The History and Legends behind the Modern Birthstone Table

 The modern birthstone table is the official list of birthstones used by the American National Association of Jewelers, Jewelers of America. This table dates back to 1912, but was updated over the years.

 The complete Modern Birthstone List by month

January: Garnet

 Garnet is the birthstone for January. Garnet can be traced back to 3000 BC or the Bronze Age. It was found in burial sites because people believed it offered protection in the afterlife. Garnet is also believed to stop bleeding and cure blood infections.

 Garnet occurs in practically all colors, except blue. The official color is a deep dark shade between red and orange. Now, garnet can be found in Brazil, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and certain states in the US, among several others.

 February: Amethyst

 The official birthstone of February is Amethyst. Legend says that amethyst was once a young maiden turned into a colorless pillar of quartz and  stained by wine, which gave it the purple shade. Amethyst occurs in two main sources, namely Brazil and Zambia. A few occurences, however, can also be found in Arizona in the US, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Russia.

 According to legend, the amethyst birthstone can ward off drunkenness and protect from poisoning. It is also said to protect in battle, but can also influence shrewdness.

 March: Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the official birthstone of March. It comes in varieties of really pale blue bordering on colorless to blue-green or teal shades. The most important variety is the deep blue aqua stone. The name aquamarine was taken from the latin words for water and sea.

 The top sources of aquamarine include Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia, and Russia.

 According to legends, aquamarine can provide courage, intelligence, and foresight. Its healing property is to reduce the effects of poison and to relieve seasickness.

 April: Diamond

 The diamond is perhaps the most famous gemstone. It is now one of the most sought after, most widely used gemstones. The cut of diamonds is very important; this affected the brilliance of the stone. Diamond is colorless, but also appears in varieties of light yellow, light blue to blue gray, and pale green.

 It is said to enhance love, which is why this is often used in wedding rings, but it is also said to endow courage, strength, and bravery, and could tell a person’s innocence or guilt. It was believed that the diamond would darken if the accused was indeed guilty.

 The white topaz bears a stark resemblance to diamond and is also known as an alternative birthstone for April. The white topaz symbolizes fire captured in ice, thus creating fog. For this reason, the stone is said to provide a cool head under heated circumstances and can also cool emotions.

 May: Emerald

 Emerald is the May birthstone with its deep green color. For healing, emerald is said to treat eye diseases, poisoning, and epilepsy. Folklore says, however, that emerald is prophetic. Some legends, however, attest to the stone’s ability to promote fertility and birth.

 The emerald was first found in Egypt near the Red Sea. Now, they are sourced from Columbia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe. Its name is taken from the Greek term for “green stone.”

 June: Pearl

 Pearl is the primary birthstone of June. Pearl has a high demand in the jewelry industry. It symbolizes chastity, purity, and modesty. Pearls are mainly taken from saltwater through oysters and from freshwater through mussels. The beauty and value of pearls depend on how brilliant they are. But pearl is also very sensitive; contact with other substances can make the pearls dull up.

 July: Ruby

 Ruby is a very beautiful, very elegant gemstone. It is the birthstone for July. Due to its deep dark passionate red color, the stone is often linked to sex, passion, energy, and strength. It is said to forge friendships and make beauty last.

 The finest variety of ruby is a vivid, spectral red with faint blue undertones, although other lighter and more translucent varieties of the stone can be found.

 August: Peridot

 The peridot is a brilliant stone ranging between yellow green to light green in color, though darker deeper green varieties are also available. Legends believe the peridot wards off envious thoughts and intensifies friendships; it is also said to protect from the evil eye. Its healing properties are related to diseases of the liver.

 Sources for the peridot include the Red Sea, Myanmar, Australia, Brazil, and Hawaii among others.

 September: Sapphire

 Sapphire is the official stone for September. The sapphire symbolizes the heaven, truth, innocence, chastity, and good health. Sapphire is available in all colors, but the official September birthstone is in a brilliant blue, which are best sourced from Myanmar and Kashmir.

 October: Opal

 Opal has a pretty bleak reputation; some legends say it bears ill omen. However, religious ancients disagree; they believe that opal symbolizes prayer and religious emotions. Its healing properties are mainly focused on relieving and curing the eyes. Although the blue opal is more widely accepted as the official opal variety, the black opal is said to be the finest opal.

 Opal is sourced from the New South Wales. The stone can be traced back to more than 60 million years ago. It is said to symbolize purity and hope. It is also said to have prophetic powers and the ability to prevent diseases.

 October has another birthstone, the tourmaline, although this is lesser known because it is less abundant. Tourmaline is said to foster positive energy and luck, especially in the aspect of romance.

 November: Yellow Topaz

 Both the yellow topaz and the citrine are named as November birthstones. The main sources of topaz include Brazil, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Africa, among many others.

 December: Turquoise

 The turquoise was dicovered back in 6000 BC in the times of the earliest Egyptians. The best turquoise stones are now mined in Iran, although some varieties can also be found of the stone in the US. The name turquoise comes from the French word for the “stone of Turkey.” According to folklore, the turquoise was used by shamans in their rituals because it promoted spiritual expansion, clarity, and wisdom.

 An alternative birthstone for December is the blue topaz, which is primarily found in Brazil and Nigeria. The coolness of this topaz shade is its best feature, which led to the belief that this stone has cooling properties that can cam hot tempers. It also has known healing powers such as curing asthma, insomnia, and weak vision.