Many of us habitually scroll through the daily horoscopes while sipping our morning teas. It fills us with excitement to know what the day has to offer us, even though the predictions might contradict one another. Some of us even visit astrologers to get our futures predicted, find out if there is any impending fear, or resolve any ongoing jeopardy. And as a result, many a time, a zodiac stone is offered as a key to it all. But then, a thought pops into our minds: How is a zodiac stone different from a birthstone or gemstone? Or, in simpler terms, how do birthstones, gemstones, and zodiac stones differ from one another?
This article will undoubtedly interest you if you are also baffled by this question. Though initially, you might not find a difference when separating birthstones by zodiac, in reality, the three of them are different in a great sense.
But before that, let us get some idea about the origin of the birthstone and how it is associated with gemstones or zodiac signs.
From Where Did the Birthstone Originate?
Many gem scholars trace the origins of the birthstone back to the days of the Bible or the breastplate of Aaron in particular. Aaron is often regarded as 'Aaron the Priest,' the brother of Moses and also the first High Priest of the Israelites.
The breastplate was a ceremonial, auspicious, religious garment studded with 12 gemstones, each representing the twelve tribes of Israel. According to the Biblical statement, each of the 12 breastplates was supposed to be carved out of specific minerals, each having an individualistic nature. Each of the 12 stones portrayed specific tribes with names engraved on the stone.
If you are curious about the history of birthstones, you can study it from the Book of Exodus, an ancient text penned around 600 and 400 BC.
There was an alternative interpretation regarding the origination of the birthstone when in the 5th century, a Biblical scholar named St Jerome offered a contrasting idea that the 12 gemstones and crystals could depict each of the 12 months. Nevertheless, it was in the 17th century that the idea of wearing the gemstone attributed to your birth month was recommended.
Birthstone vs. Gemstone
Having a concrete idea about the difference between birthstones and gemstones is essential. This article will guide you throughout your stone-buying process. Let us start understanding the fundamental differences between birthstones and gemstones.
To understand the differences better, it is important to have definitions. A gemstone that is emblematic of your birth month is a birthstone. The birth period is usually the month of birth or the zodiac timeframe. In simpler terms, birthstones are primarily gemstones connected with a person's birth month.
These stones are believed to shower numerous benefits or energies on the wearer. Each gemstone and crystal offers specific energy. For instance, the birthstone for January is the garnet because it boosts health and vitality for all born in January.
On the other hand, a gemstone can be described as a precious or semi-precious stone that is majorly polished and one-cut. It is also used in jewelry-making. After considering both definitions, a common question is: Can all gemstones be considered birthstones? Well, mostly. The most popular gemstones are named main or alternative birthstones or zodiac stones. However, some are not birthstones. Gemstones not derived as birth crystals are quite limited. For instance, musgravite is found in a tiny Australian area offering finite specimens.
Then comes the question: Can all birthstones be considered gemstones? This is a slightly complicated question. The majority of birthstones are gemstones, but there is still ambiguity. For example, the birthstone amber is not a crystal but a fossilized tree resin. While certain researchers consider it to be a gemstone, some don't. Similar examples are pearl and obsidian, which are quite ambiguous.
Birthstone vs. Zodiac Stone
Here comes another major topic of discussion: How is a birthstone different from a zodiac stone? While most people consider both to be the same, they aren't. Zodiac stones are related to a specific zodiac; on the other hand, birthstones are associated with a person's birth month.
The main aims behind wearing zodiac stones are to energize and secure yourself from different dangers. For instance, the Aries stone is believed to boost power and courage. Therefore, if you are an Aries, you might consider wearing a crystal stone or two to empower yourself against all odds. Some famous stones associated with Aries are aquamarine, bloodstone, and jasper.
Now, coming to birthstones. They can be defined as gemstones related to the wearer's birth month. Like zodiac stones, birthstones emit certain energies that are supposed to benefit the wearer in different ways.
Notably, there are numerous birthstones common in both month and zodiac lists. For instance, the emerald is the birthstone for May, but also a Sagittarius zodiac stone.
All in all, you can recognize birthstones by zodiac since a zodiac stone is a birthstone determined according to the zodiac sign of the wearer.
Birthstones for Each Month with Their Meanings
After quite an illustrative discussion about birthstones by zodiac, and crystal and stone, let us gather some information about birthstones for each month and what they mean.
#1 January: Garnet
The month of January has certain attributes associated with it. They are faith, truth, and eternity. Garnet is a stone that is beneficial for people born in January. This stone fills the wearer with friendliness, humanity, honesty, loyalty, and originality. It is a deep red stone with a powerful glint.
#2 February: Amethyst
The month of February goes hand in hand with traits like honesty, wisdom, and peace. People born in February will benefit from wearing amethyst since it makes them creative, liable, benevolent, considerate, and selfless. Amethyst comes in different shades of purple. It can be clear or cloudy.
#3 March: Aquamarine
Aquamarine comes in calming blur or cyan. It looks like a little piece of the sky or a drop of water from a sunlit ocean. This crystal stone is worn to maintain a serene temperament and can bestow the capacity to foresee future events.
#4 April: Diamond
The costliest of the lot, diamonds are great for people born in April. These stones are undoubtedly expensive, but with this stone, you also might get purity, love, innovation, self-esteem, and power. Diamonds range from colorless to canary yellow. Lab created black diamonds are also a stunning option that lends the wearer an air of mystery and depth.
#5 May: Emerald
People born in May have emeralds as their birthstone. The deep green hue is fascinating, and the stone brings good luck and protection against jeopardy. Emeralds represent life and vitality. As they are green, they help you attune your senses to the natural world.
#6 June: Pearl/Alexandrite
June is among those rare months that get two birthstones (alexandrite and pearl). Pearl is a product of mollusks and is said to foster integrity and affection. Pearls are mostly round and come in colors like white, cream, pink, and gray. Alexandrite comes in numerous colors, like grey, red, and green, and is said to ensure prosperity in health. Some alexandrite stones have galactic colors like green, purple, and blue in them, giving them an otherworldly appearance.
#7 July: Ruby
Rubies are gorgeous stones with their glistening red-wine appearance. They are often worn to experience love and secure power. As red is a color associated with love, rubies make perfect gifts for a beloved person.
#8 August: Peridot
Peridot was perceived to have been one of the original stones in Aaron's breastplate and is often recommended for releasing stress. It is the color of fresh, sunkissed grass.
#9 September: Sapphire
Sapphire is the birthstone of people born in September. It is believed to offer protection from negativities and increase mental clarity. This birthstone is often considered an embodiment of grace. Most commonly, sapphires come in various shades of blue. However, there are also pink, yellow, and orange sapphires.
#10 October: Opal
People born in October have the dazzling opal as their birthstone. It is said to boost reflection, wisdom, and inner peace. Every opal is unique in its color. The fire of the stone looks like neon lights or an aurora borealis.
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#11 November: Yellow Topaz
November's birthstone is the warm, yellow topaz. This birthstone is believed to shower wearers with wisdom, sincerity, and courage.
#12 December: Tanzanite, Turquoise, and Blue Zircon
December is unique compared to other months as it has three separate birthstones: tanzanite, turquoise, and blue zircon. Zircon and turquoise have protective properties and boost wisdom and wealth.
Wrapping Up
It can be tricky to comprehend the purity of the birthstones by zodiac since different people and websites claim different things. Before buying, it is essential to know the stones' characteristics, unique features, and prices. If there is one place that can guarantee an authentic, credible, and affordable stone, it is Diamondrensu. We have a vast catalog to choose from, and that too at reasonable prices.
