January – Garnet
Colors: Normally Red, but can be Violet, Orange, Yellow, Green
The word Garnet is derived from the word Seed, specifically referring to the pomegranate seed. Garnet has been used as a protective talisman, thought to bring safe travels, stimulate circulation, purify the blood, and heal wounds. It represents vitality, peace, prosperity, goodwill and the attraction of goodwill. Although garnet is usually thought of as a red gem, it actually comes in a variety of colors.
February – Amethyst
Colors: Purple to Red-Violet, varying from nearly translucent to almost opaque
It has been suggested that the name Amethyst is derived from either the Greek word for Sober or the word for Intoxicated, and was a gemstone thought to prevent addiction and give the wearer courage. Thought of as a stone of royalty it is also associated with mental clarity, healing, and spirituality. Amethyst is believed to deepen meditation.
March – Aquamarine
Colors: Pale Blue, ranging from green-blue to deep blue
The name of this semiprecious stone is the Latin word for Sea Water. At one time, people believed that soaking Aquamarine in drinking water would sooth and heal the digestive system. Sailors used it as a protective talisman, and often had the stone etched with an image or symbol of Posidon or Neptune, the ancient god of the sea. Thought to bring tranquility, this stone is often used to aid meditation and promote clear communication and cooperation. Aquamarine has been believed to help cure respiratory and sinus issues along with the mouth and eyes.
April – Crystal or Diamond
Colors: Transparent or White, but can be any color of the rainbow
The world’s most popular jewel is the Diamond. This prism’s ability to disperse light into its component colors is only one of the things that makes it special. Its extreme hardness and beauty make it an ideal symbol of strength, courage, purity, and eternal love. The precious stone is thought to bring harmony and balance between mind, body, and spirit, and therefore used as a support stone to enhance others or as a heal-all on its own. Colored diamonds are known as “fancy.”
May – Emerald
Colors: Green, ranging from yellow-green to blue-green
Cleopatra was known for collecting Emeralds, so fanatically in fact that during her reign, she acquired every emerald mine in Egypt. Believed to have mystical powers, transforming negatives into positives. This precious jewel was believed to foster serenity, clarity of thought, patience, growth, and wisdom. In ancient Rome, Emerald was the stone of Venus, symbolizing beauty and love.
June – Alexandrite
Colors: Green-Blue, Blue-Green, Red-Violet, changes colors between artificial light and daylight
One of the modern alternative birthstones, Alexandrite is rarer and more expensive than even the big four precious stones: emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond. It has the unique quality of changing colors under natural and artificial light, going from blue or green to a reddish purple. It is said to bring luck regarding finances and matters of love. Likewise, it is supposed to improve concentration, intuition, imagination, and creativity. Like the diamond, it represents a portal between the overlapping physical and spiritual worlds.
June – Pearl
Colors: White, Black, Pink, Green, Gold, Silver, and other pastels
This stone is unique in that it is created by a live animal. When a mollusk creates a pearl, it does so as a reaction to an irritant getting into its shell. The creature smooths over the surface of sometimes a single grain of sand with calcium carbonate gradually over time until a pearl is born. Pearls have long been associated with purity, modesty, loyalty, and faithfulness. Pearls have been used to treat the digestive system, bones, and skin.
July – Ruby
Colors: Red, sometimes with orange or pink undertones
A symbol of life, blood, passion, and prosperity, this precious gemstone is believed to increase courage, strength, and stamina. It has been used in amulets to ward off disease, to detoxify, and heal the respiratory system. The word Ruby is derived from the Latin word for Red. They have been thought to help control the emotions, allowing the wearer to keep calm in tense situations. Warriors have been known to wear them into battle, in Burma even going to the extreme of embedding them within their skin. While Sapphire comes in all different colors, when Red, it is known as a Ruby.
August – Sardonyx
Colors: Green, Brown, Black, with includes of zebra-stripes and bands resembling yellow, orange, red, or white
This semiprecious stone is rich in iron oxide. Symbolizing strength, protection, and clarity in communication, it is believed to relieve anxiety and depression as well as strengthen the immune system. Derived partially from the Greek word for claw, Roman soldiers used to engrave Sardonyx as talismans and carry them into battle to ensure victory. This stone was so popular in Rome that every last Roman wore it in one form or another.
September – Sapphire
Colors: Normally Blue, but can be Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple, White, Black
This precious stone is usually blue, but come in many colors. The term Sapphire specifically refers to the blue variety, whereas other colors are known as fancy sapphires. It has been seen as a symbol of wisdom, integrity, loyalty, and protection. Sapphire has been used in talismans and worn by royalty and priests, who believed it to enhance spiritual enlightenment. Medically, the gem has been seen as somewhat of a cure-all, from treating poison to aiding sleep. It is made of the same mineral as the ruby, mineral corundum, and is second in hardness only to the diamond.
October – Tourmaline
Colors: Pink, but can be all colors, sometimes 2 or 3 colors in one
This semiprecious stone has been extremely popular in China, having been part of traditional ceremonies. Black Tourmaline was used like a sponge to absorb any negative energy, making it a highly sought after protective stone. In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that the stone passed through a rainbow, giving it its wide range of color variations. Symbolic of positivity, happiness, and good luck, the stone has been thought to ward off negativity, detoxify, help regulate metabolism, and stimulate the endocrine system. One variety is known as Watermelon tourmaline due to its pink and green coloration.
November – Topaz
Colors: Yellow, Brown, Pink, Purple, Blue, Transparent
Topaz was named after the ancient name of St. John’s Island, Topazios. Because the term Topaz was widely used for any light-yellow gems, historical references to this stone are often off. This semiprecious gemstone was associated with the Egyptian sun god Ra and had various practical uses for many cultures, such as protection, healing, balancing the mind, and lifting the mood.
December – Tanzanite
Colors: Blue, Violet-Blue
Made famous by Tiffany, Tanzanite is a newer addition to the birthstones list. This semiprecious stone was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, the only known source. Tanzanian mothers customarily wear this jewelry for good fortune in childbearing. Because of its rather short history, there is not a lot of folklore attached to this stone, though some believe it to help the wearer become more self-aware and conscious of their actions. Recently, this stone has been very popular among celebrities.
Although we do find them very interesting, we can not vouch for the accuracy of any above-mentioned beliefs. Any historical beliefs about gemstones should not be taken as medical recommendations. MonPaGa tiaras are made with synthetic gemstones.