The tradition of associating specific gemstones with specific months of the year has a long and varied history, drawing from ancient biblical texts, astrological beliefs, and modern marketing. Among the most influential and enduring documents in this tradition is a series of twelve short verses, commonly known as the Gregorian Birthstone Poem or, more specifically, the Tiffany Birthstone Poem. First published in 1870 by the renowned jewelry firm Tiffany & Co., this poem provided a clear, memorable list of birthstones that has shaped Western gemstone lore for over a century and a half. While modern lists have evolved, the 1870 verses remain a foundational text for understanding the historical lineage of birthstones.
The poem's origin is a fascinating blend of commerce and romanticism. Tiffany & Co. issued the verses in a pamphlet, presumably to encourage the sale of birthstone jewelry. To lend the list an air of ancient authority and timeless wisdom, the poem was presented anonymously, with no copyright attribution. The title "Gregorian" was likely a deliberate choice to evoke a sense of antiquity, alluding to the Gregorian calendar and a bygone era of monks and pre-Raphaelite aesthetics, rather than a direct connection to Pope Gregory. This strategy successfully framed a modern marketing tool as a piece of venerable tradition. The verses themselves are concise and prescriptive, each attributing a single gemstone to a month and outlining the benefits or character traits associated with wearing it. This article will explore the history, content, and cultural significance of this pivotal poem, analyzing the specific gemstones it champions and their journey into the heart of Western jewelry culture.
The Historical Context and Provenance
The Tiffany Birthstone Poem emerged during the Victorian era, a period characterized by a deep fascination with sentimentality, symbolism, and coded messages. Jewelry was not merely decorative; it was a vehicle for expressing emotion, commemorating events, and conveying status. The language of flowers, known as floriography, was immensely popular, and the idea of a "language of stones" held a similar appeal.
The poem's publication by Tiffany & Co. was a masterstroke of commercial strategy. By creating a definitive list, the company positioned itself as an authority on gemstones and provided a clear guide for consumers seeking meaningful gifts. The pamphlet format made the information accessible and shareable, functioning as both a piece of marketing material and a cherished keepsake. The lack of an author was a common practice for works intended to feel like folk wisdom or ancient scripture. It removed the focus from the creator and placed it squarely on the message and the product.
The name "Gregorian" itself is a point of intrigue. As noted in historical analyses of the poem, this title appears to be a marketing invention. There is no historical link to Pope Gregory XIII or the Gregorian calendar reform. Instead, the name was chosen to evoke a sense of historical depth and European tradition, lending a false patina of age to the verses. This romanticized approach was highly effective, allowing the poem to be accepted as a traditional guide rather than a modern invention. The verses were later reprinted in newspapers and other publications, further cementing their place in public consciousness and establishing the foundation for subsequent, and often modified, birthstone lists.
The Verses and Their Gemstone Associations
The original 1870 poem assigns a specific gemstone to each of the twelve months. The verses are written in a simple AABB rhyme scheme, making them easy to memorize. Each couplet links the stone to a specific virtue, outcome, or character trait. While some of these associations have faded, others continue to influence modern birthstone choices.
January: Garnet The poem begins, "By her who in this month (January) is born / No gem save garnets should be worn; / They will ensure her constancy, / True friendship, and fidelity." Garnet, typically a deep red variety like almandine or pyrope, was associated with constancy, friendship, and faithfulness. The rich red color has long been linked to the heart and to passionate, yet steadfast, emotion. For the January-born, the garnet was presented as a talisman for maintaining strong, loyal relationships.
February: Amethyst "The February-born shall find / Sincerity and peace of mind, / Freedom from passion and from care, / If they an amethyst will wear." A variety of quartz, amethyst is known for its stunning purple hues, which range from pale lilac to deep violet. Historically, it was believed to have sobering properties, preventing intoxication (its name comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning "not drunk"). The poem links this quality to a broader sense of mental clarity and emotional balance, promising the wearer "sincerity" and "peace of mind."
March: Bloodstone The March verse is one of the more dramatic: "Who in this world of ours their eyes / In March first open shall be wise, / In days of peril firm and brave, / And wear a bloodstone to their grave." Bloodstone, also known as heliotrope, is a dark green chalcedony speckled with red iron oxide inclusions, resembling drops of blood. This appearance gave it a martial character. It was traditionally associated with courage, strength, and victory in battle. The poem's reference to "days of peril" and wearing it "to their grave" underscores its role as a powerful protective amulet.
April: Diamond "She who from April dates her years, / Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears / For vain repentance flow; this stone, / Emblem of innocence, is known." The diamond, the hardest known natural mineral, is presented here as the "emblem of innocence." Its clarity and unyielding nature were linked to purity and incorruptibility. The verse warns that failing to wear a diamond could lead to regret and sorrow, positioning it as a necessary gem for a virtuous and fortunate life. This association has, of course, endured, with diamonds remaining the premier gemstone for engagements and significant milestones.
May: Emerald "Who first beholds the light of day / In spring's sweet flowery month of May / And wears an emerald all her life / Shall be a loved and happy wife." The emerald, a member of the beryl family prized for its vibrant green color, has been a symbol of rebirth, love, and prosperity since antiquity. The poem directly links it to marital happiness and being loved. Its verdant hue is a natural fit for the month of May, evoking the lushness of spring.
June: Agate "Who comes with summer to this earth, / And owes to June her hour of birth, / With ring of agate on her hand / Can health, wealth, and long life command." The original 1870 poem assigns agate to June. Agate is a variety of chalcedony known for its banded patterns and wide range of colors. It was often considered a stone of good fortune, health, and prosperity. It is important to note that this is a point of divergence from many modern lists, which commonly associate June with pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite. The Tiffany poem's choice of agate highlights how birthstone lists have changed over time.
July: Ruby "The glowing ruby shall adorn, / Those who in July are born; / Then they'll be exempt and free / From love's doubts and anxiety." The ruby, a red variety of the mineral corundum, is one of the most valuable gemstones. Its fiery color has long been associated with passion, love, and vitality. The poem suggests that wearing a ruby will dispel doubts and anxieties in matters of the heart, promising a confident and secure love life for the July-born.
August: Sardonyx "Wear a sardonyx or for thee, / No conjugal felicity; / The August-born without this stone, / `Tis said, must live unloved and lone." Sardonyx is a banded variety of onyx, combining layers of sard (a reddish-brown chalcedony) and onyx (a black and white chalcedony). It was a popular stone for cameos and intaglios in ancient Rome. The poem presents it as essential for marital happiness ("conjugal felicity"), with dire consequences for those who do not wear it. Like agate for June, sardonyx for August has been largely supplanted in modern lists, first by sapphire and later by peridot.
September: Sapphire "A maiden born when September leaves / Are rustling in September's breeze, / A sapphire on her brow should bind / `Twill cure diseases of the mind." The sapphire, a blue variety of corundum, is associated with wisdom, truth, and mental clarity. The poem's original verse, as noted in one source, had a rather ominous tone, promising to "cure diseases of the mind." This was later softened in modern adaptations to bring "joy and peace of mind." The stone's deep blue color has long been linked to the heavens and to spiritual insight.
October: Opal "October's child is born for woe, / And life's vicissitudes must know, / But lay an opal on her breast, / And hope will lull those woes to rest." Opal is a unique and captivating gem known for its "play-of-color," an iridescent phenomenon caused by the diffraction of light. Historically, opal has been both revered and feared, sometimes considered unlucky. The poem acknowledges a life of "vicissitudes" but offers the opal as a source of hope and comfort. Its kaleidoscopic colors seem to embody the complexity of life.
November: Topaz "Who first comes to this world below / With drear November's fog and snow, / Should prize the topaz's amber hue, / Emblem of..." The November verse, which is cut off in the provided source text, associates the month with topaz. Topaz is a silicate mineral that occurs in a wide range of colors, but the poem specifically mentions its "amber hue." The stone was traditionally associated with friendship, affection, and good health. Its warm golden color provides a welcome counterpoint to the gloomy weather of late autumn.
December: Turquoise The final verse, also incomplete in the provided text, is known to associate December with turquoise. A hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise is prized for its unique blue-to-green color. It has been used in jewelry for millennia and is widely regarded as a stone of protection, good fortune, and health. Its sky-blue color evokes the winter sky and the promise of clear days ahead.
The Evolution and Legacy of the Poem
While the 1870 Tiffany poem provides a clear and historically significant list, it is not the final word on birthstones. Over the years, the list has been modified several times. The American National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) created an official list in 1912, which introduced several changes. For example, agate was replaced by pearl for June, sardonyx was replaced by sapphire for September, and turquoise remained for December. Later, the Jewelry Industry Council of America and other organizations would further update the list, adding stones like alexandrite for June and tanzanite for December.
These changes reflect several factors: the availability of new gemstones, shifting market trends, and a desire to offer more variety and color options. The original Tiffany list was heavily weighted toward opaque or less-known stones like agate, sardonyx, and bloodstone. The modern lists favor more brilliant and commercially popular gems like sapphire, pearl, and ruby.
Despite these changes, the Tiffany poem's legacy is undeniable. It was the first widely circulated, commercially backed list to establish a direct month-by-month correlation that became a cultural touchstone. Its verses are still quoted and referenced today, and it serves as the starting point for anyone studying the history of birthstones. The poem codified the concept of birthstones for a mass audience, transforming it from a scattered collection of ancient beliefs into a cohesive and marketable tradition.
The poem's influence extends beyond mere commercial sales. It helped solidify the emotional and symbolic connection between an individual and their designated gemstone. The verses provided a narrative, a story to accompany the stone, making it a more personal and meaningful object. A gift of a birthstone became not just a beautiful item, but a delivery of the virtues promised in the poem—constancy for January, peace for February, courage for March, and so on.
Conclusion
The Gregorian Birthstone Poem, first published by Tiffany & Co. in 1870, stands as a seminal document in the history of birthstone lore. It represents a pivotal moment when ancient, often contradictory beliefs were consolidated into a single, accessible list for a modern consumer audience. By adopting an anonymous, antiquated style, the poem successfully masked its commercial origins and presented itself as a timeless guide.
The twelve verses assign a specific gemstone to each month, linking each to a particular virtue or outcome, from the constancy of January's garnet to the protective hope of October's opal. While the list has been officially updated and modified in the century since its publication, replacing stones like agate and sardonyx with pearls and sapphires, the core of the tradition remains. The Tiffany poem laid the groundwork for the birthstone lists we know today and continues to be a vital reference for gemologists, historians, and anyone interested in the rich tapestry of meaning woven into the world's most cherished stones. It is a testament to the enduring power of combining beauty, symbolism, and a compelling story.