Birthstone by Month: A Complete Guide

Every month of the year has at least one traditional birthstone, and most also have a modern alternate introduced in the 20th century to expand the options available at different price points and colors. January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine, April is diamond, May is emerald, June is pearl or moonstone, July is ruby, August is peridot or spinel, September is sapphire, October is opal or tourmaline, November is topaz or citrine, and December is turquoise, zircon, or tanzanite.

Below is what each stone actually means, why some months have more than one option, and where to shop the birthstones we carry.

Quick Reference: Birthstone by Month

Month	Traditional Birthstone	Modern Alternate
January	Garnet	—
February	Amethyst	—
March	Aquamarine / Bloodstone	—
April	Diamond	White Sapphire, Moissanite
May	Emerald	—
June	Pearl, Alexandrite	Moonstone
July	Ruby	—
August	Peridot	Spinel
September	Sapphire	—
October	Opal, Tourmaline	—
November	Topaz	Citrine
December	Turquoise, Zircon	Tanzanite

Why Some Months Have More Than One Birthstone

The traditional birthstone list dates back centuries and, in some tellings, connects to breastplate stones described in ancient religious texts. In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers introduced a standardized modern list, partly to resolve inconsistencies between older regional traditions and partly to offer more affordable or widely available alternatives for months whose traditional stone was rare, expensive, or difficult to source consistently. Both lists remain in active use today, which is why you'll often see two stones offered for the same month, and neither list has formally replaced the other in the century since.

How to Choose Between a Traditional and Modern Birthstone

There's no rule requiring one over the other, so the decision usually comes down to a few practical factors. Budget is often the biggest one: modern alternates like moonstone, citrine, and spinel are typically more accessible than the traditional stones they stand in for, which matters for months like June and August where the traditional options (pearl, alexandrite) are either delicate or rare. Color preference matters too. Someone who wants a durable, everyday ring stone in a specific color might prefer November's citrine over topaz, or June's moonstone over a pearl that needs gentler care. Family tradition plays a role as well; some people choose whichever stone a parent or grandparent wore, regardless of which list it comes from. If you're unsure, treat the traditional stone as the historically "correct" answer and the modern alternate as a practical, equally legitimate option, not a downgrade.

Birthstones as Gifts

Birthstone jewelry is one of the more personal gift categories precisely because it's tied to something the recipient didn't choose: their birth month. This makes it a common choice for milestone birthdays, push presents to mark a child's birth month, and family jewelry meant to represent multiple generations, such as a mother's ring featuring each child's birthstone. Because most birthstones span a range of price points between their traditional and modern versions, it's also one of the easier gift categories to shop within a specific budget without sacrificing personal meaning.

January: Garnet

Garnet is prized for its deep, saturated red tones, though the species actually occurs in nearly every color except blue. It's long been associated with protection for travelers and consistency in relationships, themes that show up in garnet folklore across multiple cultures independently. Shop natural garnet →

February: Amethyst

Amethyst's purple color, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet, has made it one of the most recognizable birthstones. Historically associated with clarity of mind and calm, it was once considered as valuable as sapphire and ruby before large deposits were discovered in Brazil in the 19th century. Shop natural amethyst →

March: Aquamarine

Aquamarine's pale blue-green color is often compared to seawater, which is reflected in its name (Latin for "water of the sea"). It's traditionally associated with calm and protection for sailors. Bloodstone, a dark green stone flecked with red, is the lesser-known traditional alternate for March but is uncommon in modern jewelry. Shop natural aquamarine →

April: Diamond

Diamond is the traditional April birthstone, prized for its hardness and brilliance, though we don't carry diamond directly. For April birthdays who want a diamond-adjacent look, moissanite offers comparable brilliance at a fraction of the price, and white sapphire is a natural, colorless alternative with excellent durability. Shop moissanite →

May: Emerald

Emerald's rich green color has symbolized rebirth and renewal since antiquity, with some of the oldest known emerald mines dating back over 3,000 years in Egypt. Most emerald in the market today is fracture-filled to reduce the visibility of its natural surface-reaching inclusions, a widely accepted and disclosed treatment. Shop natural emerald →

June: Pearl, Alexandrite, or Moonstone

June is unusual in having three recognized birthstones. Pearl, the oldest of the three, forms inside mollusks rather than through mineral crystallization, which puts it in a different category from every other stone on this list. Alexandrite, a rare color-changing variety of chrysoberyl, shifts from green in daylight to red under incandescent light. Moonstone, the modern alternate most commonly chosen today, displays a soft, glowing sheen called adularescence that seems to float beneath the stone's surface. Shop moonstone → For color-change alexandrite-family stones, see our chrysoberyl collection →

July: Ruby

Ruby's deep red has symbolized passion, protection, and vitality across cultures for centuries, and fine ruby remains among the most valuable colored gemstones per carat. Nearly all ruby on the market today is heat-treated to improve color and clarity, a standard, disclosed practice in the trade. Shop natural ruby →

August: Peridot or Spinel

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that forms in a single color, a vivid yellow-green, rather than occurring across a range of hues. It's actually found in meteorites as well as on Earth, a rarity among gemstones. Spinel, the modern alternate, was historically mistaken for ruby and sapphire in famous historical gems before modern gemology could distinguish the species, and today stands on its own as a durable, vividly colored option. Shop peridot → Shop natural spinel →

September: Sapphire

Sapphire, best known in blue but available in nearly every color except red (which is classified as ruby instead), has represented wisdom, loyalty, and royalty for centuries. Most sapphire sold today is heat-treated, a permanent and widely accepted enhancement. Shop natural sapphire →

October: Opal or Tourmaline

Opal, known for its play of color where flashes of rainbow hues shift across the stone's surface, is the traditional October birthstone, though we don't currently carry it. Tourmaline, the modern alternate, occurs in more color varieties than almost any other gemstone species, including bi-color and watermelon tourmaline that shows two or three colors in a single stone. Shop natural tourmaline →

November: Topaz or Citrine

Topaz occurs naturally in a range of colors, though the blue variety popular today is typically produced through irradiation of naturally colorless material. Citrine, the modern alternate, ranges from pale yellow to deep amber-orange and is one of the more affordable birthstone options, since natural citrine is relatively abundant compared to many other colored gemstones. Shop natural topaz → Shop citrine →

December: Turquoise, Zircon, or Tanzanite

December has the most crowded birthstone list of any month. Turquoise, the oldest tradition of the three, is an opaque blue-green stone we don't currently carry. Zircon, a traditional alternate often confused with cubic zirconia despite being an entirely different, naturally occurring mineral, is commonly heat-treated to achieve its popular blue color. Tanzanite, the newest addition to the December list, was only discovered in 1967 and comes from a single source near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Shop natural zircon → Shop tanzanite →

Frequently Asked Questions

What If My Birthstone Isn't Available, Like Diamond, Pearl, Opal, or Turquoise?

We focus on faceted colored gemstones and mineral specimens, so a few traditional birthstones aren't in our catalog. For those months, the modern alternate is usually a strong substitute. Diamond birthdays can consider moissanite or white sapphire, and June and October birthdays have moonstone and tourmaline respectively as widely accepted alternates.

Should I Use My Traditional or Modern Birthstone?

Neither is more "correct." The traditional list has centuries of history behind it; the modern list was designed to offer more accessible or distinct alternatives. Many people simply choose whichever stone's color or symbolism appeals to them more.

Can I Wear a Birthstone That Isn't Mine?

Yes. Birthstones are a tradition, not a rule, and there's no restriction on wearing or gifting any gemstone regardless of birth month.

Are Birthstones the Same as Zodiac Stones?

No, they're separate traditions. Birthstones are tied to birth month; zodiac stones are tied to astrological sign, and the two lists don't always align even for people whose birthday falls within a single zodiac period.

Every Birthstone, Backed the Same Way

Every gemstone on this list that we carry comes with the same authenticity guarantee: natural origin confirmed, treatment status disclosed, and certification available on request. If you're shopping for a specific birth month and want help picking the right stone, book a gemstone consultation and we'll help you find it.