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About Birthstone Colors by Rachael Stone

Though we know that birthstones were started long ago, even experts can't agree on when. We know they have been used for thousands of years. According to some historians they began being used 4500 years ago. The ancient Sumerians or Egyptians carried stones recommended by astrologers of the time. The birth stones were determined by one's birth time and how they related to the planets movement. These colored stones were to provide them with magical abilities associated with the gems.

The Western birthstone system probably originated out of the writings of two early authors. They were Josephus (writing in the first century AD) and St. Jerome (writing during the fifth century AD). Both of them trace the custom of wearing certain types of gems to the stones that stood for the 12 tribes of Israel. They also made a connection between the 12 zodiac signs and the 12 months in the year that were shown an the Breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest's. This breastplate was originally worn by the brother of Moses, Aaron, as referred to in Exodus 28:15-20:15-20).

One example of the stones mentioned in this system follows:

+ Stone 1 - Aries was represented by Carnelian

+ Stone 2 - Taurus has been symbolized using Peridot

+ Stone 3 - Gemini was regarded to use Emerald

+ Stone 4 - Cancer was demonstrated by Ruby

+ Stone 5 - Leo used the gemstone Lapis Lazuli

+ Stone 6 - Virgo has been associated with Onyx

+ Stone 7 - Libra used beautiful Sapphire

+ Stone 8 - Scorpio was represented by Agate

+ Stone 9 - Sagittarius was symbolized by Sapphire

+ Stone 10 - Capricorn was shown with Yellow Topaz (Citrine)

+ Stone 11 - Aquarius was displayed by Beryl

+ Stone 12 - Pisces was exhibited by Jasper

The stones that have been associated with each month have changed frequently throughout the years. One reason is that the actual identification of gemstones has been haphazard and was often based on the description of the color, not the actual mineral composition of the stone. This led to confusion between gems like garnet and ruby.

Even today, historians argue over exactly what stones appeared on the breastplate, depending on which translation of the Bible is consulted. After the mid-1500s, the birthstone custom eventually appeared to die out in Europe, but there are a number of sources that indicate that the beliefs revived again in 18th-century Poland.

As the early movement of Christianity begins to spread throughout pagan lands, a transition from stones that were linked with star signs, planets, and astrological signs that were chosen for specific months began. The church worked to do away with the influence of astrology, particularly among pagan converts and began to link the stones with the 12 apostles. Sometime thereafter, a belief that all people born in a certain month became wards of a specific guardian angel arose where specific gems were assigned to each angel, adding to existing birthstone lore.

The American National Association of jewelers officially adopted the most common list of birthstones in 1912 to help with jewelry sales. This is generally the list of birthstones referred to in the US. Once people become interested in wearing birthstones again, less costly gemstones were specified as alternatives for some of the very rare gems. These alternates were chosen because the color is very close to the original stone on the list.

Even the official list provides a great deal of leeway for several of the months. As an example, a person that is born in the month of June can choose pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite, and an individual with a March birthday can choose either bloodstone or aquamarine. Tanzanite was added as an alternative for December by the American Gem Trade Association in October of 2002, but was virtually unknown when the original list was compiled.

Consider choosing your birth stones using their colors as follows:

* January -- Dark Red

* February -- Purple

* March -- Pale Blue

* April -- Clear

* May -- Bright Green

* June -- Cream

* July -- Bright Red

* August -- Pale Green

* September -- Deep Blue

* October -- Variegated

* November -- Yellow

* December -- Sky Blue

If you find you don't like the stone for your birth month, you can also choose a birthstone based on the day of the week you were born on. Stones that correspond include:

* Sunday - Topaz (any color)

* Monday - Pearl

* Tuesday - Ruby

* Wednesday - Amethyst

* Thursday - Sapphire

* Friday - Carnelian

* Saturday - Turquoise

Cheaper stones like Swarovski crystals in the color of a gemstone let almost anyone afford to wear a stone that simulates the color of the gem assigned to their birth month or day.

Some people use birthstone rings as promise rings. Using their birthstone adds an added connection and a bit of history

Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/About-Birthstone-Colors/604355