Birthstones for each Month

Birthstones are sentimental for those who love jewelry, but what are the birthstones for each month? In this article, co-written by Benjamin Khordipour and Afshin Shaddaie, you’ll see that it is a lot more complex than you initially imagined.

• List of Birthstone Gems of the Month
• Take the Birthstone Style Quiz (New Feature)
• Birthstone Chart by Month

Birthstone Gems of the Month Chart

The birthstone for each month is a highly controversial topic. Not every expert agrees with each other regarding which birthstone represents which month. We have followed the most traditional variations and streamlined them into the table below.

	Gemstones	Cost	Colors
January	Garnet	$	Orangish Red
February	Amethyst	$	Purple
March	Aquamarine	$$	Greenish-Blue
April	Diamond	$$$	White
May	Emerald	$$$	Dark Green
June	Pearl, Moonstone, and Alexandrite	$	White and Blue
July	Ruby	$$$	Dark Red
August	Peridot	$	Green
September	Sapphire	$$$	Dark Blue
October	Opal and Tourmaline	$$	Multicolored
November	Citrine and Topaz	$	Light Blue and Orange
December	Zircon, Tanzanite, and Turquoise	$$	Blue

January Birthstone

Cost: Affordable
Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5 on the Mohs Scale
Colors: All colors, but most famously deep red

The January Birthstone is Garnet. It is the special birthstone for January, and it’s a gemstone that comes in many different colors, although it’s most famous for its deep red-orangish shades. The word “garnet” comes from the Latin word “granatum,” which means “pomegranate.”

Garnet is a very popular option for those who love deep red colors but don’t have the budget for a high-quality ruby.

You will usually see garnets in rings, necklaces, and earrings. Garnet pendants are also growing in popularity.

Learn more about January Birthstone | Shop Garnet Jewelry

February Birthstone

Cost: Affordable
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs Scale
Colors: Purple, violet, and dark purples

The February Birthstone is Amethyst. The amethyst is a darkish-purple gemstone with a long history and many fascinating legends. In fact, the word “amethyst” comes from the Greek word meaning “not drunk.” Ancient Greeks believed that wearing amethyst jewelry (or drinking from amethyst cups) would actually prevent them from getting too drunk.

The amethyst has one of the most unique color palettes out of all the birthstone gemstones, with different shades of purple, from light lavender to deep violet.

Amethyst has always been a popular choice in necklaces, earrings, and brooches. But in the past few years, amethyst has also become an extremely popular option for the center stone for engagement rings. We imagine that this increase is especially common among those born in February.

Education article on February Birthstone | Shop Amethyst Jewelry

March Birthstone

Cost: Moderately Affordable
Hardness: 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs Scale
Colors: Pale blue to light green and deep blueish green

The March birthstone is aquamarine, the gemstone that famously looks like the ocean due to its stunning blue-green color. The name “aquamarine” actually comes from two Latin words: “aqua” means water, and “marina” means sea.

Aquamarine has fascinated people for ages, and it is featured in many antique jewelry pieces.

In recent years, aquamarine has become so mainstream that some consider it the newest member of the fine gemstones list.

Aquamarine is a popular gemstone used in all sorts of jewelry, especially engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Additionally, its soft blue-green shade goes great with many outfits.

Learn about the March Birthstone | Shop Aquamarine Jewelry

April Birthstone

Cost: Expensive
Hardness: 10 on the Mohs Scale
Colors: White, White with yellow-tint, and colored

The April birthstone is the diamond, the undisputed king of gemstones. Diamonds are famous for their incredible sparkle and beauty. They come in various colors, but the most common ones are clear or white. The diamond can be found in all types of jewelry, like rings, necklaces, brooches, earrings, and bracelets. They are most famous, though, as the first choice gemstone when shopping for an engagement ring.

That said, diamonds are the perfect gemstone for every type of jewelry and the most desirable precious gemstone in the world.

Diamonds are also extremely strong, making them perfect for advanced commercial drilling.

Learn about April Birthstone | Shop Diamond Jewelry

May Birthstone

Cost: Expensive
Hardness: 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale
Color: Green

The May birthstone is emerald, one of the most famous of the birthstones, and a gemstone that is renown for its stunning shades of green.

Emeralds have drawn fascination for thousands of years. They’ve been worn by royalty and celebrities, and are a universal symbol of elegance. The highest quality Colombian emeralds are among the most valuable gemstones in the world.

Emeralds are utilized in all sorts of jewelry, like necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Although they’re extremely popular in rings, some try to avoid emerald rings, due to them being prone to breakage.

Learn about May Birthstone | Shop Emerald Jewelry

June Birthstone

Cost: Affordable
Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Pearl is 2.5 – 4.5. Moonstone is 6 – 6.5. Alexandrite is 8.5.
Colors: Pearls are white, grey, and black. Moonstones are green, yellow to brown, or gray to nearly black. Alexandrite is green, orange, purple, red, and more.

The June Birthstones are pearl, moonstone, and alexandrite. Let’s dive into each of these unique gems!

Pearls are one of the most recognizable and important jewels in jewelry. Since ancient times, they have been admired for their beauty and elegance. Unlike most gemstones that come from the earth, pearls are formed by living creatures. They appear in a range of colors, though white and cream are the most familiar. They are most commonly found in necklaces, but are also popular in earrings, rings and bracelets.

The moonstone is a gemstone that is famous for its sense of mystery. The surface of the moonstone shimmers under direct light. Moonstone usually has shades of blue, green, gray, or even rainbow-like flashes that can be viewed as you move it around. They’re usually set into pendants and earrings, but they can often also be set into rings, necklaces, and bracelets.

The final birthstone, alexandrite, is a gemstone that is also prized for its dramatic color changes. In daylight the alexandrite will glow with green tones, while under warm indoor light it will shift to red. This rare color effect gives the gemstone a chameleon-like character that is highly treasured among jewelry lovers.

Learn about June Birthstones | Shop Pearl Jewelry

July Birthstone

Cost: Expensive
Hardness: 9 on the Mohs Scale
Color: Red

The birthstone for July is ruby. The ruby is renown for its stunning deep shade of red. Additionally, it has been symbolically associated with love, passion, and strength.

Rubies also hold a special place among the “four precious gemstones,” alongside diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. The finest and most expensive ruby is known as the Burma Ruby, and it is most desirable in the Pigeon Blood color variation.

Rubies are extremely popular and can be worn in all types of jewelry. They are most popular in rings, bracelets, and earrings.

Because of their durability, rubies are well-suited for everyday wear.

Learn about July Birthstone | Shop Ruby Jewelry

August Birthstone

Cost: Affordable
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs Scale
Color: Green

The birthstone for August is the peridot. The peridot color-palette ranges from a bright lime shade to a rich olive tone. Peridot is often associated to nature and growth. Although its a gorgeous gemstone on its own, the peridot usually looks even more beautiful when paired with other gemstones.

The peridot is very popular in rings, earrings, and necklaces. It is also commonly found on bracelets and brooches. Over the past few years, the peridot has become extremely popular, especially as a birthstone gift for August birthdays.

Because it’s one of the few gemstones found in shades of green, it has been cherished for centuries. Additionally, it has served as a more affordable alternative for those looking for emeralds.

Learn about August Birthstone | Shop Peridot Jewelry

September Birthstone

Cost: Affordable – Expensive
Hardness: 9 on Mohs Scale
Color: Blue

The birthstone for September is the sapphire. The sapphire is one of the most important gemstones in the world, and it is famous for its deep blue color. For centuries, blue sapphires have been associated with wisdom, nobility, and royalty, and it usually is the primary gemstone that adorns crowns and royal jewelry.

Although sapphires are famous for their beautiful blue color, the sapphire can also be found in pink, yellow, and even white. Additionally, the most important sapphires come from Kashmir, Burma, and Ceylon.

Sapphires are popular in every type of jewelry, from earrings to necklaces and bracelets. In the past few years, they’ve also become a favorite for engagement rings, offering a more affordable natural-gemstone alternative for the diamond.

Learn about September Birthstone | Shop Sapphire Jewelry

October Birthstone

Cost: Opal ranges from affordable – expensive | Tourmalines are affordable
Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Opals are 5.5 – 6.5 | Tourmalines are 7 – 7.5
Colors: Opals come in all colors | Tourmaline are pink, green, blue, and red

The month of October is lucky enough to have two birthstones: opal and tourmaline.

Opals are renown for their stunning range of flashing colors. The colors in the opal shift and shimmer as the light hits them. These gems can be found in shades of white, black, and even fiery red, each with its own unique charm. Opals are especially popular in pendants, rings, and earrings, where their glowing patterns can be admired up close.

Tourmaline offers a completely different kind of beauty. Unlike opals, these gems usually feature one bold color (or sometimes two, as in the famous “watermelon” variety with its mix of pink and green). Tourmaline comes in shades of pink, green, blue, and more, giving jewelry lovers plenty of options. They’re widely used in rings, earrings, and pendants, and are loved for delivering rich, vibrant color at a more affordable price than many other precious stones.

Learn about October Birthstone | Shop Opal Jewelry | Shop Tourmaline Jewelry

November Birthstone

Cost: Citrine is affordable | Topaz is affordable
Hardness on Mohs Scale: Citrine is 7 | Topaz is 8
Colors: Citrine comes in yellow, orange, and brown | Tourmaline comes in blue, yellow, white, and green

The November birthstones are citrine and topaz.

Citrine has a warm, golden-yellow color. It is popular in various types of jewelry, like necklaces, rings, and earrings. It’s also very popular in cocktail rings, especially larger ones.

Topaz, on the other hand, is a deep, lighter blue. While topaz can technically come in different colors, the most popular one is a beautiful sky-blue shade. Topaz is desirable in jewelry, and jewelers often set it in rings, bracelets, and earrings. It is also a very popular option in cocktail rings.

It is very easy to obtain high-quality gemstones of both October birthstones.

Learn about November Birthstones | Shop Citrine Jewelry | Shop Topaz Jewelry

December Birthstones

Cost: Zircon, Tanzanite, and Turquoise are all affordable
Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Zircon is 7.5 | Tanzanite is 6 – 6.5 | Turquoise is 5 – 6
Colors: Zircon comes in all colors | Tanzanite comes only in blue and purple | Turquoise usually comes in blue and green (but can come in almost all colors)

The December Birthstones are zircon, tanzanite, turquoise, and possibly blue topaz!

Zircon comes in various colors but is most commonly bright blue. Zircon is common in many different types of jewelry, especially rings and necklaces. It is very affordable and has a very desirable color.

Tanzanite is also strikingly blue-violet in color. It is only found in Tanzania, which makes it incredibly rare and special. Tiffany and Co. famously love this gemstone. Most tanzanites are found in rings, earrings, and pendants.

Turquoise, on the other hand, is not a translucent gemstone like the other birthstones. It’s an extremely popular gemstone, regularly found in rings, bracelets, pendants, and earrings. Most of the stones are affordable, but there is a market for very precious turquoise and the prices can go very high.

Some people also consider Blue Topaz as a December birthstone. Read more about that in the link below.

Learn about December Birthstones | Shop December Birthstone Jewelry

Birthstone Information

Birthstones have long been believed to bring good luck, good health, prosperity, love, and many more benefits to the wearer. Each stone is associated with a particular month, a tradition from the 15th century. Some changes have occurred in the list over the years, with several months now having more than one birthstone. The latest “official” list was given by the American Gem Trade Association and finalized in 2016. This update added alexandrite as a June birthstone and tanzanite for December.

Of course, there’s no evidence to suggest that any birthstone brings the wearer good health or fortune. However, this lack of data hasn’t stopped people from purchasing birthstones, and they are growing more popular each year.

One advantageous effect of a birthstone is its direct connection with a birthday gift. It affords gift-givers the ease of knowing what to buy. Magical powers or not, it’s a fantastic system. Most birthstones are readily available, and the purchased stone doesn’t need the highest quality to still carry the love and thought that went into choosing it.

Birthstone gift recipients are often unaware of their significance but start learning more about their stones.

Take the Birthstone Style Quiz

Birthstone Chart by Month

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Contact a Birthstone Expert

Do you have any questions about birthstone jewelry, or would you like to commission custom birthstone jewelry? Feel free to contact us. We will respond within one business hour.