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Birthstone by Month
Explore birthstones by month, with all 12 months, birthstone colors, cultural meanings and practical care.
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February
Amethyst
Amethyst: lilac to deep purple
A personal reminder of inner peace.
03
March
Aquamarine · Bloodstone
Aquamarine: pale blue to greenish blue; Bloodstone: dark green with red spots
A personal reminder of courage.
04
05
May
Emerald
Emerald: green to bluish green
A symbol of renewal and fresh beginnings.
06
June
Pearl · Moonstone · Alexandrite
Pearl: white, cream, pink, gray and other tones; Moonstone: often pale with a blue or white sheen; Alexandrite: greenish to reddish in different light
Pearl: purity. Moonstone: intuition.
07
08
August
Peridot · Spinel · Sardonyx
Peridot: yellowish green; Spinel: red, pink, violet, blue and more; Sardonyx: bands of reddish brown and white
Peridot: a personal symbol of renewal.
09
10
October
Opal · Tourmaline
Opal: many body colors; Tourmaline: pink, green, blue and many more
Opal: a personal symbol of creativity.
11
November
Citrine · Topaz
Citrine: yellow to brownish orange; Topaz: blue, yellow, pink, colorless and more
Citrine: a personal symbol of happiness.
12
December
Tanzanite · Zircon · Turquoise
Tanzanite: blue to violet; Zircon: often blue; Turquoise: blue to green
Turquoise: a traditional symbol of protection.
Representative gemstone imagery, not individual products. Natural gems vary. Meanings are cultural or personal associations.
Birthstones by month: colors, meanings and care
Birthstones connect a calendar month with one or more gems. The colors above are a starting point: many gems have a wider palette, and no two natural stones look exactly alike. Use the twelve month guides below to compare the assigned stones, symbolic meanings and alternatives before choosing a piece.
Meanings are cultural or personal associations, without promises about health or fortune. The zodiac pairs below follow usual Western tropical sun-sign ranges. Astrology and month-based birthstones are separate traditions, so a sun sign does not determine the gemstone assigned to a calendar month.
Mohs values describe gemstones, rather than the durability of a complete piece. Treatments, settings and mixed materials can change the care required. Follow the exact product’s instructions, including gentler cleaning where needed.
January Birthstone: Garnet
January's birthstone is garnet, a mineral family known for red gems but also found in vivid greens, oranges and other colors. Its name recalls pomegranate seeds, while cultural associations with calm offer a personal symbol of steadiness. Red spinel provides another red option, although it belongs to August's birthstone list rather than January's. Garnet measures 6.5–7.5 on the Mohs scale; clean with warm soapy water and keep it separate from harder gems. January's usual Western sun signs are Capricorn and Aquarius, an independent tradition.
January birthstone jewelry · Full January guide · GIA January reference
February Birthstone: Amethyst
Amethyst is February's birthstone, the quartz variety that ranges from soft lilac to deep purple. Its history includes royal jewelry, and it can be worn as a personal symbol of inner strength. Purple sapphire is a color-based alternative, though sapphire belongs to September's list. Amethyst ranks 7 on the Mohs scale, so harder stones can scratch it. Wash gently with mild soap and avoid steam, excessive heat and prolonged strong light. February's usual Western sun signs are Aquarius and Pisces; their symbolism follows a separate tradition.
February birthstone jewelry · Full February guide · GIA February reference
March Birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
March has two birthstones: blue to greenish-blue aquamarine and dark green bloodstone marked by red inclusions. Aquamarine's sea-inspired name and historical use as a sailor's talisman give it a cultural link with protection. Bloodstone is an assigned alternative for those who prefer an earthy, opaque look. Aquamarine measures 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale; bloodstone measures 6.5–7. Gentle soap-and-water cleaning suits both, with harsh chemicals and extreme heat best avoided for bloodstone. March's usual Western sun signs are Pisces and Aries, separate from the monthly stone list.
March birthstone jewelry · Full March guide · GIA March reference
April Birthstone: Diamond
Diamond is April's birthstone, available in colorless and colored varieties and widely used as a symbol of lasting commitment. Both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds are diamond; moissanite offers a different material with its own sparkle, rather than an assigned April birthstone. Diamond ranks 10 on the Mohs scale, but hardness measures scratch resistance, so a strong impact can still chip it. Mild soap, warm water and regular setting checks support good care. April's usual Western sun signs are Aries and Taurus, part of a separate astrological tradition.
April-inspired jewelry alternatives · Full April guide · GIA April reference
May Birthstone: Emerald
Emerald is May's green birthstone, with longstanding associations with renewal and a history of royal adornment. Green tourmaline offers a color-based alternative, although tourmaline belongs to October's birthstone list. Emerald measures 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, yet fractures and common clarity treatments call for careful handling. A soft brush and warm soapy water are the safest cleaning approach; avoid ultrasonic cleaning, heat and harsh chemicals. May's usual Western sun signs are Taurus and Gemini. Those signs cross month boundaries and belong to a separate tradition.
Shop May emerald jewelry · Full May guide · GIA May reference
June Birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone
June offers pearl, alexandrite and moonstone as assigned birthstone alternatives. Pearls have traditional links with purity; moonstone's floating sheen inspired lunar myths, while alexandrite can shift from green to reddish-purple as lighting changes. Choose pearls for luster, moonstone for glow or alexandrite for color change. Their care differs: pearls are soft at Mohs 2.5–3 and benefit from a damp cloth; alexandrite reaches 8.5. Moonstone needs protection from impacts and heat. June's usual Western sun signs are Gemini and Cancer, an independent tradition that does not determine these stones.
June birthstone jewelry · Full June guide · GIA June reference
July Birthstone: Ruby
Ruby is July's red birthstone, a variety of corundum colored by chromium. Its rich color has longstanding associations with love, passion and power. Red spinel is an alternative for a similar color direction, but it is a distinct gem assigned to August. Ruby ranks 9 on the Mohs scale, making it highly scratch-resistant. Ask about treatments before choosing a cleaning method: glass-filled or dyed stones require particular care. July's usual Western sun signs are Cancer and Leo; these astrological associations are independent of the month-based birthstone tradition.
July birthstone jewelry · Full July guide · GIA July reference
August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx
August has three birthstones: yellow-green peridot, spinel in many colors and banded sardonyx. They offer assigned alternatives for different tastes, from bright green to vivid red or carved cameos. Peridot's history includes protective talismans, while sardonyx has cultural associations with courage. Peridot measures 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale and needs gentle wear; spinel measures 8. Use warm soapy water, and avoid steam or ultrasonic cleaning for peridot. August's usual Western sun signs are Leo and Virgo. Their dates cross months, so zodiac symbolism remains a separate tradition.
August birthstone jewelry · Full August guide · GIA August reference
September Birthstone: Sapphire
Sapphire is September's birthstone, celebrated for blue but also available in many other colors. Its traditional symbolism includes sincerity and faithfulness. Blue zircon offers another blue gemstone option, although zircon belongs to December's birthstone list. Sapphire measures 9 on the Mohs scale and has excellent toughness, making it a practical choice for frequently worn jewelry. Cleaning still depends on treatment: fracture-filled or dyed stones need a damp cloth. September's usual Western sun signs are Virgo and Libra, a separate system whose sign ranges extend across calendar months.
September birthstone jewelry · Full September guide · GIA September reference
October Birthstones: Opal and Tourmaline
October's birthstones are opal and tourmaline, assigned alternatives with very different appearances. Many opals display shifting rainbow play-of-color; tourmaline offers pink, red, green, blue and multicolored choices. European tradition associated opal with hope and truth. Opal measures 5–6.5 on the Mohs scale, while tourmaline measures 7–7.5. Clean gently with warm soapy water, protecting both from damaging heat; assembled opal doublets and triplets also need care around prolonged soaking. October's usual Western sun signs are Libra and Scorpio, an independent tradition rather than a gemstone assignment.
October birthstone jewelry · Full October guide · GIA October reference
November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine
November offers topaz and citrine as assigned birthstone alternatives. Citrine is yellow to brownish-orange quartz; topaz has a wider palette, including blue, pink and golden tones. Historical Greek belief linked topaz with strength, while citrine's warm color can carry personal meaning. Topaz measures 8 on the Mohs scale but has poor toughness, so protect it from knocks. Citrine measures 7. Warm soapy water is a sensible cleaning choice; avoid steam and ultrasonic cleaning for topaz. November's usual Western sun signs are Scorpio and Sagittarius, independent of the monthly stones.
November birthstone jewelry · Full November guide · GIA November reference
December Birthstones: Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon
December offers turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. Turquoise ranges from blue to green, tanzanite from blue to violet, and zircon includes blue and many other colors. European gifting tradition links turquoise with remembrance. These assigned stones are alternatives to one another; blue topaz is a color-based option outside GIA's December list. Their Mohs ratings are 5–6, 6–7 and 6–7.5 respectively, so gentle cleaning and protection from abrasion matter. Zircon is a natural gem, distinct from cubic zirconia. December's usual Western sun signs are Sagittarius and Capricorn, independent of the birthstone tradition.
December birthstone jewelry (currently the Clover Turquoise Necklace) · Full December guide · GIA December reference
Hardness, Toughness and Jewelry Care
Mohs hardness describes resistance to scratches and abrasion. Toughness describes resistance to breaking or chipping, while stability concerns heat, chemicals and temperature changes. These properties work together: topaz can resist scratches at Mohs 8 yet chip readily, and even a Mohs 10 diamond can fracture under impact. Consider treatments, setting design and how the jewelry will be worn before choosing a care method.
For a birthday gift, start with a silhouette they already wear, then check ring size, chain length, metal and material disclosures. A stone can be meaningful without matching a birth month or sun sign. See our jewelry care guide and available birthstone jewelry.
Durability reference: GIA on hardness, toughness and chipping.
Diamond, Moissanite, Zircon and Cubic Zirconia
Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds share the diamond crystal structure of bonded carbon. Jewelry moissanite is generally laboratory-grown silicon carbide. Zircon is a natural zirconium-silicate gem and a December birthstone. Cubic zirconia, or CZ, is laboratory-created zirconium oxide. Moissanite and CZ can offer diamond-like appearance, but they are different materials; neither is a laboratory-grown diamond. Likewise, zircon and cubic zirconia are distinct gems despite their similar names. Describe the actual material clearly when selecting a birthstone-inspired alternative.
Material reference: GIA diamond and simulant guide. Zodiac context: GIA zodiac-inspired jewelry series, linked by the usual Western sign ranges, independent of the birthstone list.
Keep all 12 months together
A compact reference for birthdays, colors and thoughtful gifting.
Common questions
How do I find my birthstone?
Choose your birth month above. You do not need to enter your name, birth year or full date of birth.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Birthstone traditions have changed over time. This guide follows the month associations listed by GIA, including the multiple choices for some months.
Are monthly birthstones the same as zodiac stones?
They follow different systems: this guide uses calendar months. You can also choose a stone simply because you love its color or personal meaning.
Month reference: GIA birthstones. Reviewed October 2026.