January - Almost all sources are consistent in stating that garnet is the
birthstone for January.
February - Most sources agree on the amethyst as February's birthstone,
but a few list pearls.
March - Older sources were divided between jasper and bloodstone as the
appropriate birthstone.
April - Sapphires were often listed as April's birthstone.
May - May has a lot of choices for birthstones: emeralds, agates,
chalcedony or carnelian.
June - Birthstone choices include emerald, agate, chalcedony, turquoise,
pearl, moonstone and cat's-eye.
July - The most common birthstone for July in older sources is the onyx.
Other birthstone candidates include sardonyx, carnelian, ruby and turquoise.
August - Besides peridot, someone born in August could choose carnelian,
sardonyx, moonstone, topaz or alexandrite as his or her birthstone.
September - Birthstones could be chrysolite or sardonyx as well as
sapphire.
October - Although opal is the traditional birthstone for October,
alternatives include tourmaline, beryl and aquamarine.
November - Most older sources agree on topaz, but at least one gives
pearl as an alternative birthstone.
December - In past times, December's birthstone was most commonly listed
as ruby. Turquoise and bloodstone were other choices. Lapis lazuli is also
cited.
Certain gemstones have been linked to dates of birth for centuries.
The specific gems and the folklore about them differed from one group of
people to another, but they all believed that wearing
