A birthstone by month is the gemstone traditionally linked with the month you were born in. The tradition is old, and the list has been mostly stable since 1912, when the American National Association of Jewelers set out the modern list that is still used today. Each month has a stone, each stone has a traditional meaning, and each one has a history that is worth knowing — whether you wear your birthstone, give one as a gift, or simply enjoy the story.
Birthstones are a tradition, not a science. The meanings attached to them — protection, love, clarity, courage — are folklore, passed down through centuries, and they are best enjoyed as stories rather than as claims. A birthstone does not change your luck, and it should never be used to make medical or financial decisions. What it can do is give you a small, beautiful object with a personal connection, and a reason to learn about the stone itself.
The birthstones, month by month
| Month | Birthstone | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Protection, strength |
| February | Amethyst | Calm, clarity |
| March | Aquamarine | Courage, calm seas |
| April | Diamond | Love, strength |
| May | Emerald | Love, renewal |
| June | Pearl (also alexandrite and moonstone) | Purity, intuition |
| July | Ruby | Passion, courage |
| August | Peridot | Protection, good fortune |
| September | Sapphire | Wisdom, loyalty |
| October | Opal (also tourmaline) | Hope, creativity |
| November | Topaz (also citrine) | Warmth, friendship |
| December | Turquoise (also zircon and tanzanite) | Protection, good fortune |
January's garnet is a deep red stone, traditionally carried as a protective talisman by travellers. February's amethyst is a purple quartz, long linked with calm and clear thinking. March's aquamarine is a pale blue stone, named for the sea, and traditionally carried by sailors for safe passage. April's diamond is the hardest natural material known, and the most famous of all birthstones, traditionally linked with love and lasting strength.
May's emerald is a rich green stone, traditionally linked with love and renewal, and with the spring itself. June has three traditional stones: the pearl, formed in the sea and linked with purity; alexandrite, which changes colour in different light; and moonstone, with its soft, shifting glow. July's ruby is a deep red stone, traditionally linked with passion and courage. August's peridot is a bright green stone, formed in volcanic rock and sometimes in meteorites, traditionally linked with protection and good fortune.
September's sapphire is a deep blue stone, traditionally linked with wisdom and loyalty. October's opal is a stone of shifting colours, traditionally linked with hope and creativity, with tourmaline as an alternative. November's topaz is a warm golden stone, traditionally linked with warmth and friendship, with citrine as an alternative. December's turquoise is a blue-green stone, traditionally linked with protection and good fortune, with zircon and tanzanite as alternatives.
The history of birthstones
The tradition of birthstones is often traced to the breastplate of the high priest in the Book of Exodus, which held twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. The idea was later linked with the twelve signs of the zodiac, and by the eighteenth century it had become a popular custom in Europe to wear the stone of one's birth month. The modern list was standardised in 1912, and it has changed only slightly since — most notably in 2016, when spinel was added as an August alternative.
The list is not universal. Different cultures have different lists, and some months have different stones in different traditions. The list on this page is the modern Western list, the one used by most jewellers. It is the standard, not the only version, and that is worth knowing if you come across a different stone for your month elsewhere.
Birthstones and the zodiac
Birthstones are linked with months, and the zodiac is linked with dates, so the two systems overlap but do not match exactly. A person born in early March is a Pisces with an aquamarine birthstone; a person born in late March is an Aries with the same stone. A person born in early September is a Virgo with a sapphire; a person born in late September is a Libra with the same stone. The stone belongs to the month, not to the sign, and that is part of its charm: it is a simpler system, and a more personal one.
The birthstone and birth flower finder gives your birthstone and your birth flower together from your birth date, and the horoscope hub has profiles for all twelve zodiac signs. Together, the stone and the sign give a small, personal portrait: the month you were born, the season you arrived in, and the stone that tradition assigns to it.
Choosing and caring for a birthstone
If you are choosing a birthstone for yourself or as a gift, a few practical things matter more than the tradition. First, hardness: some stones, like diamond, sapphire and ruby, are hard and suitable for everyday wear in a ring. Others, like opal, pearl and turquoise, are soft and better suited to a necklace or earrings, where they are less likely to be knocked. Second, care: most stones can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap, but pearls and opals need gentler treatment, and some stones should not be put in an ultrasonic cleaner. A jeweller can advise on the care of a particular stone.
Third, and most important, choose a stone you like. The tradition is a guide, not a rule. If your birthstone is a colour you do not enjoy, or a stone that does not suit your life, there is no reason to wear it. Some people choose an alternative stone for their month — alexandrite for June, tourmaline for October, citrine for November — and some choose a stone for a different reason entirely: a colour they love, a place they visited, a person they remember. The stone is yours, and the choice is yours too.
A birthstone story
Imagine a grandmother giving her granddaughter a small garnet ring for a January birthday. The stone is deep red, the colour of winter berries, and it has been in the family for years. The grandmother tells the story: garnet was traditionally carried by travellers for protection, and the ring was given to her by her own mother when she left home for the first time. The granddaughter wears the ring, not because she believes it protects her, but because it connects her to the women who wore it before her. That is the real value of a birthstone: not the stone, but the story it carries, and the person who gave it.
Frequently asked questions
What is my birthstone?
Your birthstone is the gemstone traditionally linked with the month you were born in. The full list is in the table above, from garnet for January to turquoise for December. The birthstone and birth flower finder will find yours from your birth date.
What is the birthstone for each month?
January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is pearl, July is ruby, August is peridot, September is sapphire, October is opal, November is topaz, and December is turquoise.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Because the modern list has alternatives for some months: alexandrite and moonstone for June, tourmaline for October, citrine for November, and zircon and tanzanite for December. The alternatives were added over time, as new stones became available or popular.
Do birthstones have powers?
No. The meanings attached to birthstones — protection, love, clarity, courage — are folklore, not science. A birthstone does not change your luck or your health. It is a tradition, and it is best enjoyed as one.
What is the difference between a birthstone and a zodiac stone?
A birthstone is linked with the month you were born in. A zodiac stone is linked with your astrological sign, which is decided by your birth date. The two systems overlap but do not match exactly, because a month can hold two signs.
Where can I find my birthstone and birth flower?
The birthstone and birth flower finder gives both from your birth date, and sign profiles for all twelve zodiac signs are on the horoscope hub.