Do you know what your birth gem is?
That is an interesting question to answer as it is linked to a very old history and tradition. The origin of birthstones can be traced back to biblical times. They are attributed to the 12 gems that were set in Aaron's breastplate, which corresponded to the 12 tribes of Israel.
Several centuries later these gems were connected with the signs of the zodiac. The custom was to collect the 12 gems and use each one during the corresponding month to receive its attributes.
Then the use of the specific gem to be worn during the month of one's birth was circumscribed. The list we know today of ancient and traditional birthstones is believed to have been compiled in Poland around the 17th century, but it was not until 1912 that the National Association of Jewelers in the United States created an updated list of birthstones.
How do I know what my birthstone is?
Below you will see the table of birthstones:
January: Garnet
February: Amethyst
March: Aquamarine
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
June: Pearl, Alexandrite and moonstone
July: Ruby
August: Peridot
September: Sapphire
October: Opal and tourmaline
November: Topaz and citrine
December: Turquoise, zircon and tanzanite
This is important information because it is the perfect solution when choosing a gift. What could be better than giving someone you appreciate a jewel with their birthstone?
With the rise of lithotherapy, which today has so many followers, the custom of giving jewelry with the birthstone has become even more popular , since the gift is not only material but also includes wishes for protection, a gift of energy and advantages. Physical and psychological benefits that one can benefit from by being the bearer of these rare gems.
So now you know, when they ask you what your birth gem is, the answer is the gem that belongs to the month in which you were born, which according to ancient theories, influences its wearer with its energy.
Speaking of energies and properties of precious stones, it is generally agreed that the gems that promote calm and transmit a sense of tranquility are light blue gems.
Among them, the most valued is aquamarine, a gem much loved for its light blue, transparent and bright with slight greenish tones. The other gem that achieves the same shade of color and transparency is blue topaz (more specifically the sky blue and Swiss blue varieties).
What is the difference between an aquamarine and a topaz?
While aquamarine belongs to the beryl family with a hardness on the Mohs scale of 7.5 to 8. Topaz belongs to a different crystal family and has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. At first glance, both can be so similar that it is not easy to realize which gem is which.
How to distinguish a topaz from an aquamarine?
One possibility is using a diamond tester, which measures thermal conductivity. The stone is touched with the point of the diamond tester. In case of registering thermal conductivity, the stone is a topaz and not an aquamarine.
But it is only possible to be certain that the gem is treated with the help of a microscope, observing the gem at a magnification of x20. In the case of aquamarine, in addition to its blue tones, shades of green will be clearly displayed. That will not happen with topaz which will only indicate blue tones.
Just in case, as noted above, both gems are birthstones: Aquamarine is the March gemstone and Topaz is the November birthstone.
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