delicacy of the June pearl, each gemstone possesses a unique character defined by its physical properties and symbolic meaning. Birthstone charts provide an invaluable framework for understanding these connections, serving as a guide for personal adornment, thoughtful gift-giving, and educational exploration. Whether chosen for its scientific rarity, historical lore, or personal significance, a birthstone is a timeless link to the month of one's birth and the enduring legacy of these remarkable treasures of the Earth.