3. Birthstone Traditions

The practice of associating varying gemstones to ones birth month, i.e. the birthstone, spans many cultures and across the ages. For example, one could attribute their use today to Moses and the Breastplate of Aaron as noted in the Bible in the book of Exodus. They can also be attributed to ancient India where gems were associated with astrological signs and the planets. During those times, people did not rely on the one gemstone associated with their birth month. Because it was believed that each gemstone held a special power, people alternated their use of them according to their need for talismanic or therapeutic benefits. Birthstone lore can also be traced to Roman, Polish, Italian and Arabic traditions as well. Finally, the idea of applying one birthstone to one calendar month can be attributed to the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912 and today by Jewelers of America.

• The Traditional Birthstone list is a compilation of birthstones used in different societies dating back to the 15th century.
• The Modern Birthstone list is the official list of birthstones in the U.S. It was originally adopted in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers.
• The Mystical and Ayurvedic Birthstone lists both have roots dating back over a thousand years. The Mystical list is of Tibetan origin and the Ayurvedic list is taken from Ayurvedic Indian Medicine.