Birthstones make it easy to create jewelry with special meaning, from mothers’ pendants to grandmas’ bracelets and more. They fit right in with the current personalized jewelry trend, but birthstones also have a timeless quality that makes them perennially popular.
Did you know that birthstones are a fairly modern tradition with ancient roots? Many sources trace the idea of birthstones back to a biblical passage that pairs a different gemstone with each month of the year. People began wearing those stones during specific months. Over the centuries, the tradition has evolved into our modern-day custom of wearing a single stone to symbolize our birth month or the birth month of a loved one. A standardized list of stones and corresponding months was developed in the early 1900s.
Birthstones and their colors have also acquired associated attributes over time. These are based on a combination of ideas, from historical significance of stones to psychological meanings of color. Some are listed below. You might choose to make a piece of jewelry that symbolizes something you want to communicate, such as unity (aquamarine) or renewal (emerald) rather than focusing on the birthstone itself.
Here are the standard birthstones, Swarovski crystals and associated attributes for each month:
January: garnet • Siam crystal • inspiration
February: amethyst • amethyst crystal • insight
March: aquamarine • aquamarine crystal • unity
April: diamond • (clear) crystal • strength
May: emerald • emerald crystal • renewal
June: pearl/alexandrite • light amethyst crystal • clarity
July: ruby • light Siam crystal • harmony
August: peridot • peridot crystal • purity
September: sapphire • sapphire crystal • peace
October: opal/tourmaline • rose crystal • hope
November: topaz/citrine • topaz crystal • confidence
December: tanzanite/turquoise • tanzanite crystal • balance
Check out the new birthstone charms at www.Halsteadbead.com. They’re made in the USA from lead-free pewter and feature inset Swarovski crystals to make it easy to create your own beautiful birthstone jewelry.
