Birthstones are gemstones associated with a person’s month of birth. Each stone has its own color, appearance, history, and traditional symbolism, making birthstone jewelry a popular way to personalize a ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings, or meaningful gift.
If you’re trying to find your birthstone, the chart below gives you the answer at a glance. Then, explore each month to learn more about its color, traditional meaning, jewelry options, and what to consider before buying.
Birthstones by Month at a Glance
| Month | Birthstone | Common Color | Traditional Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | Protection, friendship, commitment |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | Calm, clarity, wisdom |
| March | Aquamarine | Light blue to blue-green | Courage, calm, serenity |
| April | Diamond | Colorless or fancy colors | Strength, endurance, lasting love |
| May | Emerald | Green | Growth, renewal, love |
| June | Pearl | White, cream, and other colors | Purity, wisdom, grace |
| July | Ruby | Red | Passion, courage, vitality |
| August | Peridot | Yellow-green to olive green | Protection, positivity, renewal |
| September | Sapphire | Blue and many other colors | Loyalty, wisdom, sincerity |
| October | Opal | Multicolored | Hope, creativity, individuality |
| November | Citrine | Yellow to golden orange | Joy, warmth, abundance |
| December | Turquoise | Blue to blue-green | Protection, peace, good fortune |
Some months have additional recognized birthstones. June, August, October, November, and December are especially notable for offering multiple choices, while some traditional systems also recognize alternatives for other months. The exact list can vary by organization and tradition, so it is worth checking which system a jewelry seller follows.
What Are Birthstones?
A birthstone is a gemstone traditionally connected with a particular month of the year. Birthstones have been influenced by centuries of religious traditions, folklore, jewelry customs, and gemstone history.
The modern U.S. birthstone list traces back to a list established in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association, the organization that became Jewelers of America. The list has changed over time, with additional gemstones becoming associated with certain months.
Birthstones are now especially popular in personalized jewelry because they offer a simple way to connect a piece with a birthday, anniversary, family member, or personal milestone.
The meanings associated with birthstones should be understood as traditional symbolism and cultural lore, not scientifically proven properties.
January Birthstone: Garnet
Color: Usually deep red, but garnet occurs in many colors
Traditional meaning: Protection, friendship, commitment, and strength
Garnet is the traditional January birthstone and is best known for its rich red color. However, garnet is actually a diverse gemstone family that can appear in shades including orange, yellow, green, purple, and other colors.
Its name is commonly connected with the appearance of red garnet crystals resembling pomegranate seeds.
Traditionally, garnet has been associated with protection and friendship. It has also been worn throughout history as a gemstone believed to provide protection during travel.
Garnet jewelry
Garnet works particularly well in rings, earrings, necklaces, and pendants. Because different garnet varieties have different properties, the exact type of garnet matters when choosing jewelry intended for frequent wear.
If you’re looking for a more detailed look at the January stone, explore the guide to January’s garnet birthstone.
For someone shopping specifically for a January birthday gift, January birthstone rings offer a more personalized option.
February Birthstone: Amethyst
Color: Purple, from pale lilac to deep violet
Traditional meaning: Peace, clarity, calm, and wisdom
Amethyst is February’s birthstone and is one of the most recognizable purple gemstones. It is a variety of quartz and can range from very light purple to rich, saturated violet.
Historically, amethyst has been connected with clarity and sobriety. Today, its purple color makes it a popular choice for both classic and modern jewelry.
Amethyst jewelry
Amethyst is suitable for many types of jewelry, including rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets. Its purple color also pairs naturally with both white and yellow metals.
Learn more about February’s amethyst birthstone if you want a deeper look at its color, meaning, and jewelry options.
For a ready-to-shop option, February birthstone rings can turn the traditional gemstone into a personalized piece.
March Birthstone: Aquamarine
Color: Pale blue to blue-green
Traditional meaning: Calm, courage, clarity, and protection
Aquamarine is March’s best-known birthstone. It belongs to the beryl family, the same mineral family that includes emerald.
Its name comes from Latin words associated with seawater, which is fitting for its blue to blue-green appearance.
Aquamarine can range from a very light watery blue to a stronger blue-green shade. Clearer stones often have a particularly crisp and refreshing appearance.
Aquamarine jewelry
Aquamarine is popular in rings, pendants, earrings, and other jewelry because of its cool color and relatively good durability.
If you’re deciding between similar blue gemstones, comparisons such as aquamarine vs. blue topaz can help clarify the differences in color, appearance, and overall appeal.
You can also explore March birthstone rings for personalized jewelry ideas.
For the complete background, see the guide to March’s aquamarine birthstone.
April Birthstone: Diamond
Color: Usually colorless, although diamonds occur in many colors
Traditional meaning: Strength, endurance, commitment, and lasting love
April is represented by diamond, making it unique among the birthstone months because the gemstone is also one of the most important stones in engagement and wedding jewelry.
Diamonds can be colorless or naturally occur in shades such as yellow, brown, pink, blue, and other fancy colors.
Diamond is also the hardest natural gemstone, which contributes to its popularity for jewelry intended for everyday wear.
Diamond jewelry
April-born shoppers have an unusually wide range of jewelry choices, from classic diamond rings to pendants and earrings.
If you’re buying an April birthstone piece that will be worn every day, consider the diamond’s cut, color, clarity, and carat weight rather than focusing only on size.
The dedicated guide to April’s diamond birthstone provides more detail on its color, meaning, and jewelry uses.
May Birthstone: Emerald
Color: Green
Traditional meaning: Growth, renewal, love, and prosperity
Emerald is May’s birthstone and is famous for its rich green color. It is another member of the beryl family, alongside aquamarine.
The most desirable emeralds often have a vivid green appearance, although natural emeralds commonly contain inclusions. These internal characteristics are so common that the French phrase jardin, meaning garden, has historically been used to describe an emerald’s internal appearance.
Emerald jewelry
Emerald can make a striking choice for rings, earrings, pendants, and statement jewelry.
Because emeralds are typically more included than diamonds and can require additional care, buyers should consider the setting and intended use when choosing an emerald ring.
Read the full guide to May’s emerald birthstone for more information.
If you’re shopping for a personalized piece, May birthstone rings are a natural place to start.
June Birthstone: Pearl
Color: White and cream are traditional, with many other colors available
Traditional meaning: Purity, wisdom, grace, and sincerity
June is one of the months with multiple recognized birthstones, but pearl is perhaps its most familiar choice.
Unlike most gemstones, pearls form inside living mollusks. Cultured pearls are produced by intentionally introducing an irritant or nucleus into the mollusk, which then deposits layers of nacre around it.
Pearls can occur in several colors, depending on the type and growing environment.
Pearl jewelry
Pearls are especially popular in necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and classic rings. Their relatively soft surface means they require more care than harder gemstones such as sapphire, ruby, or diamond.
If you prefer a softer and more traditional look, pearl can be an excellent June birthstone.
Explore June’s pearl birthstone for more information about its meaning, color, and jewelry.
For personalized jewelry, see June birthstone rings.
July Birthstone: Ruby
Color: Red, from pinkish-red to deep red
Traditional meaning: Passion, courage, vitality, and love
Ruby is July’s birthstone and is one of the best-known colored gemstones.
Ruby belongs to the corundum mineral family. Red corundum is called ruby, while corundum in other colors is generally classified as sapphire.
The strongest association with ruby is its vivid red color, which has long connected the gemstone with passion, strength, and courage.
Ruby jewelry
Ruby is particularly well suited to rings because of its excellent durability. It also works beautifully in earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and statement pieces.
If you’re considering a red gemstone for a July birthday, ruby is the traditional choice.
See the complete July ruby birthstone guide for more information.
You can also explore July birthstone rings when looking for a personalized jewelry option.
August Birthstone: Peridot
Color: Yellow-green to olive green
Traditional meaning: Protection, positivity, renewal, and happiness
Peridot is August’s best-known birthstone and is instantly recognizable for its yellow-green color.
Unlike many gemstones whose color can vary dramatically depending on trace elements, peridot’s characteristic green comes from its chemical composition. It is the gem variety of the mineral olivine.
Peridot has also been found in unusual places, including meteorites, adding an interesting dimension to its history.
Peridot jewelry
Peridot’s bright green color makes it especially attractive in summer jewelry. It can be used in rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
August is one of the months with multiple recognized birthstones, including spinel and sardonyx in some modern lists.
Learn more about August’s peridot birthstone before choosing your stone.
For a personalized gift, August birthstone rings are another option.
September Birthstone: Sapphire
Color: Most famously blue, but available in many colors
Traditional meaning: Loyalty, wisdom, sincerity, and nobility
Sapphire is September’s birthstone and is best known for its blue varieties.
Sapphire and ruby are both varieties of corundum. The major distinction is color: red corundum is ruby, while other corundum colors are generally called sapphire.
Although blue sapphire is the classic choice, sapphires can also be pink, yellow, green, purple, and other colors.
Sapphire jewelry
Sapphire is an excellent choice for rings because it is highly durable. It is also popular in earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and engagement rings.
Blue sapphire is especially associated with classic and sophisticated jewelry, while fancy-color sapphires offer a more unusual look.
For more detail, read the guide to September’s sapphire birthstone.
If you’re shopping for a personalized piece, September birthstone rings provide a natural starting point.
October Birthstone: Opal
Color: White, black, and many multicolored patterns
Traditional meaning: Hope, creativity, imagination, and individuality
October’s best-known birthstone is opal, a gemstone famous for its play-of-color.
Unlike a gemstone that simply has a single body color, precious opal can display flashes of multiple colors as the stone moves in the light. These colors may include blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and red.
No two opals look exactly alike, which is part of their appeal.
Opal jewelry
Opal is especially attractive in statement jewelry because each stone can have a highly individual pattern.
However, opal is softer than many popular jewelry gemstones, so buyers should consider how and where the piece will be worn.
Read more about October’s opal birthstone before choosing an opal piece.
You can also explore October birthstone rings for personalized jewelry.
For shoppers interested in alternatives, October is also associated with tourmaline.
November Birthstone: Citrine
Color: Yellow, golden, orange, and brownish tones
Traditional meaning: Joy, warmth, abundance, and prosperity
Citrine is November’s birthstone and is recognized for its warm yellow-to-golden color.
It is a variety of quartz and can range from a pale yellow to deeper golden or orange shades. Natural citrine is relatively uncommon, and much commercial citrine is produced by heat treatment of amethyst or related quartz material.
Citrine jewelry
Citrine’s warm color works particularly well with yellow gold, although it can also create an attractive contrast with white metals.
It can be used in rings, pendants, earrings, and bracelets, making it a versatile November birthstone.
Explore November’s citrine birthstone to learn more about its color and meaning.
For a personalized jewelry option, consider November birthstone rings.
Topaz is another recognized November birthstone, giving shoppers an alternative if they prefer a different color or gemstone appearance.
December Birthstone: Turquoise
Color: Blue, blue-green, and greenish blue
Traditional meaning: Protection, peace, friendship, and good fortune
Turquoise is one of the most recognizable blue-green gemstones and is traditionally associated with December.
Its distinctive color comes partly from copper within its composition. Turquoise can range from bright blue to greenish blue and may contain a matrix pattern from the surrounding rock.
Turquoise jewelry
Turquoise has a distinctive look that works particularly well in casual, bohemian, vintage, and Southwestern-inspired jewelry.
Because turquoise is relatively soft compared with many traditional jewelry gemstones, it benefits from careful handling and protection from harsh chemicals.
For a deeper look, read the guide to December’s turquoise birthstone.
You can also explore December birthstone rings for personalized jewelry ideas.
December also has other recognized birthstones, including tanzanite and zircon.
What Are the Alternative Birthstones?
Not every modern birthstone list uses exactly the same gemstones.
The differences are most noticeable for months such as June, August, October, November, and December. For example, Jewelers of America lists pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite for June; peridot and spinel for August; opal and tourmaline for October; citrine and topaz for November; and turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon for December.
GIA’s birthstone information similarly recognizes multiple stones for several months.
This means there isn’t always one universally accepted answer when someone asks for a month’s “birthstone.” If a month has multiple recognized stones, choosing between them can simply come down to color, style, durability, availability, and personal preference.
How to Choose Birthstone Jewelry
Once you know the birthstone, the next question is which type of jewelry makes the most sense.
1. Consider how often it will be worn
A gemstone ring intended for everyday wear needs to withstand considerably more activity than an occasional pendant.
Harder gemstones such as diamond, ruby, and sapphire are generally better suited to frequent wear, while softer materials such as pearl and opal need more care.
2. Choose the color you actually like
The traditional birthstone is meaningful, but jewelry is something you should enjoy wearing.
If you love purple, amethyst may be more appealing than another stone associated with your birth month. If your month has multiple birthstones, color can be an easy way to narrow the choices.
3. Think about the jewelry type
Some birthstones work especially well in certain formats:
- Rings: Diamond, ruby, sapphire, garnet, emerald, and other durable stones
- Necklaces: Pearl, opal, aquamarine, amethyst, and turquoise
- Earrings: Almost any birthstone, depending on the setting
- Bracelets: Durable stones are generally easier for frequent wear
- Statement jewelry: Opal, emerald, turquoise, and colorful tourmaline can create distinctive looks
4. Consider the metal
The same gemstone can look completely different depending on the metal.
White gold and platinum can emphasize cool-toned stones such as sapphire, aquamarine, and diamond. Yellow gold can create a warmer appearance with garnet, citrine, ruby, emerald, and turquoise.
Rose gold can add a softer contrast to stones such as amethyst, pink sapphire, and some lighter-colored gemstones.
5. Think about durability
Durability is especially important when buying a birthstone ring.
The Mohs hardness scale is useful for comparing scratch resistance, but hardness is not the only factor. Toughness, cleavage, fractures, inclusions, and the design of the setting also affect how well a gemstone performs in everyday jewelry.
Birthstone Jewelry by Month
A birthstone can be incorporated into almost any type of personalized jewelry.
If you’re shopping specifically by birth month, the dedicated collections make it easier to browse:
- January: January birthstone rings
- February: February birthstone rings
- March: March birthstone rings
- April: April birthstone rings
- May: May birthstone rings
- June: June birthstone rings
- July: July birthstone rings
- August: August birthstone rings
- September: September birthstone rings
- October: October birthstone rings
- November: November birthstone rings
- December: December birthstone rings
For readers who want to learn about gemstones beyond birthstones, a broader guide to different types of gemstones is a useful next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the birthstone for each month?
January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is pearl, July is ruby, August is peridot, September is sapphire, October is opal, November is citrine, and December is turquoise.
Several months also have additional recognized birthstones.
Which birthstone is the most durable?
Diamond is the hardest natural gemstone at 10 on the Mohs scale. Ruby and sapphire are also highly durable at 9, making them particularly suitable for jewelry that receives regular wear.
However, hardness alone does not determine whether a gemstone is suitable for everyday jewelry.
Which birthstones are blue?
Several birthstones have blue or blue-green varieties, including aquamarine, sapphire, turquoise, and some forms of topaz, zircon, and tanzanite.
Sapphire is the classic September birthstone associated with blue, while aquamarine is known for its lighter sea-blue appearance.
Which months have more than one birthstone?
Several months have multiple recognized birthstones. June, August, October, November, and December are notable examples, although different organizations and traditions can use slightly different lists.
Can I wear a birthstone that isn’t associated with my birth month?
Absolutely. Birthstone traditions are a way to personalize jewelry, not a restriction on what you can wear.
You can choose a gemstone based on its color, appearance, durability, symbolism, or simply because you like it.
Are birthstone meanings scientifically proven?
No. Birthstone meanings come from historical traditions, cultural beliefs, folklore, and gemstone lore. They should be viewed as symbolism rather than scientifically established properties.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Rarity depends on the specific gemstone variety, quality, color, size, origin, and market conditions. Some varieties of alexandrite, high-quality emerald, ruby, sapphire, and other gemstones can be particularly rare.
A gemstone being a birthstone does not automatically make it rare or expensive.
Final Thoughts
Birthstones combine color, personal meaning, and jewelry in a way that makes them especially appealing for birthdays and personalized gifts.
The traditional month-by-month list provides an easy starting point: garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl for June, ruby for July, peridot for August, sapphire for September, opal for October, citrine for November, and turquoise for December.
But you don’t have to stop with the traditional choice. Months with multiple recognized birthstones give you more flexibility, and even a single-stone month can inspire different jewelry styles, metals, cuts, and settings.
The best birthstone is ultimately one that combines personal meaning with a color and jewelry style you’ll genuinely enjoy wearing.
