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The concept of birthstones has its beginnings in the time of Moses. According to the Book of Exodus, Aaron, the brother of Moses, was tasked with being the first High Priest of the twelve tribes of Israel. When on the job, Aaron was bid to wear a special breastplate designed by God Himself, upon which was set twelve gemstones, each representing one of the twelve tribes. They are as follows:

Judah (sardius) Issachar (topaz) Zebulon (carbuncle) Reuben (emerald) Simeon (sapphire) Gad (diamond) Ephraim (ligure) Manasseh (agate) Benjamin (amethyst) Dan (beryl) Asher (onyx) Naphtali (jasper)

In a not so surprising turn of events, it is generally understood that at some point the world of Astrology took numerological meaning from these twelve gemstones and subsequently connected them with both the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the calendar year, respectively. Believing that mystical properties could be attributed to each gemstone, a tradition was born.

Initially, only the wealthy elite were in possession of "birthstones", owning the entire set and wearing them interchangeably, each during its corresponding month. As the eighteenth century dawned however, a new tradition came to life. It being economically prohibitive for the proletariat at large to have expensive sets of jewelry, the custom of wearing only the stone that corresponded with one's month of birth was adopted. And thus began the tradition of birthstones in true.

This traditional list of birthstones continued up until 1912, when in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Jewelers created a modern list which is now the most common and widely utilized here in North America. This list, along with the common associations of each birthstone is as follows:

January (garnet): While naturally occurring in a wide variety of colors, a garnet is most often red. As such, it is linked to blood and is believed to protect its wearer against physical illness.

February (amethyst): This purple form of quartz is associated with mental clarity and emotional well being. It is believed to be a stress reliever as well, bringing a state of tranquility to its wearer.

March (aquamarine): Meaning "water of the sea", this slightly turquoise colored gem is known as a protector of sailors. It is also associated with good health, granting its wearer a higher degree of physical vigor.

April (diamond): The hardest natural material known to man, a diamond is a symbol of pure and undying love.

May (emerald): This famous

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