Which Birthstone Should I Buy?

Your birthday is worth celebrating! After all, that is when you made your first mark on this world!! Life is about living so celebrate every journey you get to take around the sun! 

I had someone approach me and ask quite simply, if I know someone whose birthday is in January, how do I know what gemstone to choose for them? What about October? 

As we were gathering all the information we could on birthstones we realized there are so many variations in birthstone gems, it's no wonder this is confusing! 

Did you know December has three official birthstones? Yes, really! Three! (Plus two traditional birthstone on top of that). Don't get me started on October (my own birth month). I always thought my birthstone was Pink Topaz until I started selling birthstone jewelry, then I realized Opal is also my birthstone and Pink Tourmaline is actually the more commonly used birthstone! 

So how do you know which gem to buy for yourself or as a gift for someone else? Here we will show you all the glitz and glamour around birthstones and how so many variations have become popular birthstone gems. We have a handy chart and a number of options on our store so you can find the right one for your budget and style.  

Traditional Birthstones-Origins

These gems became popular as birthstone in the US between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago! Some traditional gems were given as gifts based on ancient beliefs around the energies and protections different gemstones offered. Originally it was believed any gemstone would have a stronger influence on the wearer during the stone's heightened energy month. Over time, some people adopted the view that people born during that gemstone's energy month were also bestowed additional power when wearing that month's gemstone. This is how the idea of birthstones originated. 

Modern Birthstones-Changing Times

In the early 1900's many jewelers started adopting what we now call modern gemstones. Some people believe the changes were made to make family style jewelry more appealing with gemstones of similar, translucent qualities when every person in a family is represented. Other stories suggest the change was simply to standardize the birthstones for each month. 

Alternative Birthstones

Many people chose other alternative gemstones in the same color class as their traditional or modern birthstone. Occasionally someone will prefer a different stone for it's color or price. Choosing alternatives to represent a birth month are totally acceptable. 

Do I have to wear my specific birthstone? 

Nope! There are no firm rules about which gem to wear. Some people choose to wear gemstones based on their birth month, others choose specific stones based on ancient beliefs around gemstone energies. People may also choose to wear specific gemstones simply to match a style and make a fashion statement. The only real rules to follow when buying birthstone jewelry: Buy what you love, then:

• Wear It
• Own It
• Show It
• Rock It

So now you know all about birthstone jewelry! Here is a quick handy-dandy birthstone chart to use as a starting reference point! If you want a deeper understanding of each gemstone, qualities, care and color see our Gemstone Information Guide.

*At Peach Lane, we may occasionally substitute White Sapphire for Diamond to provide more affordable jewelry in those selections.