What Are the Birthstones by Month? Chart and Meanings

What are the birthstones by month? Ask a jeweler, a grandmother and a crystal collector, and you may get three slightly different lists. All three can be right. Over the centuries the twelve months each picked up more than one gem. Some came from folklore, some from the jewelry trade, and some simply because a stone became easier to find or wear. This guide puts both lists side by side, then goes through every month: what the stone looks like, what it is as a mineral, the beliefs attached to it, and how to wear it and look after it.

What are the birthstones by month? The full chart

The quickest answer to “What are the birthstones by month?” is a table. Here it is, laid out the way most jewelers and gem references use it today. The modern column follows the list American jewelers published in 1912, which has been added to since. The traditional column is the older list that many families still prefer.

A few terms will come up below. Mohs hardness is a scale from 1 to 10 that measures how well a mineral resists scratching. Talc sits at 1 and diamond at 10, and the higher the number, the better a stone copes with daily knocks. Faceted stones are cut with flat, polished faces that throw light back at you. A cabochon is smoothed into a dome, the usual shape for opaque gems like turquoise. In crystal shops you will also see raw stones, left rough as they came out of the ground, and tumbled stones, rolled with grit until they are smooth and glossy.

Modern vs traditional birthstones: what is the difference?

The traditional list best known in the United States did not start in America. It took shape in Poland between the 16th and 18th centuries and travelled with European custom. In 1912 the National Association of Jewelers released what it called the modern birthstones. Its most noticeable change was a preference for transparent, faceted gems.

The likely reason was practical. “Mother’s rings” set the birthstones of a woman’s children side by side, and they are much easier to design when every stone is a clear, faceted gem. Picture one ring holding a pearl, a domed turquoise and a faceted emerald and diamond, and the problem is obvious. Jewelers have kept adding to the modern list since then. Spinel, citrine and tanzanite are all fairly recent additions.

Older lore goes back further still. Many people trace the idea of twelve stones to gem lists in ancient religious texts, such as the jeweled breastplate described in the Book of Exodus. Scholars disagree about which minerals those ancient names actually meant, so that link is best treated as folklore, not a fixed list.

In practice, people today mix both lists freely. Some traditional stones stay popular because they cost less (turquoise) or are easier to get (cultured pearls) than their modern counterparts. So if someone asks you, “What are the birthstones by month?”, the honest answer is “it depends which list you follow, and you can choose.” Our editorial approach explains how this journal treats traditions like these: as living customs, not rules.

Zodiac stones are a separate system. They follow star signs, whose dates cross month lines. Leo, for example, runs until 22 August and Virgo starts on 23 August, yet both share August’s stones. Some people wear one of each.

January to April birthstones: garnet, amethyst, aquamarine and diamond

The first four months show why the lists vary so much. One stone is really a whole family, one belongs to the quartz group, and two months have two choices.

January: garnet

Garnet is not a single mineral. It is a group of several related species and varieties, which is why January’s stone comes in much more than red. There are orange, yellow, purplish and vivid green garnets too, and large, clear crystals with strong color are not unusual. In folklore garnet is a protective stone, said to shield the wearer from injury and favored by warriors and royalty. The red varieties are linked with blood, vitality and love. Many people wear garnet as a ring or pendant, or carry a tumbled piece as a reminder to stay steady. It appears in our guide to crystals for protection. Wipe set garnet jewelry with a soft cloth and store it away from harder gems.

February: amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, ranging from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. The more vivid stones are usually the most valued. It sits at 7 on the Mohs scale, so it resists scratches well and works in any kind of jewelry. Purple has long been tied to royalty, and amethyst later came to stand for spirituality and clear thinking. In crystal traditions it is believed to support calm, and many people keep a piece by the bed or hold one during meditation. Collectors love raw amethyst clusters, which are groups of crystals that grew together on a shared base. It belongs to the Quartz & family section of our library. As a precaution, many collectors keep amethyst out of strong direct sun for long stretches.

March: aquamarine and bloodstone

Aquamarine is the blue to blue-green member of the beryl family. Its name comes from the Latin for “seawater,” and it was once thought to protect sailors. Some people also link it with a happy marriage and a sharp mind. Its color always stays light in tone, so you will not find deep navy aquamarines. It is easy to find and moderately priced, which makes it a good everyday stone. Bloodstone, the traditional March choice, is an opaque dark green stone speckled with red, usually cut as a cabochon or carved. People drawn to grounding stones often prefer it.

April: diamond

Diamond is the most popular ring stone in the world. Most diamonds are colorless, but they also come in a full range of fancy colors, from rare reds to blues and warm yellows. Because diamond is so hard and durable, it stands for strength and lasting love, which explains its place in engagement and wedding rings. Some crystal lovers use clear quartz as an affordable stand-in for meditation or a home altar. Diamonds attract skin oils that dull their sparkle, so a gentle clean every so often brings back the fire.

May to August birthstones: emerald, pearl, ruby and peridot

The summer months hold one of the most delicate gems on the chart and one of the toughest.

May: emerald

Emerald is a member of the beryl family, like aquamarine. Along with diamond, ruby and sapphire, it is one of the traditional “Big Four” gems. The finest emeralds show an even, deep green, sometimes with a blue undertone. Most emeralds have inclusions you can see with the naked eye (tiny internal features), and the fewer there are, the higher the value. Legend says emerald sharpens the mind, helps the wearer think objectively and even grants glimpses of the future. Because inclusions are so common, handle emerald gently. Avoid harsh cleaners and sudden heat, and wipe it with a soft cloth.

June: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone

Pearls are the only gems that form inside living creatures, in both saltwater and freshwater mollusks. Natural pearls are now extremely rare, so nearly all pearls on the market are cultured. A smooth, evenly colored surface gives pearls their long association with honesty, purity and wisdom. Some cultures believed pearls were tears from heaven, and ancient Chinese lore said dragons carried them as symbols of wisdom and power. Today they come in white, black, gold, silver, green and soft pastels. Pearls need special care. Put them on last, after perfume and hairspray, wipe them after wearing and never soak them.

Alexandrite, the modern June stone, is known for seeming to change color between daylight and lamplight, and it is often named among the rarest gems (see our guide to the most rare gemstones). Moonstone, with its soft floating sheen, is also widely listed for June. You will find it in our Moon & light collection.

July: ruby

Ruby is corundum with a dominant red color, and it can reach very vivid saturation. It is exceptionally durable, so it suits rings worn every day, and fine rubies are among the most expensive gemstones. Warriors favored ruby, which has long been linked with physical strength and stamina. Folklore also credits it with cooling anger and helping the wearer handle heated situations.

August: peridot, spinel and sardonyx

August has three choices. Peridot is a bright olive to lime green, a cheerful color that many people associate with warmth and optimism. Spinel, a recent addition, is best known in red and pink. Sardonyx, the traditional stone, shows bands of reddish brown and white and is often carved or set as a cabochon. In the Northern Hemisphere August is high summer, so peridot’s sunny green feels right. In the Southern Hemisphere it falls in winter.

September to December birthstones: sapphire, opal, topaz and turquoise

The last four months round out the chart, and they have the widest spread of colors of the year.

September: sapphire

Sapphire is ruby’s sibling. Both are corundum, and red corundum is called ruby while the other colors are sapphire. Blue is the classic shade, but sapphires also come in pink, yellow and more. It is very durable and suits daily rings. In many traditions sapphire stands for wisdom, loyalty and calm judgement.

October: opal and tourmaline

Opal, the traditional stone, is loved for its play of color: flashes of rainbow light that shift as you tilt the stone. It needs gentle handling. Avoid knocks, sudden temperature changes and soaking, and many people choose it for pendants or earrings rather than rings. Tourmaline, the modern stone, comes in an unusually wide range of colors, sometimes several in one crystal. “Watermelon” tourmaline, for example, is pink inside with a green rind. In crystal traditions each color carries its own meaning, which makes tourmaline a very personal choice.

November: topaz and citrine

Golden topaz glows from honey yellow to warm orange. Citrine is the yellow to orange variety of quartz, a cousin of amethyst with the same scratch resistance, and it is one of the more affordable birthstones. In crystal traditions citrine is believed to bring brightness and a sense of abundance, and many people keep a point on a desk or by the front door.

December: turquoise, tanzanite, blue zircon and lapis lazuli

December has the most options, all in blue. Turquoise is opaque, sky blue to greenish, and usually cut as a cabochon. It is often cheaper than the modern December stones. Lapis lazuli is a deep blue speckled with gold flecks. Tanzanite, a recent addition, shows a violet-blue shade. Blue zircon and blue topaz offer bright, transparent blues. Blue zircon is a natural mineral and should not be confused with cubic zirconia, which is a synthetic diamond look-alike. Treat turquoise and lapis gently, and keep them away from oils, lotions and water. Many of these stones live in our Earth treasures collection.

How to choose your birthstone

Knowing which stones belong to your month is only the start. Picking yours is part research and part instinct, and these steps help:

1. Check both lists for your month. If your month has two or three stones, treat them as a menu, not a contest.
2. Think about how you will wear it. A ring worn every day takes far more knocks than a pendant or earrings. Diamond, ruby, sapphire and the quartz stones handle daily wear better than pearl, opal or turquoise.
3. Pick a color you will actually wear. A stone you love the look of will get worn. One chosen only from a chart may stay in a drawer.
4. Set a budget. Traditional choices such as turquoise or cultured pearls, and quartz stones like amethyst and citrine, usually cost much less than emerald or fine ruby.
5. Read the lore. Choose the meaning that speaks to you. Some people also match stones to the chakras, the seven energy centers described in yogic tradition.
6. Choose a form. Faceted jewelry, a tumbled pocket stone or a raw specimen for a shelf all count. Loose tumbled and raw crystals are an easy way to start.

A worked example: a family ring

Imagine a ring for three children born in March, June and October. Using the traditional list gives bloodstone, pearl and opal: one opaque stone and two delicate ones, which is lovely in theory but tricky in a ring worn every day. Using the modern list gives aquamarine, alexandrite and tourmaline: three transparent, faceted gems that match in style and stand up well to daily wear. That is exactly the problem the 1912 list was meant to solve. If the family loves the older stones, a pendant or a charm bracelet keeps the pearl and opal safer than a ring would.

Common mistakes

• Assuming there is only one correct stone for each month.
• Setting a soft or delicate stone in a ring meant for daily wear.
• Mixing up similar names, such as blue zircon and cubic zirconia.
• Expecting a birthstone to change your health. Its meaning is symbolic and personal, and it is no substitute for medical or mental-health care.

How to care for birthstone jewelry and crystals

Care follows the stone, not the month. Here is a quick guide for the birthstones people wear most:

Store every piece on its own in a soft pouch or a lined compartment so harder gems cannot scratch softer ones. Many crystal lovers also like a symbolic “cleansing” ritual. For delicate stones, choose dry methods: rest the stone on a windowsill overnight, ring a singing bowl near it, or simply hold it and set an intention. Never use water rituals or make crystal elixirs with pearl, opal, turquoise or lapis, and it is safest not to make elixirs with any stone. Keep small tumbled stones out of reach of young children and pets, since they are a choking hazard.

So, what are the birthstones by month? Twelve core gems, a handful of alternatives, and a story behind every one. Browse the full crystal library to read more about yours.