The History of Birthstones

 

Blogger: Amber Schamel

 

Replica of the priestly breastplate.
Dr. Avishai  Teicher Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5

Well, we are back at May again, which means that we have studied the birthstones of all twelve months. So today, I'd like to share with you how the tradition of birthstones began. 

The tradition of gemstones associated with months of the year and constellations in the Zodiac are so old, that no one knows for sure what the origination of them are. In eastern cultures, such as Hinduism, there were gemstones associated with celestial bodies. At birth, an astronomical chart was calculated and certain stones were recommended for the child to possess or wear in order to bring good luck and prevent problems. 

Many believe that birthstones actually originate from Judaism and Christianity. When Moses brought the Hebrews out of Egypt and established the priesthood, there was a breastplate that was created for Aaron as the High Priest. This breastplate contained twelve stones, one to represent each tribe of Israel. The historian Josephus believed there was a link between these twelve stones, the twelve signs of the Zodiac and the months of the year. 

Josephus
Public Domain

"And for the twelve stones, whether we understand by them the months, or the twelve signs of what the Greeks call the zodiac, we shall not be mistaken in their meaning.” ~Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus

Saint Jerome later expounded upon Josephus' theories, and people began to associate gems with months of the year, and attribute qualities to each as well. However, it was not until a few centuries ago that people began to wear only the gemstone of their birth month. Some historians believe the practice originated in Poland in the 18th century, while others attribute it to Germany in the 1500's.

Saint Jerome by Domenico Ghirlandaio
Public Domain

Either way, the wearing of one's birthstone became increasingly popular. The list that we have today was compiled officially for the first time in 1912. The Jewelers of America association, then known as the National Association of Jewelers, met in Kansas and officially adopted a standard list to make it easier to market the gems. It has since been revised a few times, but it remains mostly the same as the 1912 list.

While it can be fun and interesting to know your birthstone, and the qualities it represents, all of these stones are beautiful, valuable, and a credit to the wearer. 

 

Below is a complete list of the birthstones by month.

January: Garnet

February: Amethyst

March: Aquamarine, bloodstone

April: Diamond

May: Emerald

June: Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite

July: Ruby

August: Peridot, Spinel

September: Sapphire

October: Opal, Tourmaline

November: Topaz, Citrine

December: Tanzanite, Turquoise, Zircon 

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain, in a small “castle” with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

History of the Aquamarine: March's birthstone

Blogger: Amber Schamel

Aquamarine
Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

March is associated with the coming of Spring, so it is very appropriate that their birthstone would be the shade of blue skies and clear water. Although, aquamarine can vary in shades from light blue, to dark blue, to a green-blue. This is one of my personal favorites, because it is the birthstone of my husband, and the gem he gave me for our anniversary.

This gem is a blue form of the beryl stone, whereas emeralds are green hues of the beryl, so they are essentially the same stone, in different colors.


Aquamarine is a name derived from two Latin words meaning "water" and "of the sea". It was named such for its color that reminds us of the peaceful waters of a clear beach, but probably also because of the beliefs associated with the gem.

This stone has been admired for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians buried their kings with beads of aquamarine. The Hebrews used the stone in the garments of the High Priest and in their temple. Ancient Romans believed the stone had the power to grant protection to fishermen and luck in their catch. Roman bridegrooms would gift the stone to their betrothed, believing that it had the ability to absorb the atmosphere of young love.

During the middle ages, this belief was expanded to include rekindling love in a marriage. Also during this era, aquamarine was believed to hold mystic powers. Many famous mystics used the gem for their crystal balls in which to divine the future, including Dr. John Dee who cast the horoscope for Queen Elizabeth I's coronation. It was also believed that aquamarine could be an antidote for poison.

For centuries, aquamarine has been a favorite of sailors, and the legends and tales surrounding the gem are vast. One of the many tales is that mermaids keep this gem in treasure chests beneath the sea and give them out to their favorite sailors to protect them against storms and other dangers of sea life.

The Dom Pedro aquamarine. Photo by Karen Neoh.
Licensed under CC By 2.0.

There are many famous pieces of aquamarine. One of the most well known is a massive fourteen-inch tall obelisk named the Dom Pedro. The stone was found by prospectors in Brazil during the 1980's, and the original piece was over three feet long, and weighed over 100 pounds. The prospectors dropped it, breaking it into three pieces. The two smaller chunks were sold and made into smaller pieces of unknown jewelry, however the largest of the three became infamous and was named after the first emperor of Brazil. The sculpture was crafted by a German artist, Bernd Munsteiner, to reflect the depths of the sea and is truly a stunning piece of art. It is currently the world's largest cut aquamarine and is housed at the National Museum of Natural History. 

The Roosevelt Aquamarine
Public Domain from the US National Archives.

Another famous piece is the Roosevelt Aquamarine. In 1936, the Brazilian President gifted a whopping 1,298-ct aquamarine to the first lady, Eleanore Roosevelt. At the time, it was the largest cut aquamarine, however it fell to second place after the discovery of the Dom Pedro mentioned above. It was never mounted into jewelry, but now belongs to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.

This beautiful gem is coveted for its tranquil and calming color and is a lovely tribute to all the people lucky enough to be born in March.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain, in a small “castle” with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

History of the Amethyst: February's Birthstone

 

Blogger: Amber Schamel

 

Necklace from South Aribia dating 2,000 B.C.
From "Gems and Gemstones: Timeless Natural Beauty of the Mineral World"
by Lance Grande and Allison Augustyn, 2009, University of Chicago Press

Happy February, everyone! And happy birthday to all those born in this blistery month. Today we get to study one of my favorite birthstones, the amethyst. This gorgeous stone comes in beautiful hues of purple, a color that has been my favorite since I was old enough to name it.

The name amethyst comes from the Greek word 'amethystos' which can be translated "not drunken". The ancient Greeks believed that the gem would prevent intoxication, allowing someone to hold their liquor with a clear head, thus, they often used the stone for wine goblets.

 The earliest findings of amethyst jewelry dates back to 2000 B.C. The piece was engraved with a South Arabian script, believed to be from the 8th century. 

Mosaic depiction of god Bacchus
Public Domain

One legend of mythology, most famously told by French poet Remy Belleau, tells the tale of Bacchus, god of intoxication, pursuing a maiden by the name of Amethyste. The damsel refused his affections and prayed to the gods to remain chaste. The chaste goddess Diana answered her prayer by turning her into a white stone. Bacchus was so inspired and humbled by Amethyste's desire to remain chaste that he poured a goblet of wine upon the stone as an offering, turning the crystals purple. This legend, and variations of it, are interesting because it indicates that perhaps the ancients knew amethyst was a purple quartz.

Today, amethyst is not as rare as other gemstones we have studied, but it still manages to avoid being "common." It can be found in every part of the world, but it is still sought after for its unique, rich color. However, it wasn't always as plenteous as it is now. Up until the 18th century, amethyst was considered a "cardinal" gem, meaning its value was equal to the diamond and other most-precious gems. It wasn't until larger sources of it were discovered in Brazil that it became available to those of us who are not among the most wealthy. 

Carving of Roman Emperor Caracalla
in Amethyst.
Public Domain

Because of its color, amethyst was a favorite of royalty around the world. It was found in Anglo-Saxon graves, Egyptian tombs, on the crown jewels of monarchs, containing images of emperors, and more.

Clergy also loved this stone, and it was used in many religious relics for several reasons. The first is that the purple was thought to represent the deity of Christ. Second, the amethyst was one of the twelve stones in the Priestly breastplate in the Old Testament. Thirdly, the stone was said to be one of the stones representing the twelve apostles. Finally, since the stone indicated the meaning "Not drunken", they felt it represented Peter's words on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:15-16, "These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel."

Some accounts say that Saint Valentine had a ring with Cupid carved into amethyst, which could be the reason it was chosen as the birthstone of February, the month of Valentine's day.

Great minds such as Leonardo De Vinci utilized the stone and believed it helped to quicken the mind and dissipate evil thoughts.

Today, amethyst is still in great demand and is used for all types of ornaments and jewelry such as rings, necklaces, rosary beads and more. The most important sources are still in Brazil.

For such a wintry month as February, a brilliant stone like Amethyst is a beautiful and welcome contrast. 

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain, in a small "castle" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!