Birthstone Gemstones

January

Quick Reference Birthstone Chart

Most knowlegable scholars will today tell you that the origin of our concept of birthstone gemstones originated in the Old Testament. Referring to Aaron, brother of Moses, and his breastplate in Exodus 28: 17-21.

17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

Another biblical reference which perhaps is more relevant is found in Revelation 21:19-20, referring to the foundation of the wall around Jeruselam.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

Before the origination of the Gregorian calender birthstone gemstones were associated with their astrological signs. Cultures the world over have adopted the birthstones concept into their belief systems. Here we will attempt to explain some of those beliefs.

• Modern
o This birthstone gemstones list was defined in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers, now called Jewelers of America.
o It has been officially adopted by several countries around the world including USA, Australia and Thailand.
o These birthstones were mainly adopted for their commercial value. An interesting article is found in the New York Times in 1912 entitled:

“Birthstones Again Considered” NY Times 1912

"One of our correspondents, a jeweler, thinks that we were unjust to the members of his craft in our comments on their recent revision of the “birthstone” list. His protest was made in such good temper, and in the course of presenting it he displayed so much and such interesting knowledge of gems in general and birthstones in particular, that we were glad to print his letter. In return it is only fair to admit that he made out a pretty good case for changing the old list.

To agree, however, with his denial that the men who originated the birthstone idea gave reasons for their selections is impossible. To be sure, the reasons they gave were not sound-indeed, being astrological and superstitious, they were, from the modern point of view, extremely bad. But nonetheless they really were reasons, and of a kind, too, that ranked high in their time. That is more than can be said for the innovations just made.

The new list is composed of stones that are at once more expensive, on the whole, than those they supersede. That they are more expensive is a good reason for the jewelers to like the change. It will probably, though not certainly, increase their profits. That the stones are more beautiful gives the consumer a better reason for buying than he, as a modern, had before. But neither beauty nor cost makes a gem a “birthstone,” since neither fact provides even a false reason for believing, or even pretending, that this or that crystal stands in mysteriously potent relation to this or that month.

Our correspondent declared that nowadays people bought birthstones, not because of their occult influences, but as a mark of affection and remembrance, made more pleasing by the old fancies and associations. Therein was he a little rash. Superstition has by no means died out in the world, and the chances are that few people buy a birthstone, as such, without at least a trace of faith or hope that it will somehow be something more than a mere ornament. This trace the new reasons will not create, on the contrary, they will tend to destroy it by proving that the jewelers themselves are either heretics or skeptics on the whole birthstone question.

Hence was it that we called the changes absurd and hinted that the jewelers may have been practical to their own disadvantage."

• Traditional
o It is possible that the original birthstone gemstones were not really associated with a person's birth month at all, but were worn by their association with the zodiac, a different stone for each month.
o The original traditional birthstone gemstones list appears to have been originated in Tibet in the 1600’s.

• Zodiac
o Associated with the astrological signs of the zodiac are different birthstone gemstones whose properties can channel the energies of their planets. Individuals bearing their zodiac gemstone can focus the energies from their planet into their own beings.

Gemstone Treasures Store

Please visit the following sites for more interesting birthstone gemstones information.

Birthstone Gemstones All-That-Gifts-Zodiac gempulse-zodiac Wicca-Chat-Birthstones Precious Stones of the Bible

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