

Often chosen for engagement and wedding rings, diamond has long symbolized love, marriage, and courage. Though colorless diamonds are the most popular jewelry choices, other colors, such as yellow, champagne, and brown are gaining ground. Its colors range from clear to black and every color of the rainbow in between. You can find diamonds in just about any shade imaginable.

View all March birthstone jewelryĪpril boasts the well-known diamond as its traditional and modern birthstone. “Sterling Silver Ring with Bloodstone Inlay” by Jessa and Mark Anderson. This striking green variety of chalcedony with orange and red spots had strong associations with the Crucifixion in Medieval times. The traditional March birthstone is bloodstone. Today, this stone's associations include youth, health, hope, and love. In the past, people attributed healing powers to aquamarine, especially for the heart, liver, and stomach. These delicate aquamarine and diamond earrings are perfect for that special someone born in March. Due to its hardness, a garnet makes an excellent stone for jewelry intended for daily wear. Traditionally, this gem was believed to protect people during their travels. Garnets popularly signify trust and friendship. You might even find an incredibly rare blue garnet.

However, garnets range in color from deep red and dark pink/purple to yellow, orange, and several shades of green. Although garnets are a blend of mineral species with many commonalities, the deep red variety is most associated with January. Garnet is January's traditional and modern birthstone. However, if you prefer the traditional look to the modern alternative, choose one of the ancient stones for your jewelry. Practically speaking, this makes it easier to mix different gems into one piece of modern birthstone jewelry. While traditional birthstones include a mix of transparent and opaque gems, such as opal, pearl, and turquoise, the modern list features only transparent gems. While most contemporary consumers don't typically attribute special powers to these stones, the gems do have popular meanings and associations. In the United States in 1912, the National Association of Jewelers released a list of so-called “modern birthstones.” How do Traditional and Modern Birthstone Jewelry Differ?Īlthough the lists differ somewhat, romantic gem enthusiasts in Western cultures today commonly choose birthstones from both selections. The list of so-called ancient or “traditional birthstones” originated in Poland during this time.

The modern association of one gem to each month, and the practice of wearing just the stone connected to your birth month, arose between the 16 th and 18 th centuries. Therefore, people tried to collect and wear all twelve gems throughout the year as talismans or for therapeutic benefits. Presumably, each stone offered wearers special powers during the corresponding astrological period. Jerome, in the 1 st and 5 th centuries CE respectively, began linking these gems with the signs of the zodiac. Historians believe the twelve gemstones of the breastplate of Aaron corresponded originally to the twelve tribes of Israel. However, its origin dates back to biblical times. The idea of a birthstone, a gemstone that corresponds to a person's birth month, is a relatively modern creation. By International Gem Society Chart showing a mix of modern and traditional birthstones by month.
