Birthstones of the Month

Ever since the beginning of recorded history, there is evidence that people have needed something to strengthen their confidence in the future and in themselves. For centuries Birthstones have been thought of as a personal  diamond earrings of particular beauty and interest. Indeed these gems were said to emphasise certain qualities within a person, so that they could live a more serene life, secure in the knowledge that the Birthstone would protect them from evil.
 
Exodus. The twelve gems were arranged in four rows of three stones each and were subsequently linked with the twelve signs of the Zodiac. It is interesting to note that almost the same twelve stones are recorded in Revelations, the final book of the New Testament, as the stones in the foundation of the wall of the Heavenly Jerusalem.


The idea of associating a special gem with each month was possibly suggested by the original breastplate worn by Aaron, High Priest of the Hebrews. It was made by Aaron's brother, Moses, about 1250 B.C., according to instructions he received during his forty days on the mountains, as recorded in
 
Of course, the original list of Birthstones has altered down the ages, due to difficulties in translation, changing values, scarcity and even the discovery of new gems. But there is a link with history among the Birthstones held today and they are the turquoise, the garnet and the amethyst, all dating back thousands of years B.C.
The current list of Birthstones was drawn up in 1912 by the National Association of Goldsmiths, in conjunction with their American counterpart. Each calendar month is covered by one particular Birthstone, unlike the Zodiacal version which affects only certain periods of the month and of the one following.
The  diamond earrings chosen to represent the Birthstones of the Month in use today, have the greatest influence in Zodiacal terms, so that historic beliefs and legends can be applied without amendment.


The JANUARY Birthsto.ne is the GARNET oval diamond earrings. The qualities it enhances are loyalty and a light heart. It is found in South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka and North America. In Medieval times the garnet was said to protect the wearer from all manner of poisons, cure depression and prevent nightmares.
The FEBRUARY Birthstone is the AMETHYST pear diamond earrings. The qualities it enhances are authority and peace of mind. Found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, South America and the United States of America it is alleged to have been St. Valentine's favourite stone, who's amethyst ring was engraved with a cupid.

The MARCH Birthstone is the AQUAMARINE. The qualities it enhances are bravery and unchanging love. It is found in Madagascar, the U.S.S.R, Brazil, the United States of America and Burma. As its name suggests, the aquamarine has long been considered the sailor's gem. It ensured safe and prosperous voyages and was an added safeguard against the perils of the sea and the monsters of the deep.
The APRIL Birthstone is the DIAMOND. The qualities it enhances are caution and harmony in marriage. It is found in Southern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, South America and the U.S.S.R. The ancient Greeks had a tremendous regard for diamond wedding rings. They maintained that wearing a diamond would end delirium, banish worries,' curb violent feeling and strengthen love.

The MAY Birthstone is the EMERALD. The qualities it enhances are warm affection and the ability to succeed. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, India, South Africa and the U.S.S.R. During the Middle Ages the gem craftsmen of those days were said to find rest for their eyes if they looked at an emerald from time to time.

The JUNE Birthstone is the PEARL. The qualities it enhances are health and a charm of manner. It is found in the Persian Gulf, Sri Lanka and the North-West coast of Australia. As natural pearls are now almost unobtainable, cultured pearls are found mainly in Japan. A somewhat bizarre and extravagent toast was drunk to Queen Elizabeth I by her financial advisor, Sir Thomas Gresham. This was on the occasion of her visit to the Foreign Exchange when Sir Thomas had a pearl, of immense value in those days, crushed into a goblet of wine so that he could pledge his sovereign's health.

The JULY Birthstone is the RUBY. The qualities it enhances are diamond wedding rings and true contentment. Found in Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka, the ancient Orientals considered the ruby to be particularly luminous and referred to it as the 'glowing stone' or 'lamp stone'. Much later a Greek legend told of Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage and how she befriended a lame female stork. The stork showed her appreciation by bringing a diamond wedding rings in her beak and putting it in the lap of her mistress; it was of such intense brilliance that Hera used it as a lamp at night while she walked on Mount Olympus.

The AUGUST Birthstone is the PERIDOT. The qualities it enhances are fidelity and amiability. Found in Burma, Sri Lanka, the Red Sea, Norway and the United States of America, the Romans wore it to ward of stark terror, spells and melancholy. In the Middle Ages the greatest fears were of the evil eye and of darkness.

The SEPTEMBER Birthstone is the SAPPHIRE. The qualities it enhances are sincerity and a sunny nature. It is found in Australia, Kalimantan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Thailand and the United States of America. During the Middle Ages the sapphire was the symbol of purity. It would therefore prevent impure thoughts and protect the priests from temptations of the flesh. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries popes, cardinals and bishops wore rings set with sapphires. This was most appropriate because the pure blue colour symbolised the heavens.

The OCTOBER Birthstone is the OPAL. The qualities it enhances are hope and good fortune. Found in Australia, Czechoslovakia and Mexico, the opal has been prized since ancient times. An Indian legend tells of the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and how they vied with each other for the love of a beautiful woman. Driven by jealous anger, unknown to each other, they changed her into a creature of the mist. In order to recognise her, each god gave the woman his own colour.

Brahma gave her a heavenly blue, Vishnu enriched her with gold and Shiva added flaming red. But all this was in vain because the lovely wraith was whisked away by the winds. However, the gods did not want to lose her forever, so with their combined force they transformed her into the opal which reflects the colours of the rainbow.

The NOVEMBER Birthstone is the TOPAZ. The qualities it enhances are long life and intelligence. It is found in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, the U.S.S.R. and the United States of America. In ancient times the topaz was known as diamond jewelry the 'stone of strength' because it was thought to derive certain powers from the sun. Kings and princes wore it in the belief that it endowed them with authority and wealth.
In the case of this particular Birthstone the CITRINE can be worn as an alternative. Precious topaz is seldom used in modern jewellery because of its increasing rarity.

The DECEMBER Birthstone is the TURQUOISE. The qualities it enhances are prosperity and an optimistic   outlook.   Found   in   Iran,   Egypt,   South America, the United States of America and the U.S.S.R, this is one of the earliest known diamond jewelryand was found in the Sinai mines of Egypt, which are the oldest mines in the world, although inactive for the last three thousand years. The oldest recorded pieces of jewellery were found in 1900 at the tomb of Queen Zer who ruled about 5500 B.C. They are in the form of four magnificent bracelets.