Want to know WHY Western Birthstones is BOGUS SYSTEM??

August 29, 2009

According to the Gemological Institute of America (ref. G.I.A. Colored Stones

Course, Assignment #41, " Birthstones " ), the origin of the Western system of

birthstones can be traced to the Breastplate of the High Priest. In the Bible,

Moses handed down rules governing the Breastplate of Judgment which contained 12

(locally found) gems, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of

Israel. Another arrangement of the 12 gems is described in the Book of

Revelation as the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. The order in which

these 12 gems were given was arbitrarily used to determine the succession of

birthstones for the months.

On August 12, 1912 the American National Retail Jewelers' Association

arbitrarily substituted a new list of birthstones, adding to or changing many of

the traditional stones to others which were more commercially viable. In 1938

the American Gem Society adopted this list (with the addition of citrine) for

use by its members. In 1952 a variation of this list was approved by the

American National Retail Jewelers Association (ANRJA), National Jewelers

Association (NJA), and the American Gem Society (AGS). Thus the official list of

birthstones was established.

In light of the above, it is obvious that the currently recognized Western

birthstone system has nothing to do with any astrological science. It should

also be noted that the signs of the zodiac change on or about the 22nd of each

month. Therefore it is impossible to establish a list of birthstones based on

the months. According to the Tropical system of astrology prevalent in the West,

zodiac or birth signs are determined by the position of the Sun in one's

horoscope. In the Sidereal system this is determined by the position of the

Moon. But in both systems, the zodiac sign is important, not the month of one's

birth. Each sign of the zodiac (rasi) is ruled by one of the planets and each

planet in turn rules over certain gemstones according to their color. In Asia

these birthstones are known collectively as NAVARATNA or the nine (astral) gems.

Richard Shaw Brown, PG

Musician, Designer, Gemologist & Author

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