Birthstones:  Objects of beauty, power, mythology...*
by Martha Stewart

   Since ancient times, the 12 gemstones that we attach to our modern calendar year have been worshipped as objects of great power.
   The early Persians believed that the sapphire was a chip from the pedestal on which the Earth balanced and that reflections from it produced the color of the sky.  Cleopatra ground pearls into her wine and drank the mixture, believing she was drinking in their beauty.
   Our association of specific stones with months of the year can be traced - in one commonly accepted explanation - to the gems affixed to the holy breast-plate of Aaron, brother of the Israelites from Egypt.
   Whatever their significance, the custom of wearing birthstones as jewelry originated in Poland in the 1700s.  In the early 20th century in the United States, the National Association of Jewelers adopted our modern birthstone calendar.

What is a gemstone

   Birthstones, and all gems, are quite literally pieces of the Earth, which have been shaped over time.  They are classified by the minerals that make them up.
   Diamonds, for example, are composed of carbon.  The corundum group, which includes ruby and sapphire, are crystals of aluminum oxide.
   Gemstones get their color from the way they absorb waves of light.  If all wavelengths are absorbed by a gemstone, that stone appears colorless.  Impurities can cause variations in the way a stone absorbs light; that's why so many stones come in a wide range of dazzling hues.

Birthstone calendar

   This birthstone calendar includes a bit of mineralogy, as well as some of the myths and lore surrounding each stone.

January:  Garnet.
   This stone gets its name from the Latin word for pomegranate, since its crystals often resemble the fruit's deep red color and seeds.  But garnets come in many colors and can even be colorless.
   Garnets are thought to protect sleepers from nightmares and travelers from danger.

February:  Amethyst.
   This gem is made of quartz, the second-most abundant mineral on Earth.  Its color ranges from wine purple to pale lilac; the deep shades are most valuable.
   According to mythology, Diana, goddess of the hunt, turned a maiden named Amethyst into quartz, saving her from Dionysus, god of wine.  His tears stained her purple.  The stone is thought to represent sobriety.

March:  Aquamarine (alternative: Bloodstone).
   Aquamarine gets its blue color from iron; its crystals can grow as large as 200 pounds.  Bloodstone, sometimes called heliotrope or blood jasper, is opaque quartz with flecks of red from iron.
   Aquamarine is thought to protect ocean voyages, guard against sea monsters and soothe marital discord.  Bloodstone signifies martyrdom.

April:  Diamond.
   The hardest natural substance on Earth, a diamond's colors range from clear to sooty black.  Ancient cultures believed the gems were crystal lightning, splinters of stars and tears of the gods.

May:  Emerald.
   This green stone is often fragile, due to fissures and fractures.  Transparent gems are extremely rare.
   The emerald is a symbol of rebirth and romance.  It is thought to soothe the soul, sharpen wit-and change color upon infidelity.

June:  Pearl (alternatives:  Moonstone, Alexandrite).
   The pearl is formed inside the shell of a mollusk from an irritant coated with calcium carbonate.  Pearls vary widely in color and shape.
   Moonstones can be semitransparent to opaque; alexandrites are very rare and are known for chameleon like color changes.
   The pearl is the Chinese symbol of wealth, power and longevity.  Hindus believed that moonstones were bits of moonbeams.

July:  Ruby.
   Second only to diamonds in hardness, rubies can be even more valuable, especially when they are large and of high quality.  The red stone is a symbol of wealth, health, wisdom, passion and the triumph of love.  It is also said to bring good luck to gamblers.

August:  Period (alternative:  Onyx).
   Peridot is a green stone with an oily luster.  It is sometimes called the "evening emerald."  Onyx is an opaque quartz.
   Peridot is an amulet against night terrors.  Onyx, carved with images of Mars, the god of war, supposedly gave Roman soldiers courage.

September:  Sapphire.
   A gem belonging to the corundum family, sapphire can be any color but red (red corundum is ruby).  Blue gems are the finest.
   Considered a symbol and guardian of purity, the stone has been worn by clergy to avoid temptation.

October:  Opal (alternative:  Tourmaline).
   Opal is a fragile stone of silica and water.  Tourmaline has many colors and can even be multi-colored within a single stone.
   Opals symbolize magic, love and hope.  Some believe that wearing them is unlucky for those not born in October.  Tourmaline is said to protect against bad decisions.

November:  Topaz (alternative:  Citrine).
   Trace minerals create topaz gems in colors from blue to green to pink, sherry and even black.  Citrine is an affordable, yellow-orange gem.
   Topaz is the sun jewel.  It reminded the Egyptians of Ra and the Romans of Jupiter.  It is thought to improve eyesight and break spells.  Citrine is believed to guard against snake venom and evil thoughts.

December:  Turquoise (alternative:  Zircon).
   Turquoise, a gem mined in arid and semiarid lands, ranges in color from blue to green.  Zircon is fiery and has a wide range of colors.
   In the third century, turquoise was thought to protect its owner from falling off a horse.  To Native Americans, it embodies the blue of heaven and green of Earth.  Zircon is thought to heal disease and bring sound sleep.

*The Press Democrat, Saturday, December 28, 2002.  Write to Martha Stewart, care of the New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, NY  10168 or email  mstewart@marthastewart.com.