Amethyst is currently considered the birthstone for February, along with garnet. However, the assignment of birthstones to months has changed over time, so amethyst was previously associated with other months as well. Here’s a quick look at whether amethyst was ever considered a June birthstone.
The history of birthstones
The idea of birthstones – gemstones connected to each month of the year – dates back thousands of years. Some of the earliest records connect certain stones like amethyst to zodiac signs, which were tied to calendar months. Over time, lists of birthstones emerged, assigning a gemstone or minerals to each month.
These birthstone lists were inconsistent initially, with variations in different cultures and traditions. By the 18th and 19th centuries, published lists of birthstones started to standardize the associations between months and gemstones in the United States and Europe.
Modern birthstone lists, like those published by the American National Association of Jewelers, are based on these older traditions but have formalized the monthly connections between gemstones and calendar months.
Amethyst history as a birthstone
References to amethyst as a birthstone or gemstone associated with calendar months date back over 2,000 years. Here are some key points in the history of amethyst as a birthstone:
- Ancient Greeks and Romans connected amethyst to Bacchus, the god of wine, and believed it could prevent drunkenness. This associated the stone with moderation.
- Jewish tradition in the 1st century A.D. linked amethyst to the apostle Matthew. The apostles were connected to zodiac signs.
- Old French tradition assigned amethyst to the zodiac sign of Pisces, which fell in the month of February or March.
- Tibetan Buddhism associated amethyst with Buddha and considered it a sacred meditation stone.
- In Old Russian tradition, amethyst was connected to February and Saint Valentine’s Day.
So while amethyst wasn’t directly connected to June, its associations with February and Pisces link it to months near June in some older traditions.
When was amethyst adopted as a modern June birthstone?
While amethyst had ancient connections to late winter and early spring, it wasn’t formally adopted as a June birthstone until more recently.
Here’s an overview of the establishment of modern birthstone lists and when amethyst was considered a June birthstone:
- 1912 – The American National Association of Jewelers released an official birthstone list, which included amethyst as the sole birthstone for February and linked pearls to June. This cemented amethyst as a February birthstone in the US.
- 1952 – The Jewelry Industry Council of America updated the list. Amethyst remained only February’s stone, while three gems were assigned to June – alexandrite, moonstone, and pearl.
- 2002 – The American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America released a new unified list of birthstones. For the first time, amethyst was listed as one of three birthstones for June, in addition to pearl and moonstone.
So in recent history, amethyst was established as a June birthstone in the early 2000s as associations between months and stones were updated.
Why was amethyst added as a June birthstone?
There are a few factors that may have contributed to amethyst being adopted as a modern June birthstone in the early 2000s:
- Availability – Amethyst is a well-known and readily available gemstone. Adding it to June gave people more options for jewelry gifts.
- Color symbolism – Purple is symbolic of royalty and passion. Aligning this color with June may have been an attempt to enhance the appeal of the month’s birthstone lineup.
- Older connections – Some older traditions did indirectly link amethyst to months near June. The new list may have been a nod to those obscure ancient associations.
Overall, the recent addition of amethyst appears to have been an attempt to provide more versatility and significance to the month of June by including the beautiful and meaningful purple gemstone.
Amethyst as a June birthstone today
Here is a summary of how amethyst is viewed as a June birthstone today:
- Official birthstone – Amethyst remains listed as one of three official birthstones for June by jewelry associations today.
- Popular gift – Its purple color and availability make it a popular birthstone jewelry gift for June babies.
- Shared significance – It provides symbolic meaning for June, alongside pearl and moonstone.
- Zodiac connection – Its associations with Pisces also give it astrological significance for June.
So while amethyst was only recently established as a June birthstone, it has become a widely recognized and popular gemstone gift for June birthdays.
Conclusion
In summary, amethyst was not considered a June birthstone through most of history. But in the early 2000s, associations between months and gemstones were updated, and amethyst was added as one of three birthstones for the month of June. This appears to have been motivated by a desire to provide more options and symbolic meaning for June through the colors and connections of the amethyst gem. While untraditional, designating amethyst as a June birthstone has become accepted in modern times.
| Month | Modern Birthstones |
|---|---|
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst, Garnet |
| March | Aquamarine, Bloodstone |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone, Amethyst |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot, Spinel |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal, Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, Citrine |
| December | Tanzanite, Zircon, Turquoise |
