286286 LUCKY BIRTHSTONES
Lucky birthstones
E
ach of the 12 signs of the zodiac has long been associated
with a gem, which is thought to strike a chord with the character
of someone born under that sign, and so bring the person
good luck. Later, the gemstones were linked to months rather than
astrological signs. The major stones occur in most cultures, though
how they are assigned can vary. In this modern set of European
associations, March can also be linked to bloodstone; moonstone is
an alternative to pearl for June; sardonyx is lucky for August and topaz
for November, while turquoise can be a December birthstone.January – Garnet
Garnet was associated with January
in the ancient Ayurvedic tradition, as
well as in modern Western lists.February – Amethyst
Associated with royalty and wine,
amethyst is the birthstone for
February in modern and ancient lists.March – Aquamarine
In 1952, aquamarine was
designated as March’s birthstone.
It is said to bring calm.April – Diamond
Assigned to April in the modern
tradition, diamond is also said
to improve relationships for those
with April birthdays.May – Emerald
Western birthstone
tradition has roots in
the Bible, which links
gemstones, including
emerald, to zodiac signs.June – Pearl
Pearl, representing purity, is the
most traditional gem for June,
but moonstone and alexandrite
are also popular.286-287_FEA_Birthstones.indd 286 19/05/2016 14:44