In fact, there are now specific gemstones assigned to each month of the year, known asbirthstones.
The birthstones known today were assigned in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers.
The list drew on older traditions but was largely commercial in motivation.
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Further modern iterations of the list have added additional optionsincluding alexandrite for June and tanzanite for December.
While many choose the birthstone corresponding to their birth month,zodiak birthstonesare also an option.
In India, gemstones beneficial to an individual can be calculated based on that person’s astrological birth chart.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom J. PALYS/Shutterstock
The fascination with gem stonesand how they relate to human livesis a prominent theme in world history.
Do you know what your birthstone is?
Read on to learn what your special birthstone isbased on the month you were bornand what it means.
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Garnets come in many colors, but shades of red are most common.
The namegarnetis drawn from this rich red shade.
This may allude to pomegranate seeds, which share the same rich red tone.
BlushesAndGold| $58.50+
Amethyst for February
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Amethystis a colored version of quartz.
The rich purple stone has captivated the imagination for thousands of years.
The ancient Egyptians and Romans carved the gems asintaglio, often withcameo portraits.
LAminiJewelry| $30.40+
Aquamarine for March
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Aquamarineis a key in of beryl distinguished by its blue color.
In 1910, a stone was mined in Brazil that still stands as the largest aquamarine gem.
The stone stretched 48.5 cm (19 in) long and 42 cm (16.5 in) in diameter.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom BJOERN WYLEZICH/Shutterstock
Diamond for April
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Diamondis famous for its sparkle and industrial strength.
When used in jewelry, the stone is prized for its sparkle.
When shopping for diamonds, consider the 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carats.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom RACHMO/Shutterstock
Like with other gemstones, diamond mining can be an exploitive industry.
you’re able to research more about fair-trade diamond suppliers and brandshere.
Egypt was a large producer of emeralds in the ancient world.
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Pearls have a long history as a luxurythey appear in sacred Hindu, Hebrew, and Islamic scriptures.
Ruby for July
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Rubyis the red manifestation of the mineral corundum.
The best rubies today are mined in Myanmar and are called Burmese rubies after the country’s prior name.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom STUDIO492/Shutterstock
Rubies are sometimes described as pigeon’s blood, in reference to their deep, rich red.
A fun fact: almostall rubiesnaturally have flaws (known as inclusions).
The gem is often found in basalt rocks or even meteorites.
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Fittingly, the ancient Egyptians believedperidotcame from the sun.
Today, it is the country’s national gem.
The wordperidotlikely comes fromfaridat, the Arabic word for gem.
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Sapphire for September
Like a ruby, asapphireis made of the mineral corundum.
Unlike rubies, they come in many colorsincluding pink, yellow, and green.
The classic sapphire is a rich royal blue.
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While usually cut in facets, some sapphires have special inclusions known asasterism.
These star sapphires are often cut into cabochons, a soft dome presenting the beautiful star shape.
Opal for October
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Opalis a mineraloida combination of silica and water.
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Today, opal primarily originates in Ethiopia or Australia.
Topaz for November
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Topazis another silicate mineral.
Typically clear, a golden color is also naturally occurring.
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Topaz can occasionally take on other color due to varying mineral content and common heat treatment by jewelers.
Blue topaz are quite popular, although such a bright color is very rare without human intervention.
To properlycare for topaz, be careful of scratches and lights; the stones can pale over time.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom JANE RIX/Shutterstock
Turquoise for December
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Like opal,turquoisetechnically contains water.
Persian and Indian Empires traded in the stonelikely this is how turquoise reached Europe across the Silk Road.
Today, turquoise of lower grades is often treated or dyed to achieve a brighter color.
