LIBRA BIRTHSTONE: 9 Lucky Stones for the Romantic Scales

Libra is the house of partnership. This zodiac sign’s influence renders people intellectual, sociable and effective in building relationships. Owing to their intellectual nature, however, the Libran often sees the odds of an undertaking and gets daunted by the adversity he perceives. Choices of Libra birthstone have been identified to not only reinforce his strengths, but keep the Libra from indecision as well.

Libra Birthstone

Topaz

The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, lapis lazuli … the seventh, topaz …

— Revelation 21:19-20

From Wiener Edelstein Zentrum, CC BY-SA 3.0

Topaz is the Libra birthstone from the Bible. Known as tarshish in Hebrew,1 topaz was mentioned in both Exodus and Revelation by the Greek name chrysolithos.2 3 While many people identify chrysolite with peridot, the chrysolithos of the ancients was not a green gem, but a golden stone, which is what the word chryso-lithos literally means. This “golden stone” referred to a yellow gemstone, most probably the golden topaz. Topaz must have been the golden stone on Aaron’s breastplate, and the 7th Foundation Stone in Revelation. This makes topaz the birthstone of the 7th sign of the zodiac, Libra, and the partially concurrent month of September. See also —

From Mauro Cateb, CC BY-SA 3.0

Emerald

According to Chaldean tradition, emerald is the gemstone associated with Venus.4 Venus’ rulership over the zodiac sign makes emerald the planetary Libra birthstone.

The intensely green variety of beryl, emerald is among the world’s most expensive gems.

Peridot

Peridot is a light green Libra birthstone . While this designation stemmed from an erroneous identification of the biblical gem chrysolithos as peridot, peridot remains widely regarded as Libra gemstone.5 Its green brilliance — the color of Libra’s ruling planet, Venus — makes peridot a planetary Libra stone along with emerald. The similarity can be so close that peridot was also called the “evening emerald.”6

Most popular in lime green and olive green, peridot is a glassy gem from the mineral olivine. The weakness of peridot lies in its hardness, which is at best 7 out of 10 in the Mohs scale.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli is a blue gemstone that the Chaldeans associated with Libra’s ruling planet, Venus,7 and is hence a planetary Libra birthstone.

An intensely blue rock, lapis lazuli is composed mostly of lazurite, sprinkled with glittering fool’s gold and muted here and there by white films of calcite.

Chalcedony

Chalcedony is a gemstone that the Chaldeans associated with Libra’s ruling planet, Venus,7 and is hence a  planetary Libra birthstone.

Chalcedony is translucent or opaque quartz, particularly those ranging in color from a milky white to pale blue.

From Theresia987, CC BY-SA 3.0

Diamond

In Hindu astrology, diamond is the gemstone associated with Venus. Venus’ rulership over the zodiac sign makes diamond planetary Libra birthstone in India.

A brilliant white rock, diamond is the hardest of gemstones. The gem’s extreme hardness inspired most metaphysical properties attributed to diamond. See also —

Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz is a glassy earth-toned Libra birthstone.5

The brownish variety of quartz, smoky quartz draws toward the color of topaz, the golden Libra gemstone from the Scripture, though the former’s hue is much darker and can be quite close to black.

From CRPeters, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opal

Opal is a unique Libra birthstone.8

Opal is distinguished for a resplendent play of colors called fire. While its most common body tone is white, the most expensive opal displays its multi-colored fire against a black background. The weakness of this magnificent gem lies in its water-imbued softness, which renders an opal liable to break on its own.

Aventurine

Though unknown to the ancients, the color of aventurine makes the gem a Libra gemstone. The sign’s ruling planet, Venus, is associated with the color green, and aventurine is an excellent choice of a green gemstone in fashion jewelry.

Discovered only in the 1700s, aventurine is a variety of chalcedony characterized by a glittering appearance called aventurescence. Platy inclusions of fuchsite give this green gem its sparkling look.

Libra Charm Necklace

Libra Birthstone Color

Choices of Libra gemstone come in different colors. While the expensive emerald is the popular planetary birthstone for Libra, lapis lazuli, chalcedony and aventurine make worthy alternatives. On the other hand, the Libra birthstone from the Bible, topaz, is an exquisite golden gem, whose affordable alternative may be found in smoky quartz.

Know Their Magic

Each birthstone for Libra is attributed with magical properties. Know the magical powers of Libra stone when you read my book Power Birthstone.

Learn the magic of Libra Birthstone

See Libra in Action

Curious about Libra and other zodiac signs? An enjoyable way to understand the different signs is to see how they behave, interact or fight in a narrative. Deomar Pandan has recently started a novel whose character profiles are based on astrology’s zodiac signs. Read his fantasy novel for FREE: Cosmons and the Tree of Immortality.

The character on the cover is Aries. He is the strongest warrior of the Kingdom of Ashera.

Footnotes

1

“Exodus 28.” The Bible. Bible Hub, biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/28.htm. Accessed 28 July 2019.

2

“Exodus 28.” Septuagint. Blue Letter Bible, www.blueletterbible.org/lxx/exo/28/1/s_78001. Accessed 28 July 2019.

3

“Revelation 21.” The Bible. Bible Hub, biblehub.com/interlinear/revelation/21.htm. Accessed 28 July 2019.

4

Rabelais, M. Fran. “Book V: His Visit to the Oracle.” The Heroic Deeds and Sayings of the Good Pantagruel. Trans. Sir Thomas Urquhart and Peter Motteux. London: Gibbings and Company Limited, 1901. pp. 184-185.

5

Conway, D. J. “Personal Gemstones.” Crystal Enchantments: A Complete Guide to Stones and Their Magical Properties. Crossing Press, 1999. Google Books.

6

Knuth, Bruce G. “Peridot.” Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore. Revised ed. Parachute: Jewelers Press, 2007. pp. 169-170.

7

Knuth, Bruce G. “Birthstones.” Gems in Myth, Legend and Lore. Revised ed. Parachute: Jewelers Press, 2007. pp. 293-327.

8

Eason, Cassandra. “Birthstones.” Healing Crystals: An Illustrated Guide to 150 Crystals and Gemstones. Collins & Brown, 2005. Google Books.

Discover More of Libra

Learn more about the zodiac sign, its symbol, element and other information.

Published October 23, 2019