What is a birthstone?
A birthstone is connected to 1 of the 12 months. It is believed that the birthstone brings good luck to the people who were born in that particular month or have a special connection with that month. The birthstone can then work as a kind of talisman or amulet for the wearer. In some countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, they attach great importance to the meaning of these stones and they are seen and used as "healing stones". More and more people experience the powers of gemstones and believe that there is more than science can prove.
History birthstone
There are several stories about the birthstone. The best known is that of Exodus, the second book of the Bible. It describes a breastplate (a religious garment) of Aaron, which is decorated with twelve precious stones in a gold filigree.
These twelve gems in four rows of three, represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, in the writings of Flavius Josephus (1st century AD) and St Jerome (5th century AD), the connection between this jeweled breastplate and the twelve months of the year, based on the zodiac, was made.
The idea of birthstones arose that you had to own a gemstone for each zodiac sign so that you could wear the correct stone during the period of the corresponding zodiac sign. This resembles the tradition of Indian astrology (also known as Vedic or Hindu astrology), where people wear a certain stone based on their current health or challenges that play at the moment.
A birthstone is therefore the gemstone of the month in which you were born. Each month has a different birthstone and often several. This is because there are different stories of the birthstone. Each birthstone has its own unique appearance and properties. That makes the gemstone of your month meaningful and personal. It is therefore very popular to give a birthstone as a gift to someone.
