The twelve birthstones have largely remained the same since then, albeit with a few companies trying to pitch their gems into the mix to boost sales. Keep in mind there are different types and variations of birthstones, for instance birthstones for zodiac symbols such as gemini.
Traditionally each month is associated with one birthstone but you will find some months have multiple birthstones. This fact does create some confusion but the multiple options for some months was created in order to allow more affordable options in addition to the traditional more expensive stones.
August | Peridot and Spinel
August is the latest month to claim two birthstones; Peridot and Spinel.
In 1912, the Jewelers of America wanted to standardize the birthstones. Modern birthstones are based on what is easiest to sell in large quantities. This is why November has two birthstones. Topaz was the original birthstone, but citrine was later added as a more affordable option.
If you were born in the month of June, you are lucky enough to have three birthstones to call your own. June is one of only three months (the others are August and December) that has three birthstones, giving you a variety of beautiful birthstone choices. The June birthstones are pearl, alexandrite and moonstone.
February babies have the rarest birthstone of all. Diamond (April) is the rarest birthstone in a total of six states, while topaz (November) is the rarest birthstone in Montana, Wyoming, and Rhode Island.
#1 Diamond
Diamond is an April birthstone, and diamonds are unarguably the most expensive gemstone with a Mohs scale reading of 10. Diamond embodies a full life that confects wealth, health, and fortuity.
1. Emerald (May) The lush abundance of spring is mirrored in May's birthstone, the emerald, with its deep green hue, making it the best birthstone of them all. According to legend, emeralds are also a source of great luck and offer protection against evil to those who wear them.
The rarest birthstone is a red diamond. The most renowned red diamond is the 5.1-carat Moussaieff Red. If this birthstone were auctioned, it would smash the existing record of $71 million for a diamond. Diamond has many intriguing tales and qualities.
There is no rule that says each person must wear their birthstone or no gem stone at all. So do not limit yourself and pave the way for a new look that reflects the true you! I know a lot of you November babies hate Citrine (a brownish-yellow stone).
In 1912, the National Association of Jewelers of America met to standardize birthstones. At this time it was decided that June would have two birthstones: pearl and moonstone.
January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is alexandrite, July is ruby, August is peridot, September is sapphire, October is tourmaline, November is topaz, December is blue topaz. Learn more about these popular gemstones.
The obvious question is: why does October have two birthstones? Originally, opal was the sole birthstone of the month, but some felt the gem was too feminine and not durable enough for daily wear, so pink tourmaline was added. Now, the two are considered equal holders of the title of October's birthstone.
If you were born in February, your birthstone is amethyst – the purple variety of quartz that has captivated mankind for millennia.
Pearl is the softest birthstone.
Ruby, the birthstone for July, is regarded as one of the main stones of love, attracting love in all its forms. A symbol of passion, ruby makes an ideal romantic gift.
Some types of good fortune gemstones include peridot, amethyst, sapphire, citrine, and garnet. Take a closer look at these good luck crystals and what beliefs are associated with them. Looking for your own lucky break?
Finally, gemstones are often less expensive than diamonds of similar quality and carat weight, allowing a couple more flexibility within their budget if they opt for a gemstone instead of a diamond.
Gemstone prices can be undoubtedly confusing. To the average Joe or Jane, it makes little sense why the same size and weight amethyst is cheaper than an aquamarine, which are both far more affordable than an emerald.
Rubies are one of the rarest gemstones. The rarest rubies come from Burma (Myanmar), due to their high quality and exceptional color. Good quality rubies larger than one carat are also extremely rare—and expensive.
December 25 (Christmas Day) is the least common birthday, while January 1 (New Year's Day) is the second least common. December 24 (Christmas Eve) also makes the list as the 3rd least common birthday while July 4 (Independence Day) is the 4th least common birthday.
First, which month has the least birthdays? The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Social Security Administration. The rarest month to be born in is February, making Aquarius the rarest zodiac sign. February is the shortest month of the year, even with a leap year.
Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires are known as the "Big Four" gemstones. These are the most valuable kind of precious stones.