by Pauline Weston Thomas
All graphic designs below were designed by Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria and are from an 1881 publication.
Birthstone Chart
Birth Month Stones
The names of many calendar months have Latin derivations. Birthstones were initially linked to the Zodiac, but now are linked to calendar months. Individuals often feel special wearing jewellery corresponding to their own birthstones. Many people develop collections based around a fondness for their own particular birthstone. Some months of the year have two or three stones as birthstones. New gems and semi precious stones have become more popular. Cultures have merged and mixed so much in the past 100 years, that original lists of birthstones popular in any one country have tended to merge so that several stones are often featured in lists.
January
Januarius is named after the Roman god of beginnings - Janus.
“Look not mournfully into the past, it comes not back again. Wisely improve the present, it is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear and with a manly heart.”― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Astrological signs
Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 20 Aquarius Jan 21–Feb 21
January Birthstone
Garnet and Lapis Lazuli
Although mostly thought of as red, the garnet gemstone comes in many colours. It is possible to make a piece of jewellery in many colours and for a January, the garnet birthstone is the one to treasure.
Long ago garnets were thought to be connected to blood and were assumed to have medicinal powers offering protection against wounds, depression, nightmares and poisons. Today, you can buy beautiful pieces of jewellery featuring garnets birthstone. QVC always has a good selection of different types of garnet gemstone jewellery in a range of colours. They especially feature Brazilian gems.
Derivation of garnet - Latin granatum the word for pomegranate.
Lapis Lazuli is the most beautiful royal blue stone. It has been used not only for jewellery and inlay decoration, but also in the past it was ground up to produce pigments for eye make up and paints. Before the C19th when mixed with oil, it produced the original form of ultramarine paint used by master artists. Ultramarine is one of the main fashion colours for spring 2006.
February
Februarius is named after Februa, a purification festival.
The Flower
George Herbert - 1593-1633
How fresh, O Lord, how sweet and clean
Are Thy returns! ev’n as the flow’rs in Spring,
To which, besides their own demean
The late-past frosts tributes of pleasure bring;
February Astrological signs
Aquarius Jan 21–Feb. 21 Pisces Feb 22–March 21
February Birth Stone
Amethyst
A good quality amethyst will be a rich deep purple gem, but paler tones of lilacs to rose amethysts are available to suit many tastes and price ranges. The amethyst is a very hard wearing stone and this makes it a good jewellery buy.
The amethyst is the stone of Saint Valentine and was once the stone of Royals as purple was the colour of power. It is the perfect gemstone to give as a Valentines jewellery gift on Saint Valentine's Day, celebrated on 14 February each year.
Derivation of amethyst - Latin amethystos (sober). The stone is believed to protect wearers from getting too intoxicated with alcohol.
March
Martius is named after the roman god of war Mars. In antiquity, March was the first month of the year. This was because March was the first month where fighting or war could be waged after the winter freeze.
The beautiful aquamarine gem stone varies from deepest blue to water green blue tones. The deeper and more intense the tone of the blue the more valuable the stone in jewellery terms. Deeper aquamarine birthstones are more expensive to buy, but make prettier pieces of jewellery and look more expensive.
Aquamarine gems have been thought to have great medicinal value and the stone is said to protect those with throat, gut and liver problems.
Derivation of aquamarine - Latin aqua meaning water and mare meaning sea. The stone is believed to protect wearers from drowning at sea or other perils.
Bloodstone is a quartz type and also called Chalcedony. Chalcedony can be a pretty milky pastel blue or a milky aqua tone. Chalcedony looks very attractive when set against pearls.
April
April is associated with the goddess Aphrodite. In latin, Aprilis is a shortened form of Aphrodite. Another derivation for April is from the latin verb aperire, which means to open, fitting for a month where so many buds burst forth.
Astrological Signs
Aries - March 22–April 20 Taurus April 21–May 21
April Birthstone
The Diamond
Linked to eternity, love and wealth, the diamond is a sparkling stone from transparent to opaque from colourless to black. Remember the 4 Cs - Colour, Cut, Carat and Clarity. When choosing a diamond for an engagement the cost should be at least one months salary if not two. This is a sound investment for an item worn daily.
The diamond birthstone is frequently used as the jewellery choice for an engagement ring. This is because the diamond gem is the hardest of gem stones. Not only is it beautiful, but it can also withstand harsher everyday treatment than many other stones found in jewellery pieces.
Diamonds can be yellow, pink, blue and even red. Exceptionally large diamonds have often carried curses as they were often the basis for theft and murder in the process.
May
May is derived from Maius is probably named after goddess Maia.
Astrological Signs
Taurus April 21–May 21 Gemini May 22–June 21
May Birth Stone
Emerald
Emeralds belong to the Beryl family and are magnificent gems with colours that range from light to deepest green. They are highly prized gemstones and make beautiful jewellery. Emerald Birthstones are not as hard as some gems and are stones that can be easily cracked or split if knocked accidentally.
They have been used to great effect when set beside diamonds and pearls in the Crown Jewels.
June
Junius was named after the Roman goddess Juno. Originally this Junius was the fourth month of the year, March being the first month.
Astrological Signs
Gemini May 22–June 21 Cancer June 22–July 22
June Birthstones
Pearls, Moonstone, Alexandrite
Pearls are organic. They grow inside oysters and molluscs when a foreign body such as grit or an inserted bead build up layers of nacre. Everyone today can afford real pearls since beautiful freshwater pearls are cultured in oyster farms in China. Freshwater pearls are realistically priced for the average person.
The Pearl birthstone comes in many shades from white through cream, grey, lavender, champagne, golden yellow, blue mauve black and green. Mikimoto pearls are famous Japanese pearls.
Alexandrite has a chameleon nature to its colour, changing from a greenish grey blue cast, to a puce toned clear violet in artificial light. It is not unlike rose amethyst in tone. Alexandrite belongs to the chrysoberyl family, a mineral.
Moonstone is a sacred stone thought to imbue health, wisdom and good fortune. In appearance moonstones have a soft milky bluish appearance with a silver cast. They look especially good on women who have hair turned to silver or grey. Moonstones are more frequently set in real silver than gold.
July
Julius was named in 44 BC after Julius Caesar. Before that, the month was known as Quintilis meaning 5th month in the old Roman calendar.
Astrological Signs
Cancer June 22–July 22. Leo July 23–August 22
July Birth Stone
Ruby
Rubies look magnificent in jewellery settings. Rubies are important gemstones that are a rich intense clear cherry red. Like sapphires and emeralds, they are further enhanced when surrounded by diamonds. They look especially good in baguette settings which gives them a very stylish appearance.
In the past rubies were thought to control bleeding and wearing them brought good health and a sound heart. They gave confidence, inspired creativity and wisdom as well as improving self esteem.
Derivation Latin ruber meaning red.
August
Augustus was named after Emperor Augustus in 8 B.C. Before it was Sextilis meaning sixth as it was the 6th month in the old Roman calendar.
Astrological Signs
Leo July 23–August 22. Virgo August 23–Sept 22
August Birthstones
Peridot & Sardonyx
Peridot is a variety of olivine, and ranges from rich olive to lime green and can almost be emerald in some cases. These richer toned stones are sometimes called evening emeralds as intensity lifts in night light. The Victorians were very fond of Peridot jewellery and in recent times it is often set aside pearls and amethysts.
Sardonyx is a variety of mineral known as chalcedony. The variety frequently bears flat bands of red brown cream striations and the stone can be carved so is often used to make Cameo jewellery.
September
September is from septem meaning seven, the 7th month in the old Roman calendar.
Astrological Signs
Virgo August 23 - Sept 22. Libra Sept 23–Oct 23
September Birthstone
Sapphire
The Sapphire is a form of mineral corundum and is related to the ruby.
Sapphires are usually blue and range from the prettiest cornflower blue through deep indigo to almost black. The difference is that red corundum specifically makes rubies and all other colours of corundum are called sapphires. The blue sapphire was once thought to protect the body from lust and snakes! It is said to help the confused think clearly and help soften thoughts of hate and anger making for a mellower peaceful person.
It really is one of the prettiest gemstones and looks wonderful when the jewellery item is enhanced with diamonds or other deep toned gems like emeralds or rubies.
Sapphire is derived from the Latin word sapphirus meaning blue.
This 14K decorative real sapphire and ruby gemstone hair barrette below is a unique handcrafted masterpiece from Charles Wilkins.
This barrette is offered in 14k gold with a ruby red rose, surrounded by four blue marquise sapphire leaves. The six beautiful blue marquise sapphire gems are the highest quality cutting and color. These VVS grade and higher marquise sapphires are perfectly matched in brilliance, beauty and clarity. Charles tells me there are no 14k gold barrettes with such high quality gems available in our marketplace today. This item has been designed by 'Chas' with timeless beauty in mind. Now what a wonderful lifelong gift this sapphire and ruby hair barrette would make for a very special person for a Xmas box or birthday gift. With chignons set to be the fashion updo of 2006, this sapphire barrette would be the masterpiece touch for extra elegance.
October
October derives from octo meaning eight as it was the 8th month in the old Roman calendar.
Astrological Signs
Libra - Sept 23–Oct 23 Scorpio Sagittarius Oct 24–Nov 21
October Birthstones
Opal and Tourmaline
Opal is a very pretty gemstone that has a play of colours affected by the amount of light that it absorbs. It ranges from fiery blues to milky white, but always with a flashing core. The opal birthstone is a soft stone and is fragile because it has water within it that determines the gemstone’s appearance. It is a gem that is almost always set in yellow gold and this enhances the blue colouration. The fire within an opal is variable dependant on the mines it came from. Derivation - Latin opalus (precious stone) Pink Tourmaline - Tourmalines come in countless colours, but the pink tourmaline, an almost orchid pink, is the version of the opal birthstone for October.
November
November stems from novem meaning nine as the 9th month in the old Roman calendar.
Astrological Signs
Scorpio Oct 24–Nov. 21 Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21
November Birthstones
Topaz and Citrine
Topaz come in many colours, but Topaz for November, is of the yellow brown variety. (December Topaz is blue)
Citrine is a yellow quartz stone which varies from a pretty lemon yellow to amber gold and even to orange browns.
December
December stems from the Latin word decem for ten (decimus 10th) and was the 10th month in the old Roman calendar.
Winter is here - Let us welcome him on,
Remember Old Christmas is near;
And when Christmas with all his gay feasting has gone,
Why then we've the merry New Year;
Here's a health to the rich who will give to the poor,
Let Plenty and Mercy ne'er part,
And though bitter winds blow through the white clouds of snow,
No Winter shall fall on the heart.
Astrological Signs
Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21st Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 20th
December Birthstones
Turquoise, Zircon, Topaz, Tanzanite.
Turquoise is believed to be a good luck stone bringing prosperity. It has been used since ancient times and features in Egyptian jewellery of the Pyramid decorations. Turquoise is also a favourite of Native Americans, particularly the Navajo Indians who made charm pieces used by their medicine men. A great deal of western jewellery designs feature turquoise, as does Boho style fashion and costume jewellery. December birthstone jewelry for women has recently become very popular for gifts.
Topaz comes in many forms with the blue variety being a December birthstone. The blue topaz ranges from pale blue to deep blue with London Blue having an intense brightness.
(The yellow amber toned Topaz is the November birthstone choice alongside citrine.)
In its time, Zircon has been thought to hold magical powers of protection against evil. It should not be confused with cubic Zirconia! The red Zircon is the most prized of Zircons, but the stone breaks easily compared to other gems.
Tanzanite is a beautiful colour with purple tones on blue. It was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania in East Africa. Tanzanite is the most recent gem to be added to the Birthstone list in 2003 by the American Gem Trade Association.
