The attribution to precious stones of powers such as preservation from disease, freedom from the evil eye, and soon, is pre-Christian in origin. The association of gemstones with specific months was originally conceived on the basis of colour, with the result that the type of stone allotted to any one month varied from time to time.

This was further confused by the astrological Zodiac signs where the month begins approximately a week or 10 days earlier. Hence, each month has two birthstones, one ascribed to the calendar month and the other to the Zodiacal sign (see box).

The wearing of birthstone gems was begun and popularised by Jewish immigrants to Central Europe and Poland. The astrological theory of a connection between a human being and his Zodiacal sign is of course very old. Hence it is but natural that the stone appropriate to a certain planet will be appropriate for the human being born under the influence of that planet.

The garnet, which has long played a part in European jewellery and is the stone ascribed to the month of January is not necessarily red, but the plum-coloured almandine garnet is generally considered typical of this stone.

The amethyst, the stone ascribed to the month of February, was very popular in Victorian England. It is an emblem of sobriety and asceticism, and has, therefore, long been associated with the church and is one of the stones traditionally used for Episcopal rings.

The aquamarine and the bloodstone belong to March. The bloodstone, though less well-known, is most suitable for setting in rings. The aquamarine is more commonly used in pendants, bracelets and brooches, as it usually appears at its best in conjunction with other stones.

Diamonds are ascribed to April, with rock crystal as the month’s alternative stone. The rock crystal is one of the most popular of diamond substitutes, and definitely the best.

The emerald is commonly found in Renaissance Spanish jewellery, and widely used in European jewellery. Very often found in an individual setting such as a ring, this stone belongs to the month of May.

The pearl and the moonstone belong to June. In European jewellery, the pearl, like the diamond, cannot be omitted. Moonstone is commonly used in West Asian peasant jewellery and is at the best when contrasted with such colourful stones as the garnet and the bloodstone.

A rare and lovely stone is the ruby. It has played a great part in European jewellery, although it has perhaps never been used with such grandeur as in Indian jewellery. It is the gemstone of July.

Both the peridot and the sardonyx are semi-precious stones and belong to August. The peridot is delicate, emerald coloured and most distinctive in filigree settings. The sardonyx is a type of onyx interspersed with red bands.

Sapphire, whose colour is blue, belongs to September. Most people are familiar with the faceted sapphire. Then, there is also the star sapphire in whose milky blue depths a perfect star is reflected under the right conditions of lighting. This gives the star sapphire a unique beauty and is particularly suitable for ring settings. The alternative stone for the month is lapis lazuli.

The opal, having a colour range of jet black shot with fire to a pale moony glow, is the gemstone of October. Like the peridot and the sardonyx, it is also a semi-precious stone. Unfortunately, this fascinating stone has an aura of ill omen about it. It is affected by skin temperature and changes its colour accordingly, and also reacts differently with different people.

The topaz is November’s birthstone and is particularly suited for brooches and pendants. It looks magnificent when set in filigree work and is surrounded with pearls.

The turquoise, another semi-precious stone, is extremely soft and represents December. It is found in antique jewellery and was at one time lavishly used in rings and brooches.

Though these stones are ascribed to certain months, they do not always suit each and every person whose birthday may happen to fall within that particular month. Some people have two birthstones depending on when they were born, but then again, it may just turn out that neither may suit the individual concerned.

For instance, a January 21 birthday will have both the garnet and the amethyst of February as its birthstone. It can also turn out that an October-born person will have better luck with the amethyst of February, or that the May born may have better luck with the sapphire of September than with their own stone which is emerald.