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Birthstones have enjoyed a renaissance as popular items of jewelry to give as gifts for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, the stones being chosen to correspond to the birth month. The motivation for many people goes far beyond the innate beauty of the stone itself.

History and folklore associated to the birthstone has captured the imagination of humans for centuries, ensuring these sparkling jewels and gems a place in the hearts and minds of people the world over.

During the Middle Ages, fortune-tellers chose a gem for each month of the year, encouraging people to wear the gem of their birth month, supposedly to protect the wearer from harm.

The Encyclopedia Britannica informs us that the birthstone is "a gemstone associated with the date of one's birth, the wearing of which is commonly thought to bring good luck or health. Supernatural powers have long been attributed by astrologers to certain gemstones".

The wearing of birthstones has become extremely popular again as people discover for the first time that there is a precious gem associated with the month of their birth. The stone becomes a must have item when choosing jewelry for casual wear or perhaps even when buying engagement, wedding or eternity rings.

The general belief today is the same as it was in centuries past, that your particular gemstones will somehow have an effect on your personality or life course and can even serve as some kind of protection.
The mysticism attached to birthstones is one of the major attractions and becomes even more attractive, if the stone happens to be a personal favorite of the wearer due to it's color.

There is some debate as to the official list of the gems in relation to the month but most sources would point to the list below as being as near official as you can get.

January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond
May - Emerald
June - Pearl
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire
October - Opal
November - Topaz
December - Turquoise

This list is by no means exhaustive as there are other stones considered to be alternatives on specific months.

Those who choose to own or wear birthstones normally do so in an effort to ensure their lives are protected in some fashion by the powers believed to be contained therein.
Others simply love the look and color of a particular gemstone, this being enough reason to make a certain birthstone part of their collection.

Birthstones are a product of legend, folklore and history that have continued to be an attraction for people in the twenty-first century who attach some relevance to the stones use in their life.
Whatever you think of the alleged powers of birthstones, one thing is certain. They make up a collection of beautiful gems that any woman would love to see in her jewelry box.

Learn more about this author, JC Campbell.
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