The History and Significance of Birthstones

For centuries, gemstones have played a significant role in the everyday lives of people. Today, birthstones are used to represent the birth month of individuals. Some believe that birthstones hold special powers for the wearer. Others just appreciate wearing a gemstone that represents the month in which they were born. When did these gemstones first become associated with the months of the year? Historians think that the first written record comes from the book of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible. Here, the breastplate of the Hebrew’s high priest is described as having 12 specific gems, one for each of Israel’s 12 tribes: “Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row was a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted on gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones,... Read more »

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