Birthstone
List
Gemstones for the Zodiac Signs
Gemstones for Wedding Anniversaries
| Garnet |
| Birthstone:
January |
Zodiac:
Capricorn |
Anniv:
2nd, 5th, 12th |
| Garnet
derives its name from the Latin word for pomegranate,
granatum, due to its resemblance to pomegranate
seeds. Ancient Greeks and Romans associated it with fire,
and Christians believed it to be used by Noah to illuminate
the Ark. It is considered the gem of faith, constancy
and truth; its wearer is said to be sociable and a good
communicator. |
| Amethyst |
| Birthstone:
February |
Zodiac:
Aquarius |
Anniv:
1st |
| Amethyst
is the violet-colored member of the quartz family; its
name comes from the Greek amethustos, or "not
to intoxicate." Amethyst was one of the first gemstones
to be used by man, and has had royal and ecclesiastical
associations in many legends. It has been ascribed the
power to prevent intoxication, assure victory, protect
travelers and enhance its wearer's business acumen. |
| Aquamarine |
| Birthstone:
March |
Zodiac:
Pisces |
Anniv:
18th |
| Aquamarine,
whose name is Latin for "seawater," is a greenish-blue
variety of the mineral beryl. Roman fisherman, and sailors
throughout history, have used it as protection on the
water. Believed to embody the spirit of the sea, it has
long been regarded a symbol of purification, happiness
and everlasting youth. It has also been said to establish
happy marriages and reconcile differences. |
| Diamond |
| Birthstone:
April |
Zodiac:
Aries |
Anniv:
10th, 60th |
| Diamond,
the hardest gemstone on Earth, derives its name from the
Greek adamas, meaning unconquerable. Its rarity
and exceptional brilliance has made it the most highly
prized gemstone throughout history, reserved almost exclusively
for royalty until the nineteenth century. Its associations
with love and marriage may have begun in 1477, when the
Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond betrothal ring
to Mary of Burgundy. |
| Emerald |
| Birthstone:
May |
Zodiac:
Taurus |
Anniv:
20th, 45th |
| Emerald,
the green member of the beryl family, is named for the
Persian word for green. The Greeks dedicated emerald to
the goddess Venus; the Incas worshipped an emerald goddess;
and legend has it that Jesus Christ used an emerald bowl
at the Last Supper. Cleopatra's emerald mines were world-famous
in 2000 BC. Emerald is considered a symbol of immortality
and faith, and an aid to eyesight, insight, and intelligence. |
| Pearl |
| Birthstone:
June |
Zodiac:
Gemini |
Anniv:
8th |
| The
pearl is an organic gem, formed in mollusks as a natural
defense to an irritant. Legends have described pearls
as God's first creation; as the tears of the gods; and
as the representation of the moon's influence on the Earth.
Pearls were considered a nuptial gem in the 1920s. The
pearl is often equated with wisdom, purity and femininity. |
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