Traditional Birthstones

Historical and Modern Listing of Birthstones
	While there are many historical lists of birthstones, the following table provides the two most common list. The center column give the historical list based on the Bible. The second is the more familiar, and currently used list. It was formalized in 1952. by the US Jewelry  Industry Council. It is not based on thenatural cycle of life on this planet, It is somewhat based on tradition, but only loosely.In 1912, in an effort to standardize birthstones, the  (American) National Association of Jewelers met in Kansas and officially adopted a list.[2] The Jewelry Industry Council of America updated the list in 1952 by adding alexandrite to  June and citrine to November; specifying pink tourmaline for October; replacing December's lapis with zircon; and switching the primary/alternate gems in March. The most recent  change occurred in October 2002, with the addition of tanzanite as a December birthstone.Britain's National Association of Goldsmiths created their own standardized list of birthstones in 1937.[5] Month Historical Current JANUARY Jacinth Garnet FEBRUARY Amethyst Amethyst MARCH Jasper Aquamarine or Bloodstone APRIL Sapphire Diamond MAY Chalcedony Emerald JUNE Emerald Pearl, or Moonstone JULY Sardonyx Ruby AUGUST Sardius Peridot or Sardonyx SEPTEMBER Chrysolite Sapphire OCTOBER Beryl Opal, Tourmaline NOVEMBER Topaz Topaz, Citrine DECEMBER Chrysophrasus Turquoise, Tanzanite