A birthstone is a gem linked with the month you were born. The idea is centuries old, the official list is about a hundred years old, and it has been updated several times since. Here's each birthstone by month, with its color, the meaning tradition gives it, and the alternate stones you may see.
Birthstone chart by month
This is the modern list used by most jewelers in the United States.
| Month | Modern birthstone | Color | Traditional symbolism |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red; also green and orange | Friendship, trust and safe travel |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | Calm, clear thinking and sincerity |
| March | Aquamarine | Pale blue to blue-green | Courage and calm seas |
| April | Diamond | Colorless; also yellow, pink and blue | Strength and lasting love |
| May | Emerald | Green | Renewal, growth and good fortune |
| June | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | White or cream; green that turns reddish purple in warm light; milky with a blue sheen | Purity, change and intuition |
| July | Ruby | Red | Passion, courage and protection |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Yellow-green; red, pink or blue | Good fortune and fresh energy |
| September | Sapphire | Blue; also most other colors | Wisdom, loyalty and truth |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Shifting rainbow flashes; pink, green or both | Creativity and hope |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Golden yellow to orange; yellow to amber | Warmth, generosity and friendship |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | Sky blue to blue-green; violet-blue; bright blue | Protection, luck and success |
Traditional and alternate birthstones
Older lists, often called traditional birthstones, differ from the modern one for several months. These are the alternates you'll see most often:
- March: bloodstone, a dark green stone flecked with red.
- June: pearl and moonstone are the older choices. Alexandrite was added later.
- August: sardonyx, a banded reddish-brown and white stone.
- October: opal is the older stone. Tourmaline is the modern addition.
- November: topaz is the older stone. Citrine is the modern alternate.
- December: turquoise and lapis lazuli are the older stones. Zircon and tanzanite are modern additions.
Where birthstones come from
The idea is usually traced to a passage in the Book of Exodus that describes a priest's breastplate set with twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Later writers connected the twelve stones with the twelve signs of the zodiac, and then with the twelve months. For a long time the custom was to own all twelve and wear the right one each month. Wearing only the stone of your own birth month is a newer habit, generally dated to Europe a few centuries ago.
The modern list was set in 1912, when an American jewelers' trade association agreed on a standard so that shops across the country would sell the same stone for each month. It has been revised since. Alexandrite, citrine, tourmaline and zircon were added in 1952, tanzanite in 2002 and spinel in 2016.
Why birthstone lists vary by country
There is no single worldwide list. The British list, for example, includes bloodstone as an alternate for March and rock crystal for April. Other countries and traditions have their own versions, and there are separate lists by zodiac sign and by day of the week. Jewelers also add stones over time as new gems become popular. If two charts disagree, both may be right for the list they follow.
A closer look at each birthstone
- Garnet (January). The name comes from the Latin word for pomegranate, after the seed-like red crystals. Folklore says friends exchanged garnets when parting, as a wish to meet again.
- Amethyst (February). A purple variety of quartz. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning "not drunk," because the ancient Greeks believed it kept the wearer clear-headed.
- Aquamarine (March). The name is Latin for "water of the sea." It belongs to the same mineral family as emerald, and sailors carried it for calm voyages.
- Diamond (April). The hardest natural material known, rated 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. Its name comes from a Greek word for unbreakable.
- Emerald (May). Green beryl. Most emeralds have small internal marks that jewelers call the garden. It has long been tied to spring and renewal.
- Pearl (June). The only birthstone made by a living creature. Pearls are soft and need gentle care.
- Ruby (July). The red variety of the mineral corundum. An old Sanskrit name for it translates as "king of gems."
- Peridot (August). One of the few gems that comes in just one color family, green. It forms deep in the Earth and has even been found in meteorites.
- Sapphire (September). Also corundum, in every color except red. Blue sapphire has been linked with royalty and clergy for centuries.
- Opal (October). Known for flashes of color that shift as you turn the stone. No two opals look alike.
- Topaz and citrine (November). Golden topaz is the traditional stone. Citrine is yellow quartz and a budget-friendly alternate.
- Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon (December). Turquoise is one of the oldest gems used in jewelry. Tanzanite is mined in only one small area of Tanzania and was first identified in 1967. Zircon is a natural mineral and isn't the same thing as lab-made cubic zirconia.
Choosing and wearing a birthstone
- Think about hardness. Diamond, ruby and sapphire are hard enough for a ring you wear every day. Pearl, opal and turquoise are much softer, so they do better in earrings and pendants, or in rings worn with care.
- Keep soft stones away from perfume, hairspray and harsh cleaners.
- Pick any stone you like. Nothing says you must wear your own month. Many people wear a partner's or child's birthstone.
- Ask about lab-grown stones. They have the same chemistry as mined gems and usually cost less.
Do birthstones have powers?
Folklore credits stones with luck, protection and even healing. There's no scientific evidence that any gem affects health, mood or fortune. The symbolism is what makes a birthstone a personal gift.
Your birth month also sets your sun sign. See the dates in the zodiac signs guide, or enter your full birthday in the birth chart calculator to see the rest of your chart.
Birthstone meanings come from folklore and tradition and are for reflection and entertainment.
FAQ
What is my birthstone?
It depends on your birth month: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz and December turquoise. Several months have alternates.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Jewelers have added stones over the years to offer more colors and price points, and older traditional stones are still in use.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Alexandrite and tanzanite are the ones most often named. Tanzanite comes from a single small mining area, and fine alexandrite is hard to find.
Can I wear a birthstone that isn't mine?
Yes. Birthstones are a tradition, not a rule, and many people wear a loved one's stone or just a color they like.
Are birthstones the same in every country?
No. The United States, Britain and other countries use slightly different lists, and there are also lists by zodiac sign.