This is part five of my notes on The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. Here are links to parts one, two, three, and four.
The earliest mention of stones being assigned to months as birthstones seems to be from the first century CE. The first instance we had of stones being worn based on a person's birth month is from the 1700s in Poland. The reason for such a large gap may be because the stones were thought to cure illnesses, so a stone would be worn for that purpose instead of for the birth month.
The stones' order was originally based on the order of the foundation stones of New Jerusalem found in Revelations and went like this:
First stone - March
Second stone - April
Third stone - May
Fourth stone - June
Fifth stone - July
Sixth stone - August
Seventh stone - September
Eighth stone - October
Ninth stone - November
Tenth stone - December
Eleventh stone - January
Twelfth stone - February
(If you're confused by the order above, it's because January and February used to be at the end of the year and March was considered the first month.)
Some of these stones have changed over time, which is why you'll often get different results when looking up birthstones.
While it's commonly accepted that a person will wear their own birthstone all the time, there's some evidence that suggests it was common for one person to own all twelve stones and wear them during the stone's month.
The list approved by the National Association of Jewellers in 1912 is as follows:
Month | Birth stone | Alternate stone |
January | Garnet | |
February | Amethyst | |
March | Bloodstone | Aquamarine |
April | Diamond | |
May | Emerald | |
June | Pearl | Moonstone |
July | Ruby | |
August | Sardonyx | Peridot |
September | Sapphire | |
October | Opal | Tourmaline |
November | Topaz | |
December | Turquoise | Lapis lazuli |
Gems of Spring
Amethyst
Green diamond
Chrysoberyl
Spinel (rubicelle)
Pink topaz
Olivine (peridot)
Emerald
Gems of Summer
Zircon
Garnet (demantoid and ouvarite)
Chrysoberyl (alexandrite)
Spinel
Pink topaz
Ruby
Fire opal
Gems of Autumn
Hyacinth
Topaz
Sapphire
Jacinth
Cairngorm
Adamantine spar
Tourmaline
Oriental chrysolite
Gems of Winter
Diamond
Rock-crystal
White sapphire
Turquoise
Quartz
Moonstone
Pearl
Labradorite
Here are monthly associations, using the more traditional birth stones.
JANUARY
Natal stone: Garnet
Guardian angel: Gabriel
His talismanic gem: Onyx
Special apostle: Simon Peter
His gem: Jasper
Zodiacal sign: Aquarius
Flower: Snowdrop No gems save garnets should be worn By her who in this month is born; They will insure her constancy, True friendship and fidelity. The gleaming garnet holds within its sway Faith, constancy, and truth to one alway.
FEBRUARY
Natal stone: Amethyst
Guardian angel: Barchiel
His talismanic gem: Jasper
Special apostle: Andrew
His gem: Carbuncle
Zodiacal sign: Pisces
Flower: Primrose The February-born may find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If she an amethyst will wear. Let her an amethyst but cherish well, And strife and care can never with her dwell.
MARCH
Natal stone: Jasper, bloodstone
Guardian Angel: Malchediel
His talismanic gem: Ruby
Special apostles: James and John
Their gem: Emerald
Zodiacal sign: Aries
FlowerI: pomœa, violet Who on this world of ours her eyes In March first opens may be wise, In days of peril firm and brave, Wears she a bloodstone to her grave. Who wears a jasper, be life short or long, Will meet all dangers brave and wise and strong.
APRIL
Natal stone: Diamond, sapphire
Guardian angel: Ashmodei
His talismanic gem: Topaz
Special apostle: Philip
His gem: Carnelian
Zodiacal sign: Taurus
Flower: Daisy She who from April dates her years Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears For vain repentance flow This stone Emblem of innocence is known. Innocence, repentance—sun and shower— The diamond or the sapphire is her dower.
MAY
Natal stone: Emerald
Guardian angel: Amriel
His talismanic gem: Carbuncle
Special apostle: Bartholomew
His gem: Chrysolite
Zodiacal sign: Gemini
Flower: Hawthorn Who first beholds the light of day In spring’s sweet flow’ry month of May, And wears an emerald all her life, Shall be a loved and happy wife. No happier wife and mother in the land Than she with emerald shining on her hand.
JUNE
Natal stone: Agate
Guardian angel: Muriel
His talismanic gem: Emerald
Special apostle: Thomas
His gem: Beryl
Zodiacal sign: Cancer
Flower: Honeysuckle Who comes with summer to this earth, And owes to June her hour of birth, With ring of agate on her hand Can health, long life, and wealth command. Thro’ the moss-agate’s charm, the happy years Ne’er see June’s golden sunshine turn to tears.
JULY
Natal stone: Turquoise
Guardian angel: Verchiel
His talismanic gem: Sapphire
Special apostle: Matthew
His gem: Topaz
Zodiacal sign: Leo
Flower: Water-lily The heav’n-blue turquoise should adorn All those who in July are born; For those they’ll be exempt and free From love’s doubts and anxiety. No other gem than turquoise on her breast Can to the loving, doubting heart bring rest.
AUGUST
Natal stone: Carnelian
Guardian angel: Hamatiel
His talismanic gem: Diamond
Special apostle: James, the son of Alpheus
His gem: Sardonyx
Zodiacal sign: Virgo
Flower: Poppy Wear a carnelian or for thee No conjugal felicity; The August-born without this stone, ’Tis said, must live unloved, alone. She, loving once and always, wears, if wise, Carnelian—and her home is paradise.
SEPTEMBER
Natal stone: Chrysolite
Guardian angel: Tsuriel
His talismanic gem: Jacinth
Special apostle: Lebbeus Thaddeus
His gem: Chrysoprase
Zodiacal sign: Libra
Flower: Morning-glory A maid born when September leaves Are rustling in the autumn breeze, A chrysolite on brow should bind— ’Twill cure diseases of the mind. If chrysolite upon her brow is laid, Follies and dark delusions flee afraid.
OCTOBER
Natal stone: Beryl
Guardian angel: Bariel
His talismanic gem: Agate
Special apostle: Simon.(Zelotes.)
His gem: Jacinth
Zodiacal sign: Scorpio
Flower: Hops October’s child is born for woe, And life’s vicissitudes must know; But lay a beryl on her breast, And Hope will lull those woes to rest. When fair October to her brings the beryl, No longer need she fear misfortune’s peril.
NOVEMBER
Natal stone: Topaz
Guardian angel: Adnachiel
His talismanic gem: Amethyst
Special apostle: Matthias
His gem: Amethyst
Zodiacal sign: Sagittarius
Flower: Chrysanthemum Who first comes to this world below With drear November’s fog and snow Should prize the topaz’s amber hue— Emblem of friends and lovers true. Firm friendship is November’s, and she bears True love beneath the topaz that she wears.
DECEMBER
Natal stone: Ruby
Guardian angel: Humiel
His talismanic gem: Beryl
Special apostle: Paul
His gem: Sapphire
Zodiacal sign: Capricorn
Flower: Holly If cold December give you birth— The month of snow and ice and mirth— Place on your hand a ruby true; Success will bless whate’er you do. December gives her fortune, love and fame If amulet of rubies bear her name.
Hebrew characters were often used when engraving zodiac signs into birth stone jewelry. The Hebrew translations of the signs are as follows:
Aries טלה Taleh
Taurus שׁור Shor
Gemini תאומים Te’omim
Cancer סריה Sartan
Leo אריה Aryeh
Virgo בתולה Betulah
Libra מאזנים Moznayim
Scorpio עקרב’ Akrab
Sagittarius קשׁת Keshet
Capricorn גדי Gedi
Aquarius דלי Deli
Pisces דלים Dagim
An old poem regarding the day of the week on which a person is born:
The bairn that is born On Sonnan’s sweet day Is blithe and is bonnie, Is happy and gay.
(Sunday)
The bairn that is born Of Monan’s sweet race Is lovely in feature And fair in the face.
(Monday)
If Tuisco assists And at birth keeps apace, The bairn will be born With a soul full of grace.
(Tuesday)
But if Woden be there, Many tears will he sow, And the bairn will be born But for sadness and woe.
(Wednesday)
Jove’s presence at birth Means a long swath to mow, For if born on Thor’s day Thou hast far, far to go.
(Thursday)
If Venus shall bless thee, Thou shalt bless many living; For Friga’s bairn truly Is loving and giving.
(Friday)
Seater-daeg’s bairn In sweat shall be striving, For Saturn has doomed it To work for a living.
(Saturday)
Some stones for the days of the week:
Sunday - Sunstone
Monday - Moonstone
Tuesday - Star sapphire
Wednesday - Star ruby
Thursday - Cat’s-eye
Friday - Alexandrite
Saturday - Labradorite
GEMS OF THE HOURS
Hours of the Day
1 Jacinth
2 Emerald
3 Beryl
4 Topaz
5 Ruby
6 Opal
7 Chrysolite
8 Amethyst
9 Kunzite
10 Sapphire
11 Garnet
12 Diamond
Hours of the Night
1 Morion
2 Hematite
3 Malachite
4 Lapis-lazuli
5 Turquoise
6 Tourmaline
7 Sardonyx
8 Chalcedony
9 Jade
10 Jasper
11 Loadstone
12 Onyx
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
1 Paper
2 Calico
3 Linen
4 Silk
5 Wood
6 Candy
7 Floral
8 Leather
9 Straw
10 Tin
12 Agate
13 Moonstone
14 Moss agate
15 Rock-crystal, glass
16 Topaz
17 Amethyst
18 Garnet
19 Hyacinth
20 China
23 Sapphire
25 Silver
26 Star sapphire, blue
30 Pearl
35 Coral
39 Cat’s-eye
40 Ruby
45 Alexandrite
50 Gold
52 Star ruby
55 Emerald
60 Diamond, yellow
65 Star sapphire, gray
67 Star sapphire, purple
75 Diamond
That's it for this week. See you next time!
Stay safe!
- me
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