September 28th, 2011 | 
Author: By: Rashme Rafes
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Though this article is not just about diamonds, it will give you a little history on how birthstones came to be. The history of birthstones began with the breastplate of Aaron in the Bible from the book of Exodus. At that time, the breastplate was a religious garment that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Later on, the writings of Flavius Josephus and St. Jerome (1st century AD-5th century AD) came up with the idea that each gemstone held special powers linked to astrology signs. They believed that wearing a birthstone at the right time would have a calming effect on the person and keep the person safe.
In India, nine different gemstones were assigned to nine different planets. Certain gemstones are prescribed according to the person’s health and the challenges they are facing in their lives. The idea that a gemstone should be worn according to the person’s birth month is a modern concept. Birthstones change and have different meanings depending on different cultures. The birthstones most common in America include: garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, moonstone, ruby, peridot, sapphire, opal, topaz and turquoise. Birthstones would make beautiful, special gifts for any event!
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