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Birth Stones

    Early civilizations in both India and Babylon as far back as 3000 BC attributed rare and beautiful gemstones with magical properties. The early gem buyers sought advice from astrologers first, in hopes that they could influence the forces that were identified with the planets in their favor. There was no formal classification of gemstones, a gem was assigned each sign of the zodiac based on a color system. Color was thought to unleash the power attributed to the stone.The Indian and Babylonian systems both linked the ruling planets with their corresponding gems. Giving rise to the zodiac type system that we use today.

 Josephus in his writings, proclaimed a connection between the twelve stones in the High Priest's breastplate, the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac.  It was not until the 18th century in Poland, that there is any documentation of people actually wearing birth stones or zodiac stones.  People wore or carried gem stones at first, for their therapeutic and medicinal properties.  These properties were then associated with characteristics of the zodiac, making them talismans for those born in the same months.

    Birth stones, as we know them today, is a list of stones that was first assembled in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers. This list has historical merit, but substitutions have been made, based on relative availability.

Stones in the Breastplate:
Breastplate Placement Zodiac Sign Stone
Stone #I Aries Carnelian
Stone #II Taurus Peridot
Stone #III Gemini Emerald
Stone #IV Cancer Ruby
Stone #V Leo Lapis-lazuli
Stone #VI Virgo Onyx
Stone #VII Libra Sapphire
Stone #VIII Scorpio Agate
Stone #IX Sagittarius Amethyst
Stone #X Capricorn Topaz
Stone #XI Aquarius Beryl
Stone #XII Pisces Jasper
Month
Gemstone
Garnet
January
Amethyst
February
aqua
March
Diamond
April
Emerald
May
Pearl
June
Ruby
July
Peridot
August

sapphire

September
Opal
October
Citrine
November
Blue Zircon
December

Related topics:
Aniiversary Gems
Gems for Days of the Week
Chakra Gems