December Birthstones Zircon is the oldest mineral on Earth, dating back more than 4.4 billion years. Found in the Earth's crust, it's common in most sand and sedimentary deposits, as well as metamorphic rocks and crystallized magma.
What are the birthstones by month? 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.
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.
Ruby is a gemstone that is steeped in Legend and Lore, July's birthstone is said to preserve physical and mental health, and prevent evil thoughts. Ruby is one of the world's rarest and costliest gems and is said to be the "Gem King" (DCA Colored Stones, Compendium).
Russian Ancient Birthstones
Diamonds, jade, Alexandrite, Charoite, Agate, Amber, Serphinite, Rhodonite, Diopside, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Topaz, Citrine, Emerald, Garnet, Opal, and Malachite are just a few of the gemstones found in Russia, and many more are still to be discovered.
The modern tradition of wearing one stone for their month of birth did not begin until the 16th century and originated in either Germany or Poland. This was the start of the birthstone trend we are familiar with today.
Deemed the King of all birthstones, the diamond is unequivocally the most prized and sought-after of all gems, making it the ideal choice for April birthday gifts.
The Hope Diamond
Arguably the most famous and most cursed precious gemstone in history, this 45.52-carat sparkler has a long and storied past. The Hope Diamond has been blamed for a laundry list of tragedies, including but not limited to: beatings, stabbings, murder, insanity, and suicide.
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.
Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you'll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times.
On the unlucky side of birthdates, November holds the record for the least favorite birthstones: citrine and topaz. (Apparently because yellow gems aren't considered favorable…have people gone mad?)
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.
Bloodstone. The second birthstone for March is bloodstone, a dark-green gemstone flecked with vivid red spots of iron oxide. Generally found embedded in rocks or in riverbeds as pebbles, primary sources for this gemstone are India, Brazil, and Australia.
Alexandrite is a color-changing gemstone. An old saying says it's like an "emerald by day and like a ruby by night". Discovered in 1830 in Russia, the gem was named after Emperor Alexander III, the Czar of Russia in 1839.
Diamond is considered the most valuable and the hardest among all gems. Generally, people frequently use it for its beauty and value. In astrology, it is considered as the gem of the planet Venus. One can attract beauty, happiness and prosperity by wearing this gem.
Opal: The Queen of Gemstones.
Sapphire, September's birthstone, is a resplendent gemstone with an even more magnificent history. The sapphire is truly a timeless gem, gracing the collections of ancient emperors, sultans, oil tycoons, and British royalty for thousands of years.
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.
According to the book of Exodus in the Bible, a Hebrew high priest named Aaron was ordered by God to create a breastplate with 12 gemstones. These 12 gemstones link to today's modern birthstones and were supposed to have special powers to tell the future.
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.