12 Birthstones by Month: Stones, Meanings and Care

The 12 birthstones by month give every person a gem of their own, a small piece of colour tied to the season they were born in. On the modern list they run from January’s garnet to December’s turquoise, and many months also carry older or alternate stones that are just as loved. This guide walks through the full chart, where it came from, what each stone means in folklore and crystal traditions, and how to choose and care for one, whether you are buying a gift or starting a small collection.

What Are the 12 Birthstones by Month?

Here is the chart most jewelers and collectors use today. The first column is the modern stone, the one you will see most often on rings and pendants. The second column lists the alternates and traditional stones that many months also accept. If you want a deeper look at how the two systems differ, our birthstones chart by month compares them side by side.

Alternate lists vary from one tradition to another, so you may see a slightly different stone for a few months elsewhere. That is normal. For a colour-first version of the same information, see colors for birthstones by month.

Where the Birthstone List Came From

The idea of linking gems to the calendar is old. Many writers trace it back to the jewelled breastpiece described in the Book of Exodus, which held twelve stones, one for each tribe of Israel. Over the centuries, scholars and storytellers connected those twelve stones with the twelve months and the twelve signs of the zodiac, and people began wearing a particular gem in a particular month, believing it carried that season’s virtues.

For a long time there was no single agreed list. Different regions and cultures paired months with different stones, which is why older texts can disagree. In the early twentieth century, jewelers in the United States agreed a standard list to make buying and selling simpler, and that list has been updated a handful of times since, mostly by adding alternates. That standard chart is what most people now mean by the 12 birthstones by month.

So when someone says a month has a “traditional” stone and a “modern” one, they usually mean an older folk pairing versus the standardised jewelers’ list. Neither is wrong. Our article on true birthstones by month goes further into that history, and our editorial approach explains how we treat crystal traditions: as living beliefs worth understanding, rather than claims of fact.

January to April: Garnet, Amethyst, Aquamarine and Diamond

January: garnet

Garnet is best known as a deep, wine-red gem, though it is really a family of related minerals that also comes in orange, pink and green. In folklore it is a stone of friendship, loyalty and safe travel, and travellers once carried it as a protective charm. Garnet is durable enough for rings worn every day. Read more in January’s garnet, colors and lore, and for how it handles wear, see the garnet hardness guide.

February: amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, ranging from soft lilac to deep violet. It is often sold raw (as rough, uncut crystal), as a cluster (many crystal points growing from one base) or tumbled (polished smooth into pebble shapes). In crystal traditions amethyst is believed to bring calm and clear thinking, and many people keep a piece on a bedside table as part of a quiet evening ritual. You will find it alongside its relatives in our Quartz & family section.

March: aquamarine and bloodstone

Aquamarine is a clear, pale blue to blue-green gem whose name means “sea water,” and sailors’ lore links it with calm voyages. Bloodstone, the traditional March stone, is dark green flecked with red, and older tales tie it to courage. The two make an interesting pair: one airy and bright, the other earthy and opaque.

April: diamond and rock crystal

Diamond is the April birthstone and the hardest natural gem. To put that in context, Mohs hardness is a 1 to 10 scale describing how well a mineral resists being scratched, and diamond sits at the very top. Our definition of the Mohs hardness scale explains it simply. Diamond symbolises lasting love and strength. Rock crystal, or clear quartz, is the traditional alternative, a much more affordable clear stone that crystal traditions associate with clarity and intention. See April’s diamond and rock crystal for more.

May to August: Emerald, Pearl, Ruby and Peridot

May: emerald, agate and chrysoprase

Emerald is the classic green gem, prized for a saturated colour that can look almost velvety. Most emeralds have small natural inclusions, sometimes called their “garden,” and this is expected rather than a flaw. In folklore emerald stands for rebirth, love and spring growth. Agate and chrysoprase are gentler, more affordable May alternates, both members of the quartz family.

June: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite

June is unusual because its main birthstone, pearl, is not a mineral at all but is made by a living mollusk. Pearls symbolise purity and wisdom in many cultures. Moonstone, with its soft blue-white glow, is linked with intuition and the moon in crystal traditions; you can read about it in our Moon & light collection. Alexandrite is famous for appearing to change colour between daylight and lamplight. All three are covered in June’s pearl, moonstone and alexandrite.

July: ruby, carnelian and onyx

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, the same mineral as sapphire, and it has been called the king of gems for its vivid colour. It is tied to passion, vitality and courage in old lore. Carnelian, a warm orange-red stone, and black onyx are popular July alternates. Our guide to July’s ruby, carnelian and onyx compares them.

August: peridot, spinel and sardonyx

Peridot is a bright lime to olive green gem that keeps its glow even in dim light, which earned it the old nickname “evening emerald.” Folklore links it with warding off bad dreams and bringing good fortune. Spinel offers reds, pinks and blues, and sardonyx is banded in reddish brown and white. See August’s peridot, spinel and sardonyx, and the peridot hardness guide if you plan to wear it daily.

September to December: Sapphire, Opal, Topaz and Turquoise

September: sapphire and lapis lazuli

Sapphire is usually pictured as royal blue, though it also occurs in pink, yellow and other colours, and it is very durable. It represents wisdom, loyalty and truth in many traditions, which is one reason it appears so often in engagement rings. Lapis lazuli, a deep blue stone often flecked with gold-coloured specks, is the traditional alternative. Read September’s sapphire, lapis and lore.

October: opal and tourmaline

October is one of the months with two well-established birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Opal is loved for its play of colour, the flashes of rainbow light that shift as you turn the stone. Tourmaline comes in an enormous range of colours, sometimes several in one crystal, which gives it the playful nickname “rainbow stone.” In crystal traditions opal is linked with creativity and imagination, while tourmaline is often associated with grounding and protection. Opal is softer and more delicate than most birthstones, so it needs gentle handling; our opal hardness guide explains why. The full story is in October’s opal and tourmaline meanings.

November: topaz and citrine

Topaz in its golden to orange shades is the classic November stone, though it also comes in blue, pink and clear forms. Citrine, the yellow variety of quartz, is the warm, budget-friendly alternative. Both are associated with warmth, joy and abundance in folklore, and citrine in particular is often kept in workspaces by people who see it as a stone of optimism.

December: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon

Turquoise is an opaque sky-blue to green-blue stone with a very long history in jewelry and amulets across many cultures, where it was worn for protection and good fortune. Tanzanite brings a violet-blue colour, and blue zircon adds sparkle. December therefore offers three quite different looks: earthy, rich and brilliant. Other stones in this section that do not belong to quartz or the moon-and-light group are gathered in our Earth treasures library.

Zodiac Birthstones vs Month Birthstones

A common source of confusion is that zodiac stones and the 12 birthstones by month do not line up neatly. Zodiac signs straddle two calendar months. For example, Libra runs until October 22 and Scorpio begins on October 23, so someone born in October could follow the month chart (opal or tourmaline) or the stone linked to their sign. Zodiac lists also vary between traditions, so the same sign can be paired with different gems depending on the source.

Neither system is more “correct.” Some people wear their month stone for its familiarity and their zodiac stone for personal meaning, and some combine both in one piece of jewelry. If you want the sign-by-sign version, our zodiac birthstones by month guide lists signs, dates and stones.

How to Choose a Birthstone: A Worked Example

Knowing the 12 birthstones by month is the easy part. Choosing the right stone for a real person takes a little more thought. Here is a simple process.

1. Start with the month. Check the modern stone and its alternates in the chart above.
2. Think about wear. A ring worn every day takes knocks; earrings and pendants take far fewer. Harder stones such as diamond, ruby and sapphire suit daily rings, while softer or more delicate ones like opal, pearl and turquoise are often happier in pendants or earrings.
3. Consider colour and style. Some people simply prefer the look of an alternate stone, and that is a perfectly good reason to choose it.
4. Weigh the budget. Alternates like rock crystal, agate, carnelian and citrine let you honour the month without the cost of a precious gem.
5. Choose the meaning that resonates. If symbolism matters to the wearer, read the folklore for each option and pick the one that feels personal.

Worked example: imagine a gift for a friend born in late October who works with her hands and loves bold colour. Opal is the modern October stone, but it is delicate and might suffer in a ring that meets daily bumps. Tourmaline, the other October birthstone, is tougher and comes in vivid pinks and greens that match her taste. A tourmaline ring, perhaps paired later with opal earrings for special occasions, honours her birth month and suits her life. Because she was born after October 22, she might also enjoy a small stone linked to Scorpio as a second piece.

If you would like raw or tumbled crystals for a birthday ritual or a collection rather than fine jewelry, Spirit Magicka, the journal’s own crystal shop, is one place to look around.

Caring for Birthstones and Mistakes to Avoid

The 12 birthstones by month range from some of the toughest gems on Earth to some of the most delicate, so one care routine does not fit them all. A few habits keep every stone looking its best.

• Store pieces separately. Harder gems can scratch softer ones, so keep diamond, sapphire and ruby jewelry away from opal, pearl, turquoise and quartz pieces, ideally in soft pouches or lined compartments.
• Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. For most stones, gentle wiping after wear is all that is needed day to day.
• Put jewelry on last. Perfume, hairspray and lotions can dull organic and porous materials such as pearl and turquoise, so add these pieces after you have finished getting ready.
• Take rings off for rough work. Gardening, cleaning and sports are hard on any gem, especially the softer ones.

Common mistakes

• Soaking every stone in water. Water cleansing is popular in crystal practice, but it is not safe for every material. Pearl, opal, turquoise and many soft or porous stones should not be soaked. When unsure, choose a dry method such as moonlight or a sound bowl instead.
• Making crystal elixirs without checking. Never place a stone in drinking water unless you are certain of what it is and that it is safe, and keep small stones and jewelry away from children and pets, who may swallow them.
• Assuming “birthstone” means “hard.” Being on the chart says nothing about durability. Check how tough a stone is before setting it in a daily ring; our quartz hardness guide is a helpful benchmark for amethyst and citrine.
• Treating folklore as a promise. Birthstone meanings are rich traditions, and many people find comfort and joy in them. They are not a substitute for medical or mental-health care.

If luck is part of why you are drawn to your birthstone, our guide to crystals for luck covers the stones most often linked with good fortune and the small rituals people build around them. You can browse every stone mentioned here in the full crystal library, and if you want a piece of your own month’s stone to keep on a desk or windowsill, Spirit Magicka is worth a visit.

However you use it, a birthstone is a small, lasting way to mark a person and a season. Pick the one that feels right, look after it gently, and it will carry its story for years.