Just about everyone knows what his or her birthstone is. Why is that? Because people still enjoy the folklore associated with the tradition of the birthstone. They like believing that wearing a birthstone brings them good luck and protects them.
Tradition associates a gem with each sign of the zodiac based on a color system. Color was thought to unleash the power attributed to the stone. In time, birthstones became associated with calendar months rather than the zodiac. And people began to select birthstones in colors other than the originals.
The Roman, Arabic, Jewish, Polish, Russian and Italian lists were all different. The following list of birthstones is one that is commonly used.
| Month |
Color |
Stone |
| January |
Dark Red |
Garnet or Rose Quartz |
| February |
Purple |
Amethyst or Onyx |
| March |
Pale Blue |
Aquamarine, Green Tourmaline or Bloodstone |
| April |
White (Clear) |
Diamond or Rock Crystal Quartz |
| May |
Bright Green |
Emerald or Green Tourmaline |
| June |
Cream |
Pearl or Moonstone |
| July |
Red |
Ruby or Carnelian |
| August |
Pale Green |
Peridot or Sardonyx |
| September |
Deep Blue |
Sapphire or Lapis Lazuli |
| October |
Variegated |
Opal or Pink Tourmaline |
| November |
Yellow |
Topaz or Citrine |
| December |
Sky Blue |
Turquoise, Tanzanite, Blue Zircon or Blue Topaz |
