Birthstone Jewelry, Reimagined: Behind the Modern Collection | GLDN

Written by GLDN Team — July 27, 2023

History of Birthstones

The origin of birthstones dates back to 1912—over 100 years ago now! That’s when the National Association of Jewelers (now known as the Jewelers of America) drafted a standardized list of birthstones for use in jewelry far and wide, though historians debate what actually informed this list—from religious influences to nothing but good salesmanship. Fast-forward to 1952, and this list was updated slightly to switch out some gemstones and add a few more to certain months (that’s why December has three gemstones: tanzanite, turquoise and zircon, for example)! Since their inception, birthstones have largely remained unchanged and unchallenged—until now.

Designing a Modern Palette

When we started exploring what birthstones should mean (and look like) in the 21st century, we started with one main focus: color. We wanted something softer, subtler and more harmonious than the birthstones of yore, that still felt rooted in a sense of tradition. Think warmer, dreamier, jewel-toned shades that shift and sparkle in the light—multifaceted like all of us—intentionally chosen to mean more than that list from 1912.

Plus, while we love the concept of birthstones, we don’t think you should feel boxed in, either. What if your birthstone doesn’t speak to you? What if you don’t necessarily like the color? What if the meaning of a different month’s birthstone speaks to you more than the one you were born into? A year in the making, that’s how our modern birthstone collection was born: twelve gemstones you can shop by birth month, meaning or hue—whichever means the most to you. ✨

Let’s meet the modern birthstones, shall we?

Modern January Birthstone: Vintage Garnet

Compared to the traditional blood-red garnet, our vintage garnet is like the landscape of January: cooler, softer and muted. It pairs beautifully with greens, blues and neutrals alike! Associated with the heart and the force of life, garnets are known to symbolize confidence, courage and sincerity—the inner fire that burns within all of us.

Modern February Birthstone: Royal Amethyst

Rich and dark like a winter’s night, our royal amethyst is a deeper take on the traditional stone—made to contrast gold and silver like no other. Believed to bring a sense of peace and calm to its wearer, amethysts are known to symbolize spirituality, serenity and trust.

Modern March Birthstone: Airy Aquamarine

Our new take on aquamarine is a breath of fresh air: softer and subtler than its traditional saturated teal hue, designed to make your stack sparkle in the light. Like the soft waves of the sea, aquamarines are known to symbolize tranquility, vitality and everlasting youth.

Modern April Birthstone: Clear Sapphire

Compared to April’s traditional diamond birthstone, sapphires are nearly as durable (clocking in at a 9 on the Mohs scale!) and just as rare. Sapphires emit a soft, radiant glow like spring sunshine, and are known to symbolize clarity, strength and intuition—like a mirror for your innermost desires.

Modern May Birthstone: Forest Emerald

Like walking through the woods at dusk, our new take on emerald is deeper (and, arguably) more timeless than its traditional counterpart. The emerald is known to symbolize harmony, growth and new beginnings, capturing the spirit of early summer.

Modern June Birthstone: White Moonstone

White moonstones combine two of our favorite June birthstones in one: pearls and moonstones. Favoring the milky white moonstone over other varieties (like blue or rainbow), our modern June birthstone is soft, romantic and infinitely wearable. Like a sliver of frozen moonlight, the moonstone symbolizes intuition, hope and divine femininity.

Modern July Birthstone: Subtle Ruby

The traditional ruby was a bit saturated for our tastes, so we took a few steps back and made it way more refined—a red you’ll actually want to wear. Associated with the sun of midsummer, the ruby is known to symbolize creativity, passion and boundless energy.

Modern August Birthstone: Sage Peridot

Compared to the bright zing of traditional peridot, our sage peridot evokes a greater sense of peace and ease. Like the healing properties of nature, peridot is known to symbolize luck, abundance and rest—all the good energy to carry with you.

Modern September Birthstone: Midnight Sapphire

September: the start of shorter days and longer nights, like a hush over the world. We opted for a deeper, richer sapphire to represent this glorious month, that still sparkles when the light hits it (like a sky full of stars)! Blue sapphires are known to symbolize truth, wisdom and sincerity.

Modern October Birthstone: Blush Tourmaline

From hot pink to bubblegum, tourmaline includes a wide range of pink—but we love blush the most (especially for October)! This barely-there pink is soft and warm, like an early fall breeze. Tourmaline is known to symbolize compassion, love and inspiration with every wear.

Modern November Birthstone: Sunshine Citrine

Nothing gold can stay—except citrine. Favoring the golden variety of citrine over the overtly orange, our November birthstone wears like a ray of winter sunshine! Citrine is known to symbolize joy, success and motivation (and who couldn’t use more of that?).

Modern December Birthstone: Indigo Tanzanite

Our modern take on the December birthstone is winter incarnate. Compared to the brighter traditional tanzanite, we looked for warmer, deeper stones with hints of purple, like the winter sky at dusk. Tanzanite is known to symbolize intuition, trust and higher consciousness; a deep belief in yourself.

The Modern Birthstone Collection

Now that you’ve (hopefully) found the gem that speaks to you, there’s just one thing left to do: cherish it forever in a special piece.

Aura Pendant Necklace

Choose one signature stone or add up to five that bring your true energy to life. Our modern birthstone palette was made to wear beautifully together, so color clashing is a thing of the past.

Create your pendant necklace.

Aura Gemstone Studs

Dot your stack with the hues that mean the most to you—each available as a single or pair!

Mix, match and make it your own.

Extra Aura Gemstone Charm

The more, the merrier! Add a gemstone to a preexisting piece for a sparkling touch of personalization.

Add to any piece.

Kindred Birthstone Necklace

Create a polished palette of togetherness, made to represent your family all in one piece. Choose one symbolic pendant and add up to five modern birthstone charms for every loved one!

Personalize a meaningful piece.