Birthstones

About

Study on Birthstones as they are listed in a various cultures, texts, websites, etc.

To do

Collect sources and basic info.
Images, background.

Goals

Summarize findings, categorized by claim, source, cultures, eras.

Findings

Individual claims

January

Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry; A New Year's Day feast including Jean de Berry.

Garnets /ˈɡɑːrnət/ are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. The word garnet comes from 14th‑century Middle English word gernet meaning 'dark red,' from the Latin granatus, from granum ('grain, seed') + suffix atus, possibly a reference to mela granatum or even pomum granatum ('pomegranate',^[1] scientific name: Punica granatum), a plant whose fruits contain abundant and vivid red arils, are similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals.^[2]

Garnet is said to be symbolic of desire.^[3]

Called the "traditional birthstone" of January in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] Garnet is listed as the birthstone in It Happens in the Month of January, a book series described as "everything you ever wanted to know about each month."^[5] It is also listed as Garnet in the 2013 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001 to Date,^[6] in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.^[8] The word "Emerald" is derived (via Old French: Esmeraude and Middle English: Emeraude), from Vulgar Latin: Esmaralda/Esmaraldus, a variant of Latin Smaragdus, which originated in Greek: σμάραγδος (smaragdos; "green gem").^[9]

Emerald is listed is the "mystical birthstone" in From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic, and History.^[10]

Rose quartz is considered the "secondary birthstone" of January in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

February

Amethyst is said to be associated with good luck, humor, and health.^[3]

Amethyst is called the "traditional birthstone" of February in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] and is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[7] It is also listed in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Onyx is considered the "secondary birthstone" of February in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

March

Aquamarine is associated with comprehension and happiness.^[3]

It is called the "traditional birthstone" of March in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] and it is also listed in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Bloodstone is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[7] It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of March in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

April

Diamond is associated with desire and connection.^[3]

Diamond is called the "traditional birthstone" of April in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Crystal quartz is considered the "secondary birthstone" of April in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

May

Emerald

Emerald is called the "traditional birthstone" of May in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4] It is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Chrysoprase

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of May in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

June

Agate

Agate is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[7]

Pearl

Pearl is called the "traditional birthstone" of June in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] and it is listed in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Moonstone

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of June in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

July

Ruby

Ruby is called the "traditional birthstone" of July in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4] It is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Carnelian

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of July in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

August

Peridot

Peridot is called the "traditional birthstone" of August in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] and it is listed in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Sardonyx

Sardonyx is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[7] It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of August in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

September

Sapphire

Sapphire is called the "traditional birthstone" of September in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4] It is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Lapis Lazuli

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of September in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

October

Opal

Opal is called the "traditional birthstone" of October in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] It is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Pink tourmaline

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of October in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

November

Topaz

Topaz is called the "traditional birthstone" of November in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] and is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[7]

Lemon quartz

Citrine, a type of quartz, is listed as the birthstone in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3] It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of November in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

December

Turquoise

Turquoise is called the "traditional birthstone" of December in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects,^[4] It is listed as the birthstone in an 1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.,^[7] and in an astrology based cook-book Romance Cooking: Unlocking the Secrets of Seducing Mars Or Venus.^[3]

Blue topaz

It is considered the "secondary birthstone" of December in Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects.^[4]

Full claims

Claim	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
1870 pamphlet by Tiffany & Co.^[11]	Garnet	Amethyst	Bloodstone	Diamond	Emerald	Agate	Ruby	Sardonyx	Sapphire	Opal	Topaz	Turquoise
Judaism^[12]	Garnet	Amethyst	Jasper	Sapphire	Chaldedony Carnelian Agate	Emerald	Onyx	Carnelian	Chrysolite	Aquamarine	Topaz	Ruby
Romans^[12]	Garnet	Amethyst	Bloodstone	Sapphire	Agate	Emerald	Onyx	Carnelian	Sardonyx	Aquamarine	Topaz	Ruby
Isidore Bishop of Seville^[12]	Hyacinth	Amethyst	Jasper	Sapphire	Agate	Emerald	Onyx	Carnelian	Chrysolite	Aquamarine	Topaz	Ruby
Arabians^[12]	Garnet	Amethyst	Bloodstone	Sapphire	Emerald	Agate Chalcedony Pearl	Carnelian	Sardonyx	Chrysolite	Aquamarine	Topaz	Ruby
Poles^[12]	Garnet	Amethyst	Bloodstone	Diamond	Emerald	Agate Chalcedony	Ruby	Sardonyx	Sardonyx	Aquamarine	Topaz	Turquoise
Russians^[12]	Garnet Hyacinth	Amethyst	Jasper	Sapphire	Emerald	Agate Chalcedony	Ruby Sardonyx	Alexandrite	Chrysolite	Beryl	Topaz	Turquoise Chrysoprase
Italians^[12]	Jacinth Garnet	Amethyst	Jasper	Sapphire	Agate	Emerald	Onyx	Carnelian	Chrysolite	Beryl	Topaz	Ruby
15th to 20th Century^[12]	Garnet	Amethyst Hyacinth Pearl	Jasper Bloodstone	Diamond Sapphire	Emerald Agate	Cat's-eye Turquoise Agate	Turquiose Onyx	Sardonyx Carnelian Moonstone Topaz	Chrysolite	Beryl Opal	Topaz Pearl	Ruby Bloodstone

References

Citations

↑ Pomengranate.
↑ Garnet.
↑ ^3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 ^3.10 ^3.11 ^3.12 ^3.13 ^3.14 ^3.15 Lynch 2008, p. 120.
↑ ^4.00 ^4.01 ^4.02 ^4.03 ^4.04 ^4.05 ^4.06 ^4.07 ^4.08 ^4.09 ^4.10 ^4.11 ^4.12 ^4.13 ^4.14 ^4.15 ^4.16 ^4.17 ^4.18 ^4.19 ^4.20 ^4.21 ^4.22 ^4.23 Easy Birthstone Jewelry 2008, p. 5.
↑ Jackson 2002, The January Birthstone.
↑ Cuhaj & Michael 2012, p. 174.
↑ ^7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 Cummings Farrington 1903, pp. 63–64.
↑ Hurlburt & Kammerling 1991, p. 203.
↑ Emerald.
↑ Morgan 2007, p. 171.
↑ Cummings Farrington 1903, pp. 63-64.
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 ^12.2 ^12.3 ^12.4 ^12.5 ^12.6 ^12.7 Kunz 1913, p. 315.

Sources

Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr.; Kammerling, Robert C. (1991), Gemology, New York: John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0471526673
Easy Birthstone Jewelry: 38 Exciting Projects, Kalmbach Publishing Company, 2008, ISBN 9780871162557
Cuhaj, George S.; Michael, Thomas (2012), 2013 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001 to Date, Krause Publications, ISBN 9781440229657
Morgan, Diane (2007), From Satan's Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic, and History, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780275991234
Jackson, Ellen (2002), It Happens in the Month of January, Charlesbridge Publishing, ISBN 9781607340508
Cummings Farrington, Oliver (1903), Gems and Gem Minerals, A. W. Mumford, OCLC 1825362
Kunz, George Frederick (1913), The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, J. B. Lippincott Company, OCLC 1047644

Online sources

pomengranate, Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 25 January 2012
garnet, Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 25 January 2012
garnet, Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 26 January 2012

[FOOTNOTEPomengranate-1] Pomengranate.

[FOOTNOTEGarnet-2] Garnet.

[FOOTNOTELynch2008120-3] 3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 ^3.10 ^3.11 ^3.12 ^3.13 ^3.14 ^3.15 Lynch 2008, p. 120.

[FOOTNOTEEasy_Birthstone_Jewelry20085-4] 4.00 ^4.01 ^4.02 ^4.03 ^4.04 ^4.05 ^4.06 ^4.07 ^4.08 ^4.09 ^4.10 ^4.11 ^4.12 ^4.13 ^4.14 ^4.15 ^4.16 ^4.17 ^4.18 ^4.19 ^4.20 ^4.21 ^4.22 ^4.23 Easy Birthstone Jewelry 2008, p. 5.

[FOOTNOTEJackson2002The_January_Birthstone-5] Jackson 2002, The January Birthstone.

[FOOTNOTECuhajMichael2012174-6] Cuhaj & Michael 2012, p. 174.

[FOOTNOTECummings_Farrington190363–64-7] 7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 Cummings Farrington 1903, pp. 63–64.

[FOOTNOTEHurlburtKammerling1991203-8] Hurlburt & Kammerling 1991, p. 203.

[FOOTNOTEEmerald-9] Emerald.

[FOOTNOTEMorgan2007171-10] Morgan 2007, p. 171.

[FOOTNOTECummings_Farrington190363-64-11] Cummings Farrington 1903, pp. 63-64.

[FOOTNOTEKunz1913315-12] 12.0 ^12.1 ^12.2 ^12.3 ^12.4 ^12.5 ^12.6 ^12.7 Kunz 1913, p. 315.

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