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Every month has its own gemstone, and knowing yours opens the door to jewelry that feels personal from the first glance. Use the chart below to find a birthstone in seconds, then read on for what each stone means, how durable it is, and how to give it as a gift.
Birthstones are some of the most meaningful gifts in jewelry because they mark a specific moment: the month someone was born. Buying for yourself, a new mother, or a best friend? This finder covers all twelve months, including the months that offer more than one stone.
Birthstone Chart: Find Your Stone by Month
Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale from 1 to 10. Higher numbers resist scratches better, which matters most for rings.
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Meaning | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | Loyalty, constancy | 6.5 to 7.5 |
| February | Amethyst | Violet | Clarity, calm | 7 |
| March | Aquamarine | Pale sea blue | Serenity, courage | 7.5 to 8 |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | Enduring love, strength | 10 |
| May | Emerald | Vivid green | Renewal, growth | 7.5 to 8 |
| June | Pearl, Alexandrite, or Moonstone | Cream, color-change, or silvery | Purity, balance | 2.5 to 8.5 |
| July | Ruby | Crimson red | Passion, protection | 9 |
| August | Peridot or Spinel | Lime green or many hues | Strength, light | 6.5 to 8 |
| September | Sapphire | Royal blue (and every color but red) | Wisdom, loyalty | 9 |
| October | Opal or Tourmaline | Play-of-color or pink | Hope, creativity | 5.5 to 7.5 |
| November | Topaz or Citrine | Golden to amber | Warmth, joy | 7 to 8 |
| December | Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, Turquoise, or Zircon | Blue in every shade | Calm, good fortune | 5 to 8 |
Every Birthstone, Month by Month
Tap any month in the chart to jump straight to it. Each entry pairs the essentials with a piece chosen from our collection.
January
January Birthstone: Garnet
Garnet takes its name from the Latin granatum, the pomegranate, and the resemblance to those jewel-red seeds is hard to miss. Red is the classic, but garnet is really a family of minerals: rhodolite leans raspberry, spessartite glows orange, and tsavorite is a vivid green.
Gift it as: A January birthday calls for something worn close and often. A garnet ring with a touch of diamond reads warm in any metal and suits a friend, sister, or partner equally well.
Sterling Silver Rhod-plated Diamond Garnet Ring$67.10View piece
February
February Birthstone: Amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz, and its name comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning "not intoxicated." The most prized stones show a saturated violet with flashes of red, while paler lilac tones feel soft and romantic.
Gift it as: Amethyst is hard enough for daily wear and looks especially rich against yellow gold. Drop earrings let the color catch light every time she turns her head.
925 Silver 14K Gold Accent Amethyst Dangle Earrings$217.71View piece
March
March Birthstone: Aquamarine
Aquamarine means "seawater" in Latin, and the stone lives up to it: clear, cool, and luminous. It belongs to the beryl family alongside emerald, and it tends to grow with excellent clarity, so even larger stones stay bright and clean.
Gift it as: Aquamarine studs are the easiest March gift to get right. They pair with everything, and the calm blue flatters every skin tone.
14K Yellow Gold Aquamarine Stud Earrings with Polished Finish March Birthstone$103.79View piece
April
April Birthstone: Diamond
Diamond is the hardest natural material on earth, which is exactly why it became the symbol of a bond meant to last. Brilliance comes from the cut: well-proportioned facets return light to the eye as white sparkle and flashes of color.
Gift it as: An April birthday is a natural moment for a first diamond. A small heart pendant is personal without feeling like a proposal.
14k Two-tone Polished Heart Diamond Pendant$276.37View piece
May
May Birthstone: Emerald
Emerald is green beryl, colored by traces of chromium and vanadium. Nearly every emerald carries tiny natural inclusions that gem traders call jardin, the French word for garden. They are part of the stone's character, not a flaw to fear.
Gift it as: Because inclusions make emerald a little more delicate than its hardness suggests, a protected setting such as a halo or bezel is a thoughtful choice for a ring worn every day.
Sterling Silver Rhodium-plated Emerald and Diamond Ring$84.70View piece
June
June Birthstone: Pearl, Alexandrite, or Moonstone
June offers three choices. Pearl is the only gem grown by a living creature, prized for its soft glow. Alexandrite shifts from green in daylight to raspberry under lamplight, and moonstone shows a floating blue-white sheen called adularescence.
Gift it as: Pearl is softer than any other birthstone, so earrings and pendants suit it better than rings. Hoops with a pearl drop feel modern and wear beautifully from desk to dinner.
Sterling Silver Pearl Hoop Earrings with 14K Gold Accent$277.29View piece
July
July Birthstone: Ruby
Ruby is red corundum, second in hardness only to diamond. Chromium gives it that glowing red, and the finest stones seem to burn from within under warm light. In Sanskrit it was called ratnaraj, the king of gems.
Gift it as: Ruby is tough enough for any setting. A ruby and diamond heart pendant says love plainly, which is exactly the point of a July birthday gift.
14k White Gold Ruby and Diamond Heart Pendant$739.15View piece
August
August Birthstone: Peridot or Spinel
Peridot forms deep in the earth's mantle and reaches the surface through volcanic activity; some crystals have even been found inside meteorites. Spinel joined August as an official alternate in 2016 and comes in reds, pinks, and blues.
Gift it as: Peridot's fresh green looks best in motion. Dangle earrings with a gold accent make a bright summer gift.
Shey Couture Sterling Silver Peridot Dangle Earrings with 14K Gold Accent$139.42View piece
September
September Birthstone: Sapphire
Sapphire is corundum in every color except red, which is called ruby. Blue is the classic, but pink, yellow, and teal sapphires are equally genuine. Its hardness makes sapphire one of the best gemstones for jewelry worn every single day.
Gift it as: A blue sapphire with diamond accents is a September gift that can be worn for decades. A star-shaped pendant adds a playful note to a serious stone.
14k White Gold Blue Sapphire and Diamond Star Pendant$302.12View piece
October
October Birthstone: Opal or Tourmaline
Opal is made of tiny silica spheres that split light into shifting flashes of color, so no two stones are alike. Tourmaline, October's alternate, appears in almost every hue; pink tourmaline is the favorite for birthday jewelry.
Gift it as: Opal is softer and can be sensitive to knocks and sudden temperature changes. Pendants and earrings keep it out of harm's way while showing off its glow.
Shey Couture Sterling Silver Rhodium-plated with 14k Accent Polished Cushion-cut Milky Opal Pendant$101.65View piece
November
November Birthstone: Topaz or Citrine
November shares two sunny stones. Golden topaz is hard and brilliant, while citrine is quartz in shades from lemon to honey. Both flatter warm complexions and look radiant in yellow gold.
Gift it as: A citrine bracelet is a cheerful November gift that works with autumn wardrobes and brightens winter ones.
Shey Couture Sterling Silver and 14K Gold Citrine Bracelet 7.75 Inch$388.10View piece
December
December Birthstone: Blue Topaz, Tanzanite, Turquoise, or Zircon
December has the widest choice of any month. Blue topaz ranges from pale sky to inky London blue. Tanzanite, found only in Tanzania, shows violet-blue. Turquoise is an opaque sky-blue stone treasured for thousands of years, and zircon offers fiery brilliance.
Gift it as: London blue topaz with diamond accents gives December birthdays a deep, wintry blue that holds up well to daily wear.
Sterling Silver Rhodium-plated London Blue Topaz and Diamond Ring$144.48View piece
Modern, Traditional, and Alternate Birthstones
The birthstone list most jewelers use today dates to 1912, when the American National Retail Jewelers Association (today's Jewelers of America) standardized it. It has been updated several times since, which is why some months have two, three, or even four stones.
- June: pearl, with alexandrite and moonstone added as alternates.
- August: peridot, with spinel added in 2016.
- October: opal, with pink tourmaline as the modern alternate.
- November: topaz, with citrine as a popular companion.
- December: turquoise and zircon, with tanzanite added in 2002 and blue topaz widely worn.
When a month offers a choice, there is no wrong answer. Pick the color the wearer loves, or the stone that suits how they will wear it.
Which Birthstones Hold Up to Everyday Wear?
Birthstone jewelry is meant to be worn, so it helps to match the stone to the setting.
- Everyday rings: diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, and spinel. These are hard enough to shrug off daily contact.
- Rings with a little care: aquamarine, emerald, amethyst, citrine, garnet, and peridot. Protective settings such as bezels and halos help.
- Best as earrings and pendants: pearl, opal, turquoise, moonstone, and tanzanite. They are lovely, but softer surfaces prefer fewer knocks.
A simple rule for metal: warm stones such as garnet, citrine, and ruby glow in yellow or rose gold, while cool stones such as aquamarine, sapphire, and blue topaz look crisp in white gold or sterling silver.
Birthstone Questions, Answered
How do I find my birthstone?
Your birthstone is set by the month you were born. Find your month in the chart above; months with more than one stone let you choose the one you love most.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The modern list was standardized in 1912 and has been updated several times since, adding alexandrite and moonstone for June, pink tourmaline for October, citrine for November, zircon and tanzanite for December, and spinel for August. The alternates give more color and price options.
Which birthstones are best for an everyday ring?
Diamond (10), ruby and sapphire (9), and topaz (8) are the toughest choices. Aquamarine, emerald, and amethyst also wear well with reasonable care. Pearl, opal, and turquoise are better suited to earrings and pendants.
Can I wear a birthstone that is not my month?
Absolutely. Many people wear the stones of children, partners, or parents, or simply choose a color they love. Birthstone jewelry is about meaning, and that meaning is yours to decide.
What is the difference between natural and lab-created birthstones?
Lab-created gems share the same chemistry and hardness as natural stones but are grown in a controlled setting. Natural stones formed in the earth over millions of years. Each product listing notes which one it is.
How should I care for birthstone jewelry?
Clean most stones with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush. Keep pearl, opal, and turquoise away from harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners, and store pieces separately so harder stones do not scratch softer ones.
Shop by Birth Month
Every month has its own curated collection, from classic solitaires to everyday studs.
