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The tradition that each month of the year has a special stone dedicated to it can be traced back to the first century Jewish historian, Josephus. Each stone was believed to contain a specific virtue that related to people born in the different months. Josephus connected these stones to the twelve stones in the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:17-30). According to Josephus, the stones in the breastplate were: Sadonyx, Topazos, Samaragdos, Anthrax, jaspis, sappheiros, Liguros, Amethystos, Achates, Chrysolithos, Onyx, Beryllus. Over the years, biblical scholars have been unable to agree on the actual stones that were in Aaron’s breastplate. Different translations and interpretations of the ancient names of the stones have led to a number of changes. In the King James Version of the Bible (1611CE), the list reads Sardius, Topaz, Carbuncle, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, Ligure, Agate, Amethsy, Beryl, onyx, Jasper. In the 1963 New World Translation of the Bible, the list reads Ruby, Topaz, Carbuncle, Emerald, Sapphire, Jasper or Diamond, Hyacinth or Leshem, Agate, Amethyst, Beryl, onyx, jade. St. Jerome, one of the fathers of the Roman Catholic Church, also wrote on birthstones in the early fifth century. The tradition of wearing a birthstone came from the writings of Joseph and st. Jerome. Despite this lengthy history, the Western tradition of wearing birthstones is comparatively recent. The gemological institute of America says the custom began in Germany in about 1562.19 other sources believe it began in eighteenth century Poland.20 In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it seems people had a set of twelve stones, one for each month, and wore the correct stone for the month in order to receive the qualities and therapeutic benefits of that particular stone. Gradually, people started wearing the birthstone that related to their month of birth. The foundation Stones listed in Revelation 21:19-20 replaced the earlier stones of the breastplate. This provided a new listing of stones, but one which has little resemblance to the stones of the month worn today: March-Jasper April-Sapphire May-Chalcedony June-Emerald July-Sardonyx August-Sardius September-Chrysolyte October-Beryl November-Topaz December-Chrysoprasus January-Jacinth February-Amethyst The new list of birthstones started with March, following the Roman calendar (despite the Julian calendar in use during the sixteenth century). Over time, people in different parts of the world developed a variety of lists, often based on the gems that were available locally. To end the confusions, and no doubt also to capitalize on the interest in birth stones, the National Association of jewelers created their own list in 1912: January-Garnet February-Amethyst March-Bloodstone or Aquamarine April-Diamond May-Emerald June-Pearl or Moonstone July-Ruby August-Sardonyx or Peridot September-Sapphire October-opal or Tourmaline November-Topaz December-Turquoise or Lapis Lazuli Not everyone agreed with this list, and various trade groups drew up their own lists. The National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain created a new list in 1937. The jewelry Industry Council in the United States accepted this list in 1952. Consequently, the list that most people accept today is not much more than half a century old: January-Garnet February-Amethyst March-Aquamarine or Bloodstone April-Diamond or Rock Crystal May-Emerald June-Pearl, Moonstone (Also Alexandrite in U.S.A) July-Ruby August-Peridot or Sardonyx September-Sapphire (Also Lapis Lazuli in U.K.) October-Opal (Also Pink Tourmaline in U.S.A) November-Topaz (Also Citrine in U.S.A) December-Turquoise (Also Zircon in U.S.A) Despite all the changes that have occurred since Josephus first wrote about them, wearing the birthstone of your month of birth is still believed to produce good luck for the wearer. One superstition says its bad luck to wear a stone that is not connected with your month of birth. This is particularly the case with opal, which is believed to provide good luck for people born in October, but bad luck for everyone else.
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Birthstone Aquamarine, Birthstone Diamond, Birthstone Emerald, Birthstone Moonstone, Birthstone Pearl, Birthstone Sapphire., Birthstone Turquoise,
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