Many people are aware that it is a charming tradition to have a month birthstone, but did you know that there are days of the week birthstones too ?
All photos are taken by me but they are not always clear because of the light and the size of object.
Below you will see a Secret Watch. In Victorian times, elegant ladies were not expected to want to know the time, so they would have a secret watch. The watch face was hidden under a flap of various sorts.
This Victorian replica watch has amethyst and white and yellow topaz. These are Wednesday's and Sunday's birthstones.
Month stones
For hundreds of years, birthstones have varied and were indicative of a particular society but in 1912, American jewellers decided to standardise their birth stones. The list has been slightly updated and some modern stones such as Tanzanite (one of my favourites pictured below) and Spinel, which is one of the rarest and most expensive now.
The American list of 1912 has only changed slightly in 100 years and stones are usually added and not changed.
The British list is very similar to the American list.
MONTH STONES
January - garnet
February - amethyst
March - aquamarine, bloodstone
April - diamond, crystal
May - emerald
June - pearl, moonstone
July - ruby
August - peridot
September - sapphire
October - opal
November - topaz
December - turquoise, tanzanite (pictured below)
I will start with Sunday as this is the first day of the week for me.
Sunday - Topaz pictured above. yellow and white
Topaz is a lovely gem that comes in several colours.
Monday - pearls
A pearl is hard, shiny gem that is found inside a mollusc shell. They are often worn singly as a pendant or ear-rings, or as a string of pearls.
Tuesday - Ruby - a cardinal gem
Below the ring has a Sri Lankan ruby and white topaz. Ruby is a cardinal gem which means it is deemed to be more valuable than others. Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire and Amethyst are also cardinal gems.
Wednesday - Amethyst
I love amethysts because of the purple colour. Amethysts can be paler though than the traditional deep purple as seen in the watch cover above which is more of a dark lilac.
Thursday - Sapphire
Sapphire and Ruby are from the same family of gem stones - Corundum - and are both Cardinal gems too.
Friday - Emerald
My favourite gem, emerald, is a cardinal gem. The depth of green varies in emeralds.
Saturday - diamonds
Diamonds are considered to be the most desirable stones because of their clear colour catching the light. They can come naturally in other colours too and are the ultimate cardinal gem. They are traditionally the colour of engagement rings although this is just tradition.
Lovely they are but they are not my favourite gem stone. which is unfortunate because my day of the week birthstone is Saturday … diamond.
I think that gems are like wine, don't be dictated by what tradition wants us to like or wear. Go with what you like. I do.
Comments
DerdriuMarrinerMay 21, 2024
The day-of-the-week list somewhat confounds me in its Sunday choice as topaz instead of perhaps more cherished diamonds and rubies.
Is it known what, when, where, who, why configured those day-of-the-week and month gem choices?
VeronicaJul 17, 2021
I love gems and wear them to match my outfits .
WriterArtistJul 17, 2021
VeronicaApr 7, 2019
I am contented with my collection. I like to have just a few quality pieces and fashion items are so lovely and reasonably priced that we can look gorgeous all the time .
MiraApr 7, 2019
VeronicaApr 7, 2019
MiraApr 7, 2019
frankbeswickApr 4, 2019
VeronicaApr 4, 2019
That's not what I said. I said people used to look to the stars to know when the rains would come, when the crops could be planted. …. Belief that there was a connection between stars and fate followed.
frankbeswickApr 4, 2019
VeronicaApr 3, 2019
To be fair to ancient peoples, I can see how astrology developed.... e.g. when the certain consolation was in a certain part of the horizon, the rains would be coming, or if they were up above, it was time to bring in the Harvest. It developed from there.
But beyond these seasonal indications, as a Roman Catholic, I can't hold with astrology.
frankbeswickApr 2, 2019
For the reasons stated above I am sceptical of the link between birthstones and the tribes of Israel and breastplate of Aaron.
As a [retired] lecturer in Religious Studies and Philosophy I have no truck with astrology.
VeronicaApr 2, 2019
It is a very interesting topic and deeper than it would seem at first glance. The 12 tribes of Israel is a good point.
I don't do astrology at all.
blackspanielgalleryApr 2, 2019
The Canadian substitutes Swarovski crystals for the gemstones.
VeronicaApr 2, 2019
Yes it certainly isn't exact is it . There are variations. I didn't know that about the Canadian birthstone coin. What a lovely idea.
I am imagine as you say that the cheaper stones as opposed to the Cardinal gems are making an appearance now for financial reasons and jewellers benefit.
blackspanielgalleryApr 2, 2019
Canada issues birthstone coin. In the older chart your ruby would be turquoise or onyx. In the tropical Zodiac chart your stone would be emerald. So, you can wear whatever stone pleases you.
VeronicaApr 2, 2019
It was as you say, a ridiculous idea.
As for my watch, my friend bought it for my 60th as she knows I love history and beautiful things. Good choice.
frankbeswickApr 2, 2019
VeronicaApr 2, 2019
It was just another Victorian middle class false way of behaving.they had double standards e.g. ladies don't need to know the time but they'd have a secret watch.
The Victorian middle class wanted to be upper class but had no idea how the upper class behaved so made themselves ridiculous with the things they did e.g. covering table legs as it was obscene for a table to show its legs.
Ha days of the week rhyme...it is a pleasing fancy.
DerdriuMarrinerApr 1, 2019
In another but related direction, what do you think of the ditty about the children born on the different days of the week (with Saturday's child working hard for a living)?