Nina Designs just introduced an adorable new line of birthstone silver charms. I’ve always loved the idea of birthstones. My grandmother wore a ring with four gemstones – the birthstones of each of her children. She never took it off. And, like most little girls, my two sisters and I were excited to learn our birthstones. My sisters were very happy with theirs – emerald and ruby. While I was not as pleased with pearls, over the course of my life they have become one of my favorite stones and an important part of my jewelry line.
But depending on your sources, birthstones are defined differently. The one we’re most familiar with is the traditional definition based on the Gregorian calendar. Then there’s the modern birthstones created in 1912 by the Jewelers of America in an attempt to standardize the list. This is why we have options for what our birthstone may be. A little less familiar are the Mystical and Ayurvedic birthstones. Mystical birthstones are of Tibetan origin and date back over a thousand years. And, the Ayurvedic birthstone list is based on ancient Indian medicine and philosophy dating back to 1500 B.C. In fact, almost all ancient cultures, from Egyptian to Hebrew to Russian, have their own birthstone lists and their associations. There’s also a different list of birthstones based upon your sign rather than your month of birth, called your zodiac birthstones.
Learning your birthstone is a rite of passage for many young girls. Like learning your astrological sign, it can be a defining moment and, if taken with a grain of salt, a lot of fun. The important thing is passing on a tradition and making the birth of loved ones a meaningful and celebrated moment.
