Gemstones have long held fascination and importance throughout human history. They are prized for their beauty, rarity, durability, and symbolism. While there are dozens of gemstones, only a handful are considered the most precious and coveted. When looking at the traditional birthstones that correspond to each month, three months in particular stand out for having not just one or two, but three assigned gemstones.
January
The first month with three birthstones is January. The three gems associated with January are:
- Garnet
- Emerald
- Rose Quartz
Garnet is a silicate mineral that occurs in many colors like red, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown. The most common color is red. Garnets have been used as gemstones and in jewelry for thousands of years. Some ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used garnets.
Emerald is a green beryl, colored by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Its green color makes it one of the four precious gemstones along with diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Emeralds have been treasured since ancient times and were mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC.
Rose quartz is a pink quartz and gets its color from trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese. It has been used as a gem material for thousands of years and was very popular in Egyptian and Roman jewelry. Rose quartz is associated with love which makes it fitting for January which contains Valentine’s Day.
May
The month of May claims three gemstones as well:
- Emerald
- Chrysoprase
- Agate
As mentioned previously, emerald is one of the four precious gemstones prized for its brilliant green color. It joins May’s birthday gems along with:
Chrysoprase, an apple-green variety of chalcedony containing nickel oxide. Its color resembles an apple core, giving it its name which means “gold leek” in Greek. Deposits have been found in Australia, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United States.
Agate is a banded variety of chalcedony quartz. It forms in all colors with beautiful banding, dendritic, or moss-like inclusions. Agates have been used in jewelry and as gemstones since ancient times. Major deposits are found in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay, and the United States.
December
December rounds out the trio of months claiming three birthstones:
- Turquoise
- Zircon
- Tanzanite
Turquoise is an opaque mineral that has been prized as a gemstone for thousands of years. It graces ancient artifacts from Egypt, China, Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Americas. Its striking blue-green color is caused by copper and iron impurities.
Zircon is a zirconium silicate that occurs in a wide range of colors like brown, yellow, green, red, and blue. Most people are familiar with its colorless variety used as a diamond substitute. Some blue zircons rival the brilliance of sapphires.
Tanzanite is a fairly new gemstone discovered in the 1960s. It is a blue to violet variety of zoisite, colored by vanadium. Tanzanite quickly became popular and remains one of the most coveted gemstones today. It is only found in Tanzania near Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Other Months with Multiple Gemstones
While only January, May, and December lay claim to three birthstones, several other months have more than one assigned gemstone:
| Month | Gemstones |
|---|---|
| March | Aquamarine, Bloodstone |
| April | Diamond, Rock Crystal |
| June | Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone |
| August | Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx |
| September | Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli |
| October | Opal, Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, Citrine |
This covers the months that are associated with multiple birthstones. Having more than one gemstone allows people to choose the stone that resonates most with them or suits their style preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, of the 12 months of the year, only 3 can claim the distinction of having 3 assigned birthstones – January with garnet, emerald, and rose quartz; May with emerald, chrysoprase, and agate; and December with turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. A few other months have 2 birthstones, but the trio of January, May and December stand out as having the most. The varied gems belonging to each reflect the abundance of nature’s beauty across the year.
