You’ve probably come across jewellery that incorporates your birthstone – the gemstone associated with your star sign or month of birth. For millennia, people have believed in the influence of the stars on the course of their lives. They have sought the advice of astrologers, avoided certain colours or numbers, and worn specific gemstones in a bid to increase good fortune and ward off bad.
But identifying your birthstone is a little more complicated than matching your star-sign with a gem. Each day, month, zodiac sign and even time is linked to a gemstone—and often more than one! Not only that, but different countries have different traditions and beliefs about the mystical role of gemstones in our lives.
The Navaratna, for example, is a piece of jewellery significant to many followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, among others. Meaning “Nine Gems” the Navaratna links each of the planets in our solar system with a gemstone and divine force. The placement of these stones within each piece of jewellery is important, and it’s not uncommon for people to seek advice from an astrologer before the stones are set.
The Navaratna Power Ring
If you’re trying to find your birthstone based on your astrological chart, you too could consult an astrologer or crystal healer! You could also look at all the stones listed for your day, month and year of birth and find any common properties. You could choose pieces featuring different stones for different situations and moods. Or, why not incorporate several of your birthstones in one piece?
Gemstones by horoscope year
Zodiac animals differ from country to country – this list gives the traditional Chinese zodiac
Year of the Rat Garnet
Year of the Ox Moonstone
Year of the Tiger Zircon
Year of the Rabbit Lapis lazuli or emerald
Year of the Dragon Lapis lazuli
Year of the Snake Diamond
Year of the Horse Ruby
Year of the Sheep Moonstone
Year of the Monkey Topaz
Year of the Rooster Garnet
Year of the Dog Emerald
Year of the Pig Lapis lazuli
Birthstones by day
Again, the stone associated with each day can vary depending on the country and belief system. In Thailand, each day has a colour associated with it, so the day’s gemstone also has that colour. This is a more general list.
Day Gem
Sunday Topaz, ruby or sunstone
Monday Moonstone, diamond or pearl
Tuesday Ruby, garnet or emerald
Wednesday Cat’s eye chrysoberyl or amethyst
Thursday Sapphire, emerald or carnelian
Friday Rose quartz, topaz, peridot
Saturday Diamond, turquoise or sapphire
Birthstones by month:
January Garnet
February Amethyst
March Aquamarine
April Diamond
May Emerald
June Alexandrite, or pearl
July Ruby
August Peridot
September Sapphire
October Tourmaline or opal
November Topaz or citrine
December Turquoise, tanzanite or Zircon
Birthstones by Zodiac sign
Aquarius Garnet
Pisces Amethyst
Ares Bloodstone
Taurus Sapphire
Gemini Agate
Cancer Emerald
Leo Onyx
Virgo Carnelian
Libra Chrysolite
Scorpio Beryl
Sagittarius Citrine
Capricorn Ruby
Kim Rix
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