American Gem Society
http://www.ags.org/consumers/Gift_Guide/birthstones.asp
2006-09-06 12:38:41
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answer #1
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answered by annacashman 2
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A birthstone is a gift of a precious material (jewelry, mainly gemstones; themselves traditionally associated with various qualities) that symbolizes the month of birth (in the Gregorian Calendar).
It is sometimes also called birthday stone (cf. infra; but that word is, confusingly, sometimes used as a synonym for an anniversary gift, which is related to the recipient's age, i.e. year of birth).
There have been many different sets of birthstones used throughout history and in different cultures, but in 1912 the American national association of jewelers, Jewelers of America, officially adopted the following list; it is currently the most widely used list in the United States and many other places, including Australia (a jeweler's 'modern' list states they are selected for bright colors) and Thailand; some alternatives are added:
Month-------Birthstone-------Alternate
January-------Garnet-------Rose Quartz
February-------Amethyst-------Onyx
March-------Aquamarine-------Red Jasper ("bloodstone")
April-------Diamond-------Rock Crystal (Quartz)
May-------Emerald-------Chrysoprase
June----Pearl (the only non-mineral)---Alexandrite or Moonstone
July-------Ruby-------Jade
August-------Peridot-------Aventurine, sardonyx or sapphire
September-------Sapphire-------Lapis lazuli
October-------Opal-------Pink Tourmaline
November-------Yellow ('Golden') Topaz-------Citrine or Turquoise
December---Blue Zircon---Blue Topaz, Turquoise, or Tanzanite
Tanzanite was added to December by the American Gem Trade Association in 2002.
Some alternates have been adopted to be a less expensive substitute or a cut stone.
The birthstone seems to originate from Biblical times. The Breastplate of Aaron, referred to in Exodus 39:10-14:
10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl;
11 in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald;
12 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
13 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings.
14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
The precise list of birthstones however can be found in Revelation 21:19-20 where the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem are listed, in the order of the Roman calendar:
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
(The Twelve Tribes of Israel will be the "foundation" of the new Jerusalem)
also:
Zodiac stones
There is an astrological version of the birthstones using the twelve zodiac signs instead of the twelve calendar months. Listed below are the corresponding dates for the tropical sun signs and their associated birthstone.
Aries (March 21 - April 20) Diamond
Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Emerald
Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Spinel
Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Pearl
Leo (July 23 - August 23) Ruby
Virgo (August 24 - September 22) Sapphire
Libra (September 23 - October 23) Peridot
Scorpio (October 24 - November 21) Aquamarine
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) Topaz
Capricorn (December 22 - January 21) Garnet
Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) Amethyst and moonstone
Pisces (February 19 - March 20) Diamond
2006-09-06 16:30:25
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answer #2
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answered by VeRDuGo 5
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check out the website of one of this country's leading Astro-Numeroligist: Lloyd Strayhorn. www.numbersandyou.com
2006-09-06 12:50:29
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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