Traditional birthstones can vary somewhat from culture to culture, as different stones reflect a society's traditions and serve specific purposes within each month or zodiac. However, it was often believed that a certain color of stone held special powers, as opposed to the stone itself. So while birthstones may vary amongst different cultures and eras, their colors tend to be similar across the lists. Check out our compilation of today's alternate birthstones:
January Alternative Birthstone: Rose Quartz
Referred to as the "Heart Stone", rose quartz is said to balance emotions and open the heart to all forms of love. It is also believed to foster happiness and the joy of life, filling one with optimism, tenderness and gentleness.
February Alternative Birthstone: Onyx
Onyx is thought to increase happiness, intuition and instincts.
March Alternative Birthstones: Red Jasper or Bloodstone
Red jasper was once believed to protect in dangerous situations by driving away evil spirits. Today, it is thought to balance yin yang by stabilizing and healing. Bloodstone is believed to hold several healing attributes, especially those dealing with blood-related maladies, and is now used as a medicine and aphrodisiac in India.
April Alternative Birthstone: Diamond (same as Traditional)
Diamonds symbolize perfection, innocence and everlasting love. There is no better symbol for these qualities than a radiant diamond.
May Alternative Birthstone: Chrysoprase
A symbol of gentleness, friendliness and spiritual protection, many believe chrysoprase can help prevent depression and increase grace and equilibrium.
June Alternative Birthstones: Alexandrite or Moonstone
Alexandrite is seen as a good omen and believed to open the heart to love, strengthen intuition, and provide inner peace. It is believed to be a lucky stone. Moonstone represents serenity, happiness and friendship. It is said to be a stone of inner strength and arouses passions.
July Alternative Birthstones: Carnelian or Jade
Carnelian, the stone of happiness and harmony in love, is believed to have healing, spiritual, and creative qualities. It is also thought to aid anyone with a weak or reluctant voice. Jade is a universal symbol for good luck and is considered a symbol of love, virtue and status. Believed to strengthen the body and bring long life, it has been treasured in China as the royal gem for more than 5,000 years.
August Alternative Birthstone: Sardonyx
Sardonyx is believed to strengthen relationships, eliminate negative thinking, and sharpen the mind. It is said to provide courage, strength, peace and luck. It is thought that black sardonyx absorbs negativity, brown sardonyx grounds energy, clear sardonyx purifies, and red sardonyx stimulates.
September Alternative Birthstones: Lapis Lazuli or Peridot
Lapis is believed to free the wearer of melancholy and strengthen total awareness, creativity and ESP. Peridot is an emblem of warmth, friendship, protection and dignity. It is said to be able used to attract love and calm anger while soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions.
October Alternative Birthstone: Tourmaline
Called the "muses' stone", tourmaline is believed to have imaginative colors that grant enlightenment, enable creativity and express an artist's mood. It is supposed to be an especially powerful influence on love and friendship, fostering compassion and cool headedness.
November Alternative Birthstone: Turquoise
Turquoise is said to bring luck and promote prosperity, love, healing, courage and friendship.
December Alternative Birthstones: Lapis Lazuli or Tanzanite
Lapis is believed to free the wearer of melancholy and strengthen total awareness, creativity and ESP. Tanzanite is believed to help people be more practical, realistic and honest. It is thought to uplift and open the heart while helping one cope with change.