The use of gemstones as fetishes and talismans is well established throughout history. One use that has continued and remained strong is that of birthstones. The traditional list is based on the Foundation Stones of the New Testament (Revelations 21). The Foundation Stones can be traced to the stones in the breastplate of the High Priest of Israelites (Exodus 27). Each of the twelve stones in the breastplate was inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, the foundation stones featured the names of the twelve apostles. The order of the stones coincides with the months of the year, starting with the ancient first month of March. The combination of these sources has led to today's list of birthstones.

Those who are dissatisfied with the stone established for their month of birth may have a number of alternative selections if other lists are consulted. The stones associated with a guardian angel, a patron saint or a zodiac sign may differ from the established birthstones. Lists also exist for day of the week, hour of the day, and season of the year. All of these lists have a basis in religion, tradition, or superstition.

Month	Natural Stone		Month	Natural Stone
January Capricorn	Garnet Health, Removes Negativity, Awareness, Commitment, Regeneration, Order & Insight		February Aquarius	Amethyst Contentment, Spirituality, Dreams, Healing, Peace, Happiness, Love, Intuition
March Pisces	Aquamarine Courage, Purification, Peace, Intuition, Self-Expression, Balance, Preparedness		April Aries	Diamond Courage, Strength, Healing, Protection, Spirituality, Mental Abilities
May Taurus	Emerald Love, Domestic Bliss, Sensitivity, Loyalty, Memory, Mental Capacity, Harmony, Focus		June Gemini	Pearl	Alexandrite
				Purity, Faith, Charity, Innocence, Integrity, Wisdom, Spirituality, Sincerity, Fertility
July Cancer	Ruby Nurturing, Spiritual Wisdom, Values, Economic Stability, Protection from Distress		August Leo	Peridot Warmth, Friendliness, Understanding, Openness in Love Relationships
September Virgo	Sapphire Joy, Peace, Beauty, Intuition, Prosperity, Fulfillment of Dreams		October Libra	Opal	Pink Tourmaline
				Creativity, Spontaneity, Relationships, Memory, Happy Dreams, Changes
November Scorpio	Topaz	Citrine	December Sagittarius	Zircon	Tanzanite
	True Love, Success, Understanding, Trust, Health, Personal Growth			Wisdom, Prosperity, Honor, Aids Sleep, Repels Sickness & Evil Spirits

Day	Gemstone	Phenomenal Gemstone
Sunday	Topaz	Sunstone
Monday	Pearl or Rock Crystal	Moonstone
Tuesday	Ruby or Emerald	Star Sapphire
Wednesday	Amethyst or Lodestone	Star Ruby
Thursday	Sapphire or Carnelian	Cat's-eye
Friday	Emerald or Cat's-eye	Alexandrite
Saturday	Turquoise or Diamond	Labradorite

Time AM	Gemstone	Time PM	Gemstone
1	Smoky Quartz	1	Zircon
2	Mematite	2	Emerald
3	Malachite	3	Beryl
4	Lapis-Lazuli	4	Topaz
5	Turquoise	5	Ruby
6	Tourmaline	6	Opal
7	Chrysolite	7	Sardonyx
8	Amethyst	8	Chalcedony
9	Kunzite	9	Jade
10	Sapphire	10	Jasper
11	Garnet	11	Lodestone
12 Noon	Diamond	12 Midnight	Onyx

Month	Gemstone	Guardian Angel
January	Onyx	Gabriel
February	Jasper	Barchiel
March	Ruby	Malchediel
April	Topaz	Asmodel
May	Carbuncle	Ambriel
June	Emerald	Muriel
July	Sapphire	Herchel
August	Diamond	Humatiel
September	Jacinth	Zuriel
October	Agate	Barbiel
November	Amethyst	Adnachiel
December	Beryl	Humiel

Zodiac Sign	Gemstone	Inclusive Dates
Aquarius	Garnet	January 20 - February 19
Pisces	Amethyst	February 20 - March 20
Aries	Bloodstone	March 21 - April 19
Taurus	Sapphire	April 20 - May 20
Gemini	Agate	May 21 - June 20
Cancer	Emerald	June 21 - July 22
Leo	Onyx	July 23 - August 22
Virgo	Carnelian	August 23 - September 22
Libra	Chrysolite	September 23 - October 23
Scorpio	Beryl	October 23 - November 22
Sagittarius	Topaz	November 22 - December 21
Capricorn	Ruby	December 22 - January 19

Month	Gemstone	Apostle
January	Jasper	St. Peter
February	Carbuncle	St. Andrew
March	Emerald	St. James and St. John
April	Carnelian	St. Philip
May	Chrysolite	St. Bartholomew
June	Beryl	St. Thomas
July	Topaz	St. Matthew
August	Sardonyx	St. James
September	Chrysoprase	St. Thaddeus
October	Jacinth	St. Simeon
November	Amethyst	St. Matthew
December	Sapphire	St. Paul

Spring	Emerald
Summer	Ruby
Autumn	Sapphire
Winter	Diamond

Legend and folklore have given properties to various gems and minerals. The validity of the attributes listed rests with the reader.
Agate	Worn on the upper arm by farmers to insure a good harvest. Protects and ox when worn on the right horn. Green gives relief from eye problems. If an agate that is green with stripe is washed in water and a women then drinks the water, she will never be sterile. Red protects against spiders and scorpions. Gray is worn on the neck to prevent a stiff neck.
Amber	The smell of burning amber reduces labor pains. Powdered and mixed with honey, it is used to treat eye, ear, stomach, liver, and kidney problems. Amber beads protect against rheumatism, toothache, rickets, and jaundice. Holding a amber ball will cool a victim of heat exhaustion or lower a fever.
Aquamarine	A good luck charm for sailors; symbol of happiness and everlasting youth. Water containing an aquamarine will cure eye problems, hiccups, and shortness of breath. The wearer has power to conquer all wickedness.
Amethyst	This gem protects the wearer from the effects of wine even more potent if held under the tongue while drinking. Placed under the pillow, it insures pleasant dreams, improved memory and protection against poison. The wearer of amethyst will be gentle and amiable. Quickens intelligence and makes a businessman shrewd.
Beryl	Used to treat eye and liver disease, prevents jaundice. Protects the wearer from infatuation.
Bloodstone	Stops bleeeding and preserves health and well being. Gives the wearer clairvoyance and guards against deception.
Coral	Stops bleeding; protects the wearer from poisons. Protects dogs and cats from rabies.
Diamond	Neutralizes all poisons; protects the wearer from insanity and nightmares.
Emerald	Sacred stone of the goddess Venus and of the Earth Goddess. Believed to have life, they aid in growth and increase agricultural production. Viewing an emerald soothes and refreshes the eyes. Worn to relieve the pain of childbirth.
Garnet	Protects against skin diseases, wounds, and diseases of the blood. Protects against evil and terrifying dreams. Protects the wearer from perils on a trip. Ingesting powdered red garnet relieves fever. Ingesting powdered yellow garnet cures jaundice. Used as a bullet, it inflicts a more deadly wound.
Jade	Relieves thirst, brings rain, protects against lighting. Eases pain from the kidneys and groin area, and aids in childbirth. Jade is also is said to drive off evil beasts and help warriors. Powdered jade is used as a tonic for good health and will slow decomposition in death.
Lapis Lazuli	Used to sharpen a blade, it makes the weapon invincible. Cures eye diseases, asthma, and relieves insomnia. Reduces melancholy and relieves fever.
Malachite	Reduces labor pains, protects infants and children. Soothes teeething pain.
Moonstone	Arouses tender passions in lovers. Placed in the mouth during a full moon, it allows the holder to predict the future. Protects against epilepsy and sunstroke. Cures headaches and nosebleeds. Ensures high yields in crops.
Onyx	Cut to show cicular bands of black and white, used as an eye amulet and protects against the evil eye. Otherwise, it brings nightmates and causes problems in personal relationships.
Opal	Opals possess the virtues of all other stones whose colors they contain. Named "Cupid Stone" by the Romans, it is a symbol of hope and purity. Protects from disease and gives the wearer the power of prophecy.
Pearl	The "stone" of Venus, it symbolizes purity and virtue.
Peridot	"Gem of the Sun" dissolves enchantments. Pierced and worn on a donkey hair cord around the left arm, it drives away evil spirits. Cures liver disease and dropsy. Ends night terrors and relieves the wearer of envy. In powder form a cure for asthma. Held under the tongue, it lessens thirst during fever.
Rock Crystal (Quartz)	Clear crystal is used to concentrate thought on the supernatural. Used as a sphere or crystal ball, it makes the mind receptive to the spirits. Applied to an inflamed area, it acts like a natural ice pack.
Ruby	A symbol of royality, it may give the wearer the power of life and death. Gives health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love. Worn on the left hand or left breast, it allows on to live in peace with any enemy. Prevents bleeding and heart failure.
Sapphire	Gives the wearer strengthed vision, including visions of the future. Touched against the eye, it removes impurities and restores sight. Halts black magic and evil spells. Symbol of truth and constancy.
Topaz	Worn as an amulet, drives away sadness, adds intelligence and gives courage. Mounted in gold and worn around the neck, it dispels enchantments. Powdered and drunk in wine, it cures asthma, insomnia, burns, and hemorrhages. Symbolizes friendship and true love. Becomes obscure in contact with poison. The powers increase with the fullness of the moon.
Turquoise	Protects against reptile bites, poisons, and eye diseases. Powers are increased when given as a gift. Brings spoils to warriors and many kills to the hunter. Protects agaist falls, particularly a fall from horseback Thrown into a river, it will bring rain.
Zircon	Drives away evil spirits and nightmares. Removes grief and melancholy, restore appetite and cures insomnia. Wards off lightning strikes.