Birthstone Chart by Zodiac Sign and Month

Birthstones are gemstones and other materials associated with the month someone was born. The charts below list birthstones by zodiac sign and date, then by month. After the birthstone charts, we explain the origin of birthstones, who decides which stones are included and how the lists have changed over the years.

Birthstones by Zodiac Sign

Birthstones by Month

Birthstones by Month

Many different Birthstone Charts are in circulation around the world. The two most widely used are the Modern and the Traditional, which are the ones given above.

The Modern Birthstone Chart was first drawn up in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewellers to replace the many conflicting lists then in use with a single standard.

Since then, changes have been made as different gemstones have grown in popularity. Britain's National Association of Goldsmiths is reported to have published its own list in 1937, but I have not been able to find a copy.

An example of a recent change on the Modern Birthstone Chart is the addition of spinel, which was added to peridot as one of the birthstones for August. This change was made by the Jewellers of America and the American Gem Trade Association.

There is no single list of birthstones that everyone recognises. Jewellers of America describes its list as official, but it's a list drawn up by and for the American jewellery trade. Birthstone lists were created by the jewellery trade, to standardise what its members were selling.

The British list of 1937 was produced by its counterpart, and the later additions of tanzanite and spinel were made by the American Gem Trade Association, whose purpose is to promote coloured stones.

Every chart in circulation, including those on this page, descends from one of those lists or from older traditions.

Birthstones on the Traditional Birthstone Chart vary widely from one country and culture to the next. For this reason, the Modern Birthstone Chart was compiled to create a common list of the most popular stones.

In his book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, published in 1913, George Frederick Kunz says:

"As it might seem appropriate that one born in the United States should wear a gem from among those which our country furnishes, the following list was some time since prepared by the writer, not in any sense as a substitute for the real birth-stones, but as possible accessory gems which might be worn as a spirit of patriotism.

Of course where the stone in question is really that traditionally recommended, the fact that it is at the same time an American gem-stone is an added argument in its favor."

The mineral kunzite was named in Kunz's honour in 1903 by the American chemist Charles Baskerville. Kunz was the gem expert at the American jeweller Tiffany & Co. from 1879 until his death in 1932.

Throughout history, different cultures and civilisations have attributed hidden meanings and powers to rocks, minerals, and gemstones. Today, birthstones don't necessarily imply a belief that a stone has healing properties, but that said, they're widely associated with luck, good health, and prosperity.

A ring featuring garnet and pearl was given to Kate Middleton by Prince William early in their relationship. Garnet is Kate's birthstone, whilst William's is pearl.

The History of Birthstones

The earliest idea of a gemstone being used as a birthstone is believed to come from the writings of Roman Jewish historian Josephus (Yosef Ben Matityahu) and Saint Jerome.

Josephus lived in the first century AD, and Saint Jerome, who's known for translating the Bible into Latin, lived in the fourth and fifth centuries AD.

Their proclamations, made some 300 years apart, connected the twelve gemstones in the biblical high priest breastplate to the twelve months of the year and twelve signs of the zodiac.

The twelve foundation stones named in the Book of Revelation were later linked to the twelve apostles, and a custom arose of owning all twelve and wearing a different one each month.

The custom of wearing a single stone for the month of one's birth is much more recent. Kunz traced it to eighteenth-century Poland, while the Gemological Institute of America traces it to Germany in the 1560s.

The use of gemstones to represent the month someone was born is believed to have been introduced by rabbis, Jewish gem traders, and other influential members of society in Poland.

Many had a keen interest in the stones from the Breastplate of the High Priest. Those who could afford to would carry a selection as talismans.

As Bible texts were repeatedly translated, the stones and the order in which they appeared continually changed.

Today, there's a great deal of debate over the exact stones that were used. This is not only because of inaccurate translations but also because many of the names have changed. This is why so many variations of the Birthstone Chart are in circulation. It's also the reason why there are so many different stones.

Some varieties, such as tourmaline and possibly diamond, would not even have been known during biblical times.

As an example of why there's so much confusion over names, 'sappheiros', once believed to be sapphire, is now known to have been lapis lazuli.

Garnet was part of a group of stones known as 'carbuncle', while peridot is believed to have been known as topazos. Today, 'sardius' is known as carnelian.

Some argue the correct way to assign birthstones is according to astrological or zodiac signs and not by month of birth.

The zodiac was first introduced sometime between 409 and 398 BC. The word 'zodiac' comes from ancient Greek meaning, 'cycle (or circle) of little animals.'

Reference

George Frederick Kunz | The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. Published 1913.

Article Photos

The carnelian stone was once part of our collection.

Pop-up photos
Peridot, kunzite, tourmaline (elbaite), garnets: Courtesy of Stan Celestian. Garnet tumbled stones: From our Collection.

Lapis lazuli: Courtesy of James St. John.

These photos link to the original images on Flickr. You may only be able to view them if you join. Joining Flickr is free, with no additional charges.