Traces of the symbolism and power of stones can be found as early as the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, with Aaron's breastplate decorated with stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. However, it was not until the 18th century in Poland that the tradition of birthstones was established as we know it today: each month of the year is associated with a stone, as well as its allegorical properties. Then, in 1937, the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain created an official list of birthstones. Today, this list is recognized worldwide and is a reference guide for amateurs. Even if we no longer believe in their magical powers, giving birthstones to our loved ones remains a popular tradition. Whether they are talismans or gifts celebrating a special occasion, they are a personal gift to be treasured and kept.
January - Garnet
Marquise ring garnets on rose gold
Garnets can come in almost any shade, although dark red is the most illustrious and popular colour; the rarest being blue. They have been used in jewellery since the Bronze Age, and throughout history the stone has also been used as a talisman - mainly to protect warriors in battle but also to ward off disease: garnets were sometimes placed on wounds to aid healing. The ancient Greeks believed that having a garnet around their necks enhanced the ability to see in the dark, while in the Middle Ages the stone was worn to protect against the plague and to ward off sadness. Garnets are also said to help with motivation, and wearing them will help you focus on your goals and promote a successful business. Finally, the stone is said to increase passion, courage, family attachment as well as endurance and vitality.
February - Amethyst
Amethyst and yellow gold signet ring
Amethyst shades range from deep purple to lilac. Its colour has made the stone popular with royalty throughout history. In the Middle Ages, it was thought that dark purple amethyst favoured celibacy, and it was highly prized by religious communities. It is a meditative and calming stone that is believed to encourage patience, peace and calm. It is also believed to promote intelligence and emotional stability. It may also reduce addictions and in ancient Greco-Roman times it was believed that drinking from amethyst glasses or adding amethyst powder to wine helped to keep the mind clear and protected against drunkenness.
Mars - Aquamarine and Blood Jasper
Art Deco aquamarine ring surrounded by diamonds
Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, the sea. It is a symbol of protection, especially for sailors. Sailors once believed that the stone would bring them good luck on their voyages and that adorning themselves with an aquamarine, especially one engraved with Poseidon on his chariot, would instil courage and protect them from any dangers they might encounter at sea. It also calms fears or phobias, relieves anxiety and prevents depression. In addition, aquamarine is said to promote success, help focus on one's goals, improve communication and increase the confidence of public speakers. The stone, which is a symbol of eternal youth, is also said to preserve health. It is said to bring happiness in marriage, so it was a popular choice for the adornment of engagement rings before diamonds became more traditional.
Pendant with eagle seal and blood jasper intaglio
The second stone associated with Mars is bloodstone. This has been valued since ancient times for its many symbolic properties. The Babylonians wore the stone for its healing powers, while the Egyptians believed that it could make the wearer stronger on the battlefield. Bloodstone could also control the weather, predict the future and enhance creativity.
April - The Diamond
Associated with the natives of April, the diamond is without doubt the most prized gemstone. It has been admired for its beauty throughout history, but also chosen for its durability and strength: the hardest gemstone in existence, it can only be cut with another diamond. It is said to have healing powers and to bring luck, health and strength, to ward off poverty, to protect against plague and disease, and even to bring immortality. In later times, the stone became a symbol of eternal love and has been the most popular ornament in engagement rings for centuries. Wearing a diamond is said to strengthen relationships and promote love and longevity.
May - The Emerald
Art Deco emerald and diamond ring
Together with the diamond, the sapphire and the ruby, the emerald is one of the four precious stones. It has long been admired for its beauty and colour. It is said to have many and varied properties: for example, it is said to have a powerful healing effect, making it a talisman of choice for all members of the medical profession. Emerald is said to strengthen the heart, detoxify the blood, prevent epilepsy and improve eye health. Legend has it that the emperor Nero watched gladiatorial combat through an emerald because his eyesight was deteriorating. The gemstone was also used to treat eye diseases in medieval times. The emerald also symbolises rebirth and new beginnings, perhaps because of its spring-like colour. It is believed to bring luck, wealth, prosperity and youth to those who wear it. It is also said to be a symbol of immortality. It would also represent loyalty, sensuality, love and harmony, so this romantic stone is an ideal gift for a loved one. It is said to promote intelligence, communication, wit and intuition and it was once believed that emeralds gave the wearer the power to predict the future - especially if placed under the tongue.
June - The pearl, the moonstone and the alexandrite
Along with August and December, June is one of the months with three birthstones, the main one being the pearl. Because they were very rare and expensive until the advent of the cultured pearl in the early 20th century, pearls were considered a symbol of wealth, exclusivity and strongly associated with royalty. Pearls are believed to have many positive properties: they are a symbol of love, success and happiness. It is also said to promote peace, purity, faith, charity, truth, wisdom and loyalty. Pearls have also been used to help with fertility problems and as a painkiller during childbirth. However, while some believe that pearls make an ideal wedding gift because they are an emblem of innocence and purity, there are some superstitions surrounding them. In many cultures, pearls symbolise tears, so giving pearls to a bride on her wedding day can promote sadness. Often associated with mourning jewellery to represent weeping, fine pearls were particularly common in the Victorian era. There's not much we can say about pearls, but if you're curious we've devoted an article to them here.
Fine pearl and diamond daisy ring
Moonstone is associated with love, passion and fertility. It is said to increase gentleness and empathy. Like aquamarine, it is also said to protect travellers, especially when cruising on water.
Finally, alexandrite is a stone that was discovered only recently, in 1830, in the Ural Mountains in Russia. It is said to have been found on the birthday of the future tsar Alexander II, who gave his name to the stone. Alexandrite is said to bring luck and prosperity, increase self-esteem and help solve health problems related to the nervous system, spleen, testicles and pancreas.
July - The Ruby
Birman ruby and diamond daisy ring
With its fiery red hue, the ruby is another stone that has fascinated civilisations for centuries. Red stones are, by colour association, linked to blood and 'life force' and rubies were therefore often worn in ancient times to guard against poison, plague, disease, evil spirits and even lightning, as well as to protect warriors in battle. Rubies also symbolise passion, so much so that in Victorian times it was thought that young women should not wear rubies before marriage (blue sapphires were considered a more appropriate stone). They would also promote success in love. Natives of July, discover our article on the ruby here.
August - Peridot, spinel and sardonyx
Belle Époque ring Peridot surrounded by diamonds on pink gold and platinum
If sardonyx, linked to courage, happiness, communication and stability in marriage, is the original stone for August natives, it has now been supplanted by peridot. Peridot is associated with luck, health, prosperity and abundance. Peridot is said to soften anger and promote harmony in emotional relationships, especially in marriage. The stone is also said to relieve digestive problems, ulcers and to ease the pains of childbirth. In ancient Egypt, peridot was called the "sun jewel" and was thought to protect against evil spirits and night terrors, especially when worn in a gold setting, which would increase the power of the stone. To find out (more), go to our dedicated article.
A more recent alternative associated with August natives is spinel. These come in a wide variety of colours but red has always been the most popular hue. Long mistaken for ruby, this has led to spinel being used in many royal jewellery collections. Since red is a colour historically associated with blood, it was also thought that like rubies, red spinels were related to "life force" and would protect against injury, enhance vitality and replenish energy. They also protect against blood loss and inflammatory diseases. Spinels also dispel anger and bring harmony.
September - The Sapphire
Ring Mellerio dits Meller sapphire and diamonds
Sapphires come in all shades except red (they are then listed as rubies), but it is the blue ones that have been the most sought after throughout history. This celestial colour has often been associated with the divine or higher beings and in the Middle Ages it was believed that wearing sapphires would bring God's favour. It was also a favourite stone of royalty as it symbolised power and health. Sapphires were said to prevent poverty and protect against injury and disease. They symbolise fidelity, sincerity, truth and loyalty which makes them a romantic stone par excellence. If you wish to dig deeper into the subject, an article is available here.
October - Opal and tourmaline
Opal and diamond Pompadour ring
Opals have been surrounded by myths and legends since the dawn of time. In ancient Rome, it symbolised purity and hope, and in ancient Greece, it was believed to have the power to predict the future. Until the Middle Ages, it was also believed to bring good luck. However, in the early 1800s the opal became synonymous with misfortune, a superstition that for various reasons continued until the early 20th century. The thought that the stone could cause physical damage or even death was widespread, and only those born in October should adorn themselves with opals or else they would attract misfortune. Opals were also to be set alongside diamonds because the prophecy of good fortune from the latter would cancel out bad luck. On a more positive note, opals are said to bring inspiration, encourage creativity and imagination and improve memory. They have been used to ward off nightmares and facilitate more peaceful dreams, while wearing opals may improve eyesight and Parkinson's disease. There are opal deposits in France, to find out more visit here.
Unlike opal, tourmaline is a stone with a vitreous luster that comes in almost any colour. It is strongly associated with creativity and is said to enhance inspiration and the creative process. This is why it is considered a talisman for actors, artists and writers. The stone also has pyroelectric properties, which means that when heated, tourmalines become electrically charged and act as a magnet. This property suggests that the stone improves psychic energy, reduces negative energy and protects against toxins and radiation. Tourmalines are said to have different powers depending on their colour: black is said to offer protection and self-confidence, pink symbolises love, compassion and gentleness, while green tourmaline increases courage, strength and endurance.
November - Topaz and Citrine
Yellow topaz and citrine are so similar that they have often been confused throughout history. But while citrine only exists in orange and lemon yellow hues (hence its name), topaz is found in a wide variety of colours. Many cultures and civilisations have attributed powers to topaz. Among the ancient Greeks, it was said to give strength and invisibility, while for the Hindus, wearing a topaz pendant could bring wisdom and longevity. African shamans used the stone for its healing powers and during the Renaissance period it was believed that topaz could dispel feelings of anger and break magical spells. The stone is also said to enhance creativity and mental clarity.
Charles X bracelet citrines on gold
Similarly, citrine was once thought to have healing properties and the ability to cure jaundice, urinary tract infections and kidney ailments, as well as being good for the heart, kidneys, liver and muscles. Perhaps because of its colour, citrine is associated with the sun and is said to help combat depression. It is said to represent friendship and harmony and, like topaz, to dispel anger by promoting calm. Finally, it is an energising and virtuous stone that encourages creativity, intuition and inspiration. We tell you more here.
December - Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon
Turquoise and diamond medallion
Traditionally, the birthstone of December is turquoise, which has been attributed with protective properties since antiquity. It is said to have the ability to heal, ward off evil spirits and dispel pessimism. In the Middle Ages, it was believed to protect against poison and prevent horses from falling. It is also said to bring health, luck and success, especially in Tibet where turquoise is the national stone. In Europe, a turquoise ring, associated since the 19th century with forget-me-nots, means "don't forget me" and is offered as a token of devotion, love and remembrance. Born in December, become knowledgeable about your stone blue!
Tanzanite seems to have overtaken turquoise as the December birthstone, however it was only recently discovered in 1967. For this reason, there is little superstition surrounding the stone. It is said to improve communication and psychic powers. It is a rare stone that has so far only been found in Tanzania, hence its name.
Zircon is the third stone of the December natives. It is often mistakenly confused with zirconium oxide, a substitute for diamond, because of its name. It is actually the oldest mineral on Earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years. Zircon comes in many colours, although blue is most strongly associated with the month of December. A symbol of innocence and purity, it was once known as a "stone of virtue". In the Middle Ages, zircon was thought to bring serenity, prosperity and wisdom. It was also believed to protect against evil spirits. It was also believed to help with spinal and sciatic nerve problems. In Victorian times, the smoky hues of zircon were popular for mourning jewellery.