Birthstone Jewelry: A History

While birthstone jewelry may seem like a recent invention

, it has in fact been around for centuries. Birthstone systems, in which different months are associated with different gemstones, are common in cultures across the world.

In some traditions, birthstones have a spiritual component. The Tibetan practice of "mystical birthstones" dates back over 1000 years. In the Indian tradition of Aruveydic philosophy, which is over 1500 years old, people are assigned birthstones that correspond to their personality types.

In Europe's Middle Ages, many people believed that stones had magical properties that were linked to the signs of the Zodiac. This Medieval astrological cycle was based on the Gregorian calendar, which we still use today. It was believed that during a certain month, the magical properties of that stone were at its peak.

The faith in the magical powers of birthstones was particularly strong among Polish people in the 15th century. Among them, it was popular to own jewelry with each birthstone, rotating the 12 pieces month by month to intensify their powers.

Birthstone jewelry became tremendously popular in the 1900s as gifts. In fact, it became a key commodity for the growing jewelry industry. In 1812, the association Jewelers of America capitalized on the popularity of birthstone jewelry by standardized the birthstone system.

To standardize birthstones, the Jewelers of America made the stones of relatively equal value. For example, the birthstone of June, moonstone, was changed to the less-expensive pearl. However, moonstones still remain associated with June birthdays.

It wasn't until 1870, however, that the birthstone tradition became wildly popular. In that year, Tiffany & Co. instigated a marketing campaign that encouraged customers to gift their loved ones with birthstone jewelry on birthdays and anniversaries. They published a popular pamphlet that associated each birthstone with a particular virtue, such as "fidelity". Since then, the gift of birthstone jewelry has been an popular way to express affection to loved ones on special occasions of all kinds.

by: Tony Davis

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