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Birthstones & Anniversary Gift Guide
Birthstones have been used
since the first century as a way to celebrate and
acquire good luck on ones birthday.
Traditionally, gems were associated with each sign
of the zodiac based on a color system, as color
was thought to unleash the power attributed to the
stone. In time, birthstones became associated with
calendar months rather than the zodiac, with each
birth gemstone having designated qualities and attributes.
There have been many different sets of birthstones
used throughout history and in different cultures.
In 1912, in an effort to standardize them, the American
National Association of Jewelers established the
modern birthstone chart assigning an individual
gem to each month. Since then, only one gemstone
has been added: Tanzanite was included in 2002 as
one of December's official birthstones.
January
Garnet is the birthstone for January, and is also
the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 2nd year
of marriage. The gemstone's resemblance to pomegranate
seeds earned its name, from the Latin word for the
crimson fruit, granatum. Its deep red color signifies
eternal friendship and trust as well as loyalty
and faith. Legend holds that Noah hung a large garnet
in the ark for illumination. It reportedly also
gives its wearer guidance in the night, protection
from nightmares, and according to the Egyptians,
is an antidote for snakebites and food poisoning.
Garnets are durable and brilliant and come in a
wide range of hues and shapes.
February
Amethyst, the birthstone for February, was believed
by ancient Greeks and Romans to ward off the intoxicating
powers of Bacchus. It is said to have a sobering
effect, keeping the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.
It has symbolized peace, protection and tranquility;
and some say it can even prevent baldness and improve
the complexion, as well as protect from treason
and deceit. Because royalty has always adored the
color purple, amethysts abound in the ornaments
of ancient Greeks and Egyptians, and in the British
Crown Jewels. Amethyst is purple quartz, a beautiful
blend of violet and red and is also the accepted
anniversary gemstone for the 6th year of marriage.
March
The two birthstones for March are aquamarine and
bloodstone. Linked to the sea because of its distinctive
blue-green hues, aquamarine was believed to protect
sailors as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. Victorians
gave this jewel to guarantee marital happiness and
devotion and it is considered to be a universal
symbol of youth, hope and health. Bloodstone is
an alternative birthstone for the month of March.
An opaque quartz with red flecks, this ancient stone
is believed to have healing powers, especially for
blood disorders. It is sometimes called the martyr's
stone as legend tells that it was created when drops
of Christ's bloodstained some jasper at the foot
of the cross.
April
Diamond is the birthstone for April. Named after
the Greek term for unconquerable, diamonds represent
unequalled strength and determination. Also representing
eternity and undying love, diamond is universally
identified as the gemstone for engagement rings.
It is also the accepted anniversary stone for the
10th and 60th years of marriage.
May
Emerald, the birthstone of May is one of the most
highly prized of all the gems. With its vibrant
green tone, emerald is a symbol of rebirth, immortal
love, wisdom and future success. It is believed
that the emerald will bring about good fortune and
youth. And according to legend, the wearing of emerald
not only cured a wide range of ailments, including
low I.Q., poor eyesight and infertility, but also
enabled the wearer to predict the future.
June
June boasts three gems as birthstones for the month
- Pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone. Historically
used as an adornment for centuries, the pearl has
been recognized as the emblem of modesty, chastity
and purity. Appropriately associated with the wedding
month of June, the pearl also symbolizes a happy
marriage and is the accepted anniversary gem for
the 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Moonstone is
another white gem used as a June birthstone. Its
name was given by a Roman historian who believed
that the stone's appearance altered with the phases
of the moon. Considered a sacred stone in India,
moonstones are believed to encapsulate a spirit
whose purpose is to bring longevity and future fortune.
Alexandrite is the most recent addition to June's
birthstones. This gem not only possesses a unique
color changing ability, it is very rare and difficult
to find. Alexandrite is beautiful and is known to
symbolize good fortune.
July
Ruby, the birthstone for July, has long been considered
a powerful gemstone. Legend holds that rubies will
protect their owners from all kinds of danger and
misfortune. Arousing the senses and stirring the
imagination, rubies are said to guarantee health,
wisdom, wealth and love. Often paired with diamonds
to represent eternity in love, rubies are the accepted
anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th years
of marriage.
August
August has two birthstones, peridot and sardonyx.
Peridot, the birthstone for August, is said to host
magical powers and healing properties to protect
against nightmares and to bring the wearer power,
influence, and a wonderful year. The Victorians
even wore peridot to prevent sorrow. A product of
volcanic action, peridot is a lively lime green
stone and is the accepted anniversary gemstone for
the 16th year of marriage.
Sardonyx, is a form of onyx and is recognized by
its layers of reddish brown and white banding. Greeks
and Romans carried sardonyx into battle believing
it to bring courage and victory. Victorians, however,
believed sardonyx to represent wedded contentment.
September
Sapphire,the September birthstone, has been popular
since the Middle Ages and, according to folklore,
will protect your loved ones from envy and harm.
Medieval clergy wore sapphires to symbolize heaven,
while commoners thought the gem attracted heavenly
blessings. As the second hardest gemstone, after
diamond, sapphire also represents the indestructibility
of love and fidelity, making blue sapphire a very
popular option for Victorian engagement rings. It
is also the accepted anniversary gem for the 5th
and 45th years of marriage.
October
October is a month with two birthstones, opal and
tourmaline. Opal, meaning "precious stone" in Sanskrit,
range in color from milky white to black with flashes
of yellow, orange, green, red, and blue. Given opal's
fiery flashes of color, it was believed that lightning
brought the gem to earth. Opal has symbolized hope,
innocence and purity through the ages. Protection
from disease was its main virtue, while also allowing
the wearer to see into the future. However, the
Victorians believed opal could bring bad luck when
not worn as a birthstone. Opal is the accepted anniversary
gemstone for the 14th year of marriage. With its
wide variety of colors, tourmaline is an alternative
birthstone for October.
And for the very superstitious, tourmaline is popular
as it is known to inspire creativity and hope.
November
Topaz, the birthstone for November, has been prized
for several thousands of years in antiquity. Available
in a rich rainbow of colors, topaz is believed to
have calming and curative powers. It is also said
to prove loyalty in friends and associates by changing
colors in the presence of poison.. During the Middle
Ages, topaz was used to cure mental illness and
was thought to even delay death. Blue topaz is the
accepted anniversary gemstone for the 4th year of
marriage; Imperial topaz for the 23rd year of marriage.
December
The month of December has three birthstones, turquoise,
zircon and tanzanite. Turquoise originated in the
thirteenth century and describes one of the oldest
known gemstones. During the 16th century, the Southwest
Indians used turquoise as currency. They believed
the gemstone could bring spoils to the warrior,
animals to the hunter, and happiness and good fortune
to all. Turquoise is the accepted anniversary gemstone
for the 11th year of marriage. Zircon is the traditional
birthstone for the final month of the year. Found
in a wide range of colors, folk wisdom grants zircon
the power to relieve pain, whet the appetite, protect
travelers from disease and injury, ensure a warm
welcome, and prevent nightmares. Tanzanite is the
newest addition to the modern birthstone chart.
Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, tanzanite
possesses a rich violet-blue color for which the
gemstone is treasured. |
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Anniversary
Guide
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|
Year
|
Traditional
|
Modern
|
Gems
|
|
1st
|
Paper
|
Clocks
|
Gold Jewelery
|
|
2nd
|
Cotton
|
China
|
Garnet
|
|
3rd
|
Leater
|
Crystal/Glass
|
Pearls
|
|
4th
|
Flowers
|
Appliances
|
Blue Topaz
|
|
5th
|
Wood
|
Silverware
|
Sapphire
|
|
6th
|
Iron
|
Wood
|
Amethyst
|
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7th
|
Wool
|
Copper
Desk Set
|
Onyx
|
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8th
|
Bronze
|
Pottery/Linens
|
LaceTourmaline
|
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9th
|
Pottery
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Willow/Leather
|
Lapis
|
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10th
|
Tin
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Aluminum
|
Diamond
|
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11th
|
Steel
|
Fashion
Jewelry
|
Turquoise
|
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12th
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Silk/Linen
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Pearls
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Jade
|
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13th
|
Lace
|
Textiles/Furs
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Citrine
|
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14th
|
Ivory
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Gold Jewelry
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Opal
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15th
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Crystal
|
Watches
|
Ruby
|
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20th
|
China
|
Platinum
|
Peridot
|
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25th
|
Silver
|
Silver
|
Silver
Jubilee
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30th
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Pearl
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Diamond
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Pearl Jubilee
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35th
|
Coral
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Jade
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Emerald
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40th
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Ruby
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Ruby
|
Ruby
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45th
|
Sapphire
|
Sapphire
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Sapphire
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50th
|
Gold
|
Gold
|
Golden
Jubilee
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60th
|
Emerald
|
Emerald
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Alexandrite
|
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65th
|
Diamond
|
Diamond
|
Diamond
Jubilee
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