From the fiery garnet of January to the serene turquoise of December, learn how to find your birthstone and unlock the hidden meanings behind these precious stones with our guide to birthstone jewellery. Each month of the year is represented by a unique gemstone, which has become associated with positive traits and attributes over the centuries, so elevate your personal style and forge a deeper connection to your identity with your birthstone.
Birthstone Jewellery
The notion of assigning specific stones to the months of the year holds a unique place in cultural traditions across the world, blending historical significance and meaning with personal expression. Rather than originating in one specific culture, the concept of birthstones originated organically around the world from the ancient idea that gemstones carry specific powers and meanings. This eventually developed into assigning specific stones to the twelve zodiac signs and their respective months, and today each month is represented by a distinct gemstone. Wearing one’s birthstone is believed to bring good fortune, health, and protection, and it’s a deeply personal choice that offers a way to connect with your birth month, personal identity, and style.
So, looking to find your birthstone and unlock its deeper meaning? Here are the different birthstones for the year, and it may surprise you to know that there are more than 12.
January: Garnet
Garnet is typically a deep red colour, but it can come in a variety of colours including green, orange, yellow, and purple. It is traditionally given as a gift that symbolises protection, friendship and trust, and represents all forms of human love and connection, including romantic partnerships and friendships.
February: Amethyst
A similarly striking hue, amethyst is known for its distinctive purple colour, which ranges from light lilac to deep violet, and crystalised appearance. This gemstone also represents love, and has also come to symbolise purity of spirit, calmness, and wisdom, and is thought to bring clarity of mind to the wearer.
March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine is available in a beautiful range of blue hues, and is most commonly known for its light ocean blue. Symbolising serenity, clarity, and harmony, aquamarine is believed to soothe and calm the nerves, and is associated with the tranquillity and depth of the ocean.
April: Diamond
Diamonds, the hardest gemstone, are typically clear or colourless but can be found in a variety of colours including yellow, pink, blue, and black. Alongside their worldwide connotations of wealth, clarity, and luxury, diamonds are also known for signifying everlasting love and courage, and are a universal symbol of romantic love and commitment.
May: Emerald
Emeralds are an instantly recognisable stone, known for their vibrant green colours, and are thought to represent success, rebirth, and reinvention, as well as granting the wearer foresight, good fortune, and wisdom.
June: Pearl & Alexandrite
June is the first month of the year that has a range of birthstones, allowing those born in June to choose a stone that most aligns with their preferences. Whilst pearls have a classic smooth lustre and come in shades of white and cream, alexandrite is a dynamic stone that changes colour depending on the type of light that it refracts. Both gemstones represent unique and different traits, with pearls long being associated with purity, innocence, and simplicity, whilst alexandrite represents changing dynamics and balance.
July: Ruby
Rubies are valued for their deep red colour, which is often associated with passion and vitality. The intense emotions and meanings associated with this vibrant stone include love, energy, and romantic passion, and it is thought to bring the wearer good fortune, intense emotions, and successful romantic connections.
August: Peridot
A more subtle green gemstone, peridot is known for its light green colour, which can range from yellowish-green to olive green. This peaceful and subtly hued stone symbolises strength, inner peace, and happiness, and is believed to protect the wearer from nightmares or emotional turmoil.
September: Sapphire
Sapphires are most commonly found in a range of blue shades but are most widely recognised for their intense dark blue. Representing wisdom, virtue, and good fortune, sapphires are believed to bring protection and spiritual insight, and their connotations of royalty and nobility have also led to their implications of sincerity, trustworthiness, and protection from harm.
October: Opal & Tourmaline
Opals show a play-of-colour in a variety of shades, whilst tourmaline is available in a lot of different colours. Both have calming properties and, depending upon the colour of tourmaline worn, offer a range of meanings. Across the majority of its different colours and iterations, tourmaline is associated with healing, strength, and protection, whilst opal symbolises hope, faithfulness, and truth.
November: Topaz & Citrine
Topaz is available in many different shades, but the most common for November is yellow or orange, whilst citrine ranges from pale yellow to burnt orange. Known as the ‘healing quartz’, citrine symbolises vitality and physical health, whilst topaz centres around increased strength and intellect, as well as offering the wearer good luck in love.
December: Turquoise & Tanzanite & Zircon
December’s birthstones – turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon – offer a vibrant spectrum of blues that encapsulate the serenity, depth, and mystique of winter’s colour palette. Turquoise, with its distinctive blue-green hues, symbolises wisdom and protection, and tanzanite, a relatively recent discovery, dazzles in shades of deep blue to violet and represents transformation and healing. Finally, zircon, available in a variety of colours but celebrated for its striking blue tones in December, is believed to bring prosperity and wisdom.
Personal Style and Birthstone Jewellery
Your birthstone is more than just a beautiful gem; it is a universally known and widely loved means of expressing individuality and personal history. So, take the time this year to explore and embrace the distinctive qualities of your birthstone, letting it enhance your personal style and bring positive energy into your life.
If you are looking to discover pieces of jewellery that showcase your birthstone’s meaning and compliment your fashion tastes, or commission your own exquisite collection of birthstone jewellery, dive into the vibrant world of birthstones at Allen Brown Jewellery and let your gemstone tell a story as unique as you are.