Birthstones: the stone for each month and its meaning
A birthstone is the gem linked to the month you were born. The reference list, set in 1912 by American jewelers, gives garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl or moonstone for June, ruby for July, peridot for August, sapphire for September, opal for October, topaz or citrine for November, turquoise or tanzanite for December. Here is our natural stone jewelry for every month.
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Brazilian rock crystal double-terminated point pendant A- Clarity
- Amplification
- Purification
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What is a birthstone?
The twelve birthstones in detail
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January: garnet
The only January stone on every list, almandine garnet is a deep red. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, it can be worn every day.
Garnet jewelry -
February: amethyst
Its Greek name, amethystos, means "not drunk": it was said to protect against drunkenness. A purple quartz, hard enough for a ring.
Amethyst jewelry -
March: aquamarine
A pale blue beryl, a cousin of emerald, whose name recalls seawater. The lists also include bloodstone, a green jasper flecked with red.
Aquamarine jewelry -
April: rock crystal
Diamond is the official April stone. The British list also offers rock crystal, a clear, colorless quartz that is far more affordable.
Rock crystal jewelry -
May: emerald
A green beryl colored by chromium or vanadium, almost always included. These inclusions make it sensitive to knocks, despite a hardness of 7.5 to 8.
Emerald jewelry -
June: moonstone
Moonstone shares June with pearl and alexandrite. It is a feldspar, and its shifting glow is called adularescence.
Moonstone jewelry -
July: ruby
A red corundum with a hardness of 9, like sapphire. Our "ruby in zoisite" bracelets show ruby crystals set in green zoisite from Tanzania.
Ruby jewelry -
August: peridot
An olive green olivine. Since 2016, spinel has joined it on the American list, and sardonyx remains the month's ancient stone.
Peridot jewelry -
September: sapphire
A corundum, like ruby: only the color changes. Most often blue, it also comes in yellow, pink or green, hence our multicolored sapphires.
Sapphire jewelry -
October: opal
A silica that contains water, soft (5.5 to 6.5) and sensitive to knocks. Tourmaline, added in 1952, is October's other stone.
Opal jewelry -
November: citrine
Topaz is November's historic stone, joined by citrine in 1952. A bright orange citrine is often heated amethyst: our product pages say so.
Citrine jewelry -
December: turquoise
A December stone since 1912, shared with zircon and, from 2002, tanzanite. Soft and porous, turquoise dislikes water, creams and perfume.
Turquoise jewelry
Birthstone or zodiac stone?
Birthstone chart, month by month
American list: Jewelers of America and AGTA, current since 2016. British list: National Association of Goldsmiths, 2013, alternative stone in parentheses. Symbolism belongs to tradition.
| Month | American list | British list | Color | Traditional symbolism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet | Deep red | Constancy and friendship |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst | Purple | Temperance and calm |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Aquamarine (bloodstone) | Pale blue | Serenity, protection of sailors |
| April | Diamond | Diamond (rock crystal) | Colorless | Purity and strength |
| May | Emerald | Emerald (chrysoprase) | Green | Renewal and love |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | Pearl (moonstone) | Pearly white | Gentleness and intuition |
| July | Ruby | Ruby (carnelian) | Red | Passion and courage |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Peridot (sardonyx) | Olive green | Joy and light |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire (lapis lazuli) | Deep blue | Wisdom and loyalty |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal | Iridescent | Hope and creativity |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz (citrine) | Golden yellow | Warmth and abundance |
| December | Turquoise, zircon, tanzanite | Tanzanite (turquoise) | Blue | Protection when traveling |
Giving a birthstone
Birthstone FAQ
What is my birthstone?
It depends only on your birth month. Find your month in the chart. The American list gives the official stone, the British list an alternative that is often more affordable. For a June birthday, for example, it will be pearl, moonstone or alexandrite.
Why do some months have several stones?
Because the 1912 list has been extended several times. In 1952, alexandrite joined June, tourmaline October, citrine November and zircon December. Tanzanite was added to December in 2002, spinel to August in 2016. These additions widen the choice of colors and prices.
What is the difference between a birthstone and a zodiac stone?
A birthstone follows the calendar month, a zodiac stone follows the star sign, whose dates straddle two months. Someone born in late March is an Aries, but their birthstone is aquamarine. Both traditions coexist, and only the monthly list was set by the jewelry trade.
Can I wear a stone other than my month's?
Yes. The list is a jewelers' convention, not a rule. Many people choose their month's alternative stone, the stone of their sign, or simply a color they love. Others wear the birthstone of a child or a loved one, as a keepsake.
Does a birthstone have healing properties?
Crystal healing gives each stone traditional qualities, such as constancy for garnet or calm for amethyst. These associations come from beliefs and history, not science. They never replace medical advice or treatment.
Les propriétés attribuées aux pierres relèvent des traditions de lithothérapie. Elles ne remplacent ni un avis ni un traitement médical.