Birthstones have an interesting history. Most sources agree that they got their start in the Middle East, where the powerful properties inherent in gemstones have long been acknowledged.

Gemstones became associated first with the Zodiac and then with the months of the year. The custom of wearing birthstones seems to have originated in Poland during the late Middle Ages or Early Renaissance.

On August 12, 1912 the American National Retail Jewelers' Association decided on a list of birthstones for each month. They have added to or changed the list according to current trends or commercial viability. In 1938 the American Gem Society adopted the following list for usage among its members. This list remains is common use today.

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January - Garnet Said to lift spirits, garnets are one of the least expensive semi-precious stones. Deeper red garnets are generally more valuable than paler red garnets.	February - Amethyst Linked to the Greek god of wine, this purple quartz crystal is generally a moderately priced stone. The most expensive are the deep purple stones, with the least costly being lavender in color.
March - Aquamarine Blue aquamarines are said to make wishes come true. Color variations relate directly to price with the brilliant sky-blue stones being highly prized and the water-blue ones less costly.	April - Diamond Symbolic of love, joy and courage, the diamond is sparkly and incredibly hard and was once thought to possess magical powers. The least expensive diamonds are tiny pointers and are measured in fractions of a carat.
May - Emerald Associated with spring, healing and new life, a fine-quality emerald can be more expensive than a diamond. The bright green emeralds are the most costly; pale or cloudy ones are less expensive.	June - Pearls Unlike other gems, they are the product of living beings. Mollusks found in the lakes, rivers, and oceans of the world all produce "pearls". To learn more.
July - Ruby Associated with power and strength, the richer, darker rubies are referred to as 'pigeon's blood' and are the rarest and most expensive. Brownish-red or pale rubies can be far less costly.	August - Peridot These stones are considered talismans of protection, courage and power. Price is dictated by size. The large ones are very rare and thus more costly; the smaller ones are plentiful and affordable.
September - Sapphire Considered a good-luck gem, it is the least expensive precious stone. Burma and Ceylon blue sapphires are the most expensive; with the best priced sapphires being yellow, pink, orange, purple, green or white.	October - Opal These gems are said to inspire excitement and passion. Often they are white, but black, blue and orange can be found as well. Ones that glow red are the most expensive, and blue or green hues are less costly.
November - Citrine The sunny color of this stone is linked to cheer and well-being. It is a glassy variety of quartz and is considered very affordable. The most sought-after color is yellowish-brown; however other desirable colors are yellow, red and rich orange.	December - Turquoise Historical references suggest that the stone was believed to have healing properties, to have promoted good fortune, to have offered protection from falls in humans, and to have provided sure-footing for animals. To learn more.

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