Your birthstone is the gem traditionally tied to the month you were born: garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl for June, ruby for July, peridot for August, sapphire for September, opal for October, topaz for November and turquoise for December. Several months also have one or two official alternatives, which is why the chart below has more than twelve stones.
This guide covers the full birthstones by month chart, what each stone looks like, where the traditions come from, and the one thing most birthstone guides skip: how to wear your birthstone color every day without paying fine-jewelry prices. Our pieces are stainless steel, sterling silver or plated brass set with cubic zirconia (CZ), crystal, glass or other simulated stones, so our picks are birthstone colors, not real gems. We'll say that plainly every time.
Birthstone chart: every month at a glance
| Month | Modern birthstone(s) | Signature color |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red |
| February | Amethyst | Purple |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Pale sea blue |
| April | Diamond | Clear / white |
| May | Emerald | Green |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | White, iridescent, color-change |
| July | Ruby | Red |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Lime green |
| September | Sapphire | Blue |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Iridescent, pink |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Golden yellow, orange |
| December | Turquoise, zircon, tanzanite | Sky blue, blue-violet |
This is the modern US list used by jewelers and by GIA. Birthstones go by month, not by exact date, so someone born on June 1 and someone born on June 30 share the same stones.
Where the birthstone list comes from
The idea is old. The first-century historian Josephus linked the twelve stones on the breastplate of Aaron, described in the Book of Exodus, to the twelve months and the twelve signs of the zodiac. For centuries after that, lists varied by country and by jeweler.
The list most Americans use today was standardized in 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) adopted an official version at a meeting in Kansas City. It has been updated only a few times since:
- 1952: alexandrite (June), citrine (November) and pink tourmaline (October) were added, and zircon replaced lapis lazuli for December.
- 2002: tanzanite was added for December.
- 2016: spinel joined peridot and sardonyx for August, announced by the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America.
Older "traditional" lists still circulate, and the UK list differs slightly, which is why you'll sometimes see a different stone for your month. When in doubt, go with the modern list above, or simply pick the color you love from your month's options.
January birthstone: garnet
Garnet is best known as a deep, wine-to-blood red, but it's actually a family of minerals that comes in almost every color, including green, orange and pink. The name is usually traced to the Latin granatum, pomegranate, because small red garnets look like its seeds. Traditionally, garnet was carried as a travel talisman and linked to friendship and protection.
Stainless Steel Red Garnet Oval CZ Double Halo Pave Cocktail Ring
$32.49
A deep red oval CZ inside a double halo of clear stones, stainless steel. The red is darker and more "garnet" than cherry — the right January shade. It's a statement ring, so if you prefer something small, pair a plain band with a red stud instead.
Brass Gold Garnet Bezel Station Layered Necklace
$22.99
Small garnet-red stones in bezels along a fine gold-tone chain. Quiet enough for every day; gold-finish brass, so keep it dry.
Brass Gold Red Garnet Diamond CZ Filigree Dangle Earrings
$33.99
Deep red CZ framed in gold-tone filigree — the dressy, vintage way to wear January red.
February birthstone: amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet. The name comes from the Greek amethystos, "not intoxicated," because the ancient Greeks believed it protected its wearer from drunkenness. It has also long been associated with calm and clear thinking, and was a favorite of European royalty.
Stainless Steel Purple Amethyst Oval CZ Pave Halo Classic Ring
$24.49
Oval purple CZ, thin pavé halo, slim silver-tone steel band. The purple is a true mid-violet, which is the most flattering amethyst shade on most skin tones. Well stocked in sizes 5 through 10.
Stainless Steel Purple Amethyst Oval Pave Cushion Halo Earrings
$26.49
Oval purple CZ studs in a clear halo, stainless steel posts. Matches the ring above if you want a set.
Brass Silver Amethyst Purple CZ Round Pendant Necklace
$19.99
A single round purple CZ on a silver-tone chain — the simplest February gift, no size needed.
Shop all amethyst-purple jewelry →
March birthstone: aquamarine (and bloodstone)
Aquamarine is the pale blue to blue-green variety of beryl, the same mineral family as emerald. Its name means "seawater" in Latin, and sailors traditionally wore it as a charm for calm seas and safe voyages. March's second stone, bloodstone, looks completely different: dark green with red flecks, and it was prized in the Middle Ages.
Stainless Steel Aqua CZ Round Pave Solitaire Ring
$22.49
A round, light-blue CZ on a fine pavé band. The color is the clean, icy blue people picture when they think of aquamarine. We don't carry anything in bloodstone's green-and-red look.
Stainless Steel Silver Aquamarine Crystal Emerald Cut Earrings
$19.99
Emerald-cut light-blue crystal drops on leverbacks, stainless steel. A bigger, bolder hit of March blue.
Sterling Silver Aqua Blue CZ Teardrop Bar Drop Earrings
$23.99
Fine sterling silver drops ending in a small aqua-blue CZ briolette — delicate and office-friendly.
Shop all aquamarine-blue jewelry →
April birthstone: diamond
Diamond is the hardest natural material, a 10 on the Mohs scale, and the name comes from the Greek adamas, "invincible." It's the traditional symbol of lasting love, which is why it dominates engagement rings, and it's often given for 60th and 75th anniversaries.
Stainless Steel CZ Round Double Halo Pave Ring
$25.99
Clear round CZ in a double halo on a thin pavé band. This is the April birthstone look — white and bright — without the diamond price. Honest note: it's cubic zirconia. Good CZ is very bright but softer than diamond, so it can scuff over years of daily wear.
Stainless Steel CZ Princess Cut Diamond Frame Stud Earrings
$23.99
Princess-cut clear CZ in a pavé frame, stainless steel posts. The classic "diamond studs" look.
Stainless Steel CZ Pave Double Circle Pendant Chain Pendant
$22.99
Two interlocking circles, one pavé with clear CZ, on a steel chain. A modern take on April sparkle.
May birthstone: emerald
Emerald is the green variety of beryl, and its color, a rich, slightly bluish green, is what everyone means by "emerald green." Cleopatra was famously fond of emeralds, and the stone has long symbolized rebirth and spring. Most natural emeralds contain visible inclusions, which the trade affectionately calls the jardin, "garden."
Stainless Steel Green Emerald Round Pave Halo Studs Earrings
$22.99
Round deep-green CZ studs with a clear halo, stainless steel posts. The "emerald" in the name is the color; the stones are CZ. Studs are the easiest way to wear a strong green every day.
Stainless Steel Green Emerald Marquise Leaf Vine CZ Pave V Ring
$23.49
Green marquise CZs climbing a pavé V band, stainless steel. Stacks well with a plain band; sizes 5–10.
Brass Gold Green Emerald Teardrop CZ Filigree Dangle Earrings
$28.99
Green teardrop CZ at the end of a gold-tone filigree drop — the dressed-up May look. Gold-finish brass.
Shop all emerald-green jewelry →
June birthstone: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite
June is one of three months with three official birthstones (August and December are the others). Pearl is the classic: grown inside mollusks, it's the only birthstone made by a living creature. Moonstone has a soft blue-white glow that seems to float across the surface. Alexandrite, added in 1952, is famous for changing color from green in daylight to purplish red under warm light. Read our full June birthstone guide for all three.
Stainless Steel Pearl CZ Pave Bar Link Dangle Drop Earrings
$22.99
A white simulated pearl hanging from a pavé CZ bar, stainless steel. Pearls are the June stone people actually wear most, and a drop earring like this works from office to wedding guest. The pearls are simulated, not cultured.
Brass CZ Open Teardrop Pearl Pendant
$30.99
A simulated pearl floating inside a pavé CZ teardrop outline. Pairs with the earrings above.
Stainless Steel White Pearl CZ Accent Ring
$22.49
A large simulated pearl between two clear CZ accents on a steel band — a pearl ring you can wear daily.
July birthstone: ruby
Ruby is red corundum and one of the hardest gems, a 9 on the Mohs scale. In ancient Sanskrit it was called ratnaraj, "king of precious stones." It has long been associated with passion, protection and prosperity, and it's the traditional gift for a 40th anniversary.
Stainless Steel Silver Ruby Red CZ Cushion Filigree Cocktail Ring
$19.99
A big cushion-cut red CZ on an ornate filigree steel band. It's a bold, vintage-looking ring; the red leans slightly toward garnet, so it also works for January.
Brass Ruby CZ Oval Halo Cluster Drop Earrings
$30.49
Oval ruby-red CZ drops under a clear CZ cluster, silver-tone brass. The red is a brighter raspberry-ruby.
Sterling Silver Ruby Red CZ Pear Halo Pendant Necklace
$38.49
A heart-shaped red CZ in a halo of clear stones, sterling silver. A classic July or anniversary gift.
August birthstone: peridot, spinel and sardonyx
Peridot is the bright lime-to-olive green gem that people picture for August. It's one of the few gems found in only one color, and some peridot has even been found in meteorites. Spinel, added in 2016, comes in red, pink, blue and more, and was confused with ruby for centuries. Sardonyx, banded red-brown and white, has been carved into cameos and seals for thousands of years. See our full August birthstone guide.
Stainless Steel Green Peridot Round CZ Halo Ring
$22.99
A round lime-green CZ in a clear halo on a milgrain-style band, stainless steel. The color is spot-on peridot green. The stone is CZ, not peridot.
Stainless Steel Gold Green Peridot Crystal Pave Stud Earrings
$21.99
Pale green faceted crystal with a gold-tone pavé strip, stainless steel posts. Softer, lighter green than the ring.
Brass Gold Green Crystal Bezel Station Chain Necklace
$37.99
Tiny green crystals in bezels spaced along a long gold-tone chain. Gold-finish brass, so keep it dry.
Shop all peridot-green jewelry →
September birthstone: sapphire
Sapphire is corundum, like ruby, and comes in almost every color except red (red corundum is ruby). The classic is a deep royal blue. Sapphire has long symbolized wisdom, loyalty and faithfulness, and it's the traditional gift for a 45th anniversary. It's also a 9 on the Mohs scale, tough enough for everyday rings.
Stainless Steel Silver Blue Sapphire CZ Round Three Stone Ring
$21.99
A deep-blue round center with a clear stone on each side, stainless steel. The "sapphire" in the name is the color: the blue center is CZ. A three-stone ring in sapphire blue is also a classic anniversary look.
Sterling Silver Blue Sapphire Pear Stud Earrings
$24.99
Deep-blue pear CZ studs in sterling silver — the September staple.
Brass Silver Blue Sapphire Pear CZ Pendant Necklace
$22.99
A small blue pear CZ drop on a fine silver-tone chain. Matches the studs.
Shop all sapphire-blue jewelry →
October birthstone: opal and tourmaline
Opal is famous for its play-of-color, flashes of rainbow light that shift as you move it. It's relatively soft and can crack with sudden temperature changes, so real opal needs gentle care. Tourmaline, October's second stone, comes in more colors than almost any other gem; the pink variety is the one tied to October. Read our full October birthstone guide.
Stainless Steel Gold Pink Opal Crystal Stackable Set Ring
$27.99
A stack set with an opal-look crystal and a pink crystal on gold-tone (IP-plated) stainless steel — both October colors in one piece. The "opal" is a milky, iridescent-looking crystal, not real opal, which also means you don't need to baby it.
Stainless Steel Gold IP Opal Pear Teardrop Pearl Drop Earrings
$37.99
A pink opal-look pear above a long blush teardrop, gold-tone steel. Both October colors, simulated stones.
Brass Silver Pink Crystal Heart Peace Sign Pendant Necklace
$16.99
A small heart set with pink crystals — the playful, budget way into October pink.
November birthstone: topaz and citrine
November's gems are the warm ones. Topaz comes in many colors; golden-orange "imperial" topaz is the classic November shade, and the popular sky-blue topaz is almost always colorless topaz treated to turn blue. Citrine is yellow-to-orange quartz, sunny and affordable, and was added to the list in 1952.
Stainless Steel Yellow Citrine Cushion Pave Halo Earrings
$25.99
Cushion-cut yellow crystal in a pavé halo on leverback earrings, stainless steel. The yellow is bright citrine-lemon rather than deep orange topaz. It's crystal, not citrine.
Stainless Steel Yellow Citrine Oval Pear Two Stone Bypass Ring
$25.49
Two pears side by side — one yellow, one champagne — on a steel bypass band. Covers citrine and golden topaz in one ring.
Sterling Silver Yellow CZ Cushion Cut Pendant
$27.49
A bright yellow cushion-cut CZ on a sterling silver bail. Sunny, simple, no size needed.
Shop all citrine-yellow jewelry →
December birthstone: turquoise, zircon and tanzanite
December has three stones, all in the blue family. Turquoise is the opaque sky-blue stone used in jewelry for thousands of years. Zircon (not to be confused with cubic zirconia, a man-made stone) is a natural gem with strong sparkle, often sold in blue. Tanzanite, added in 2002, is a blue-violet gem found commercially in only one small area of Tanzania. Read our full December birthstone guide.
Stainless Steel Turquoise Pear CZ Halo Split Shank Two-Tone Ring
$28.49
A pear-shaped turquoise-color stone inside a clear CZ halo, on two-tone gold and silver steel. The center is a turquoise-look stone, not natural turquoise. Easy to layer with plain silver or gold rings.
Stainless Steel Gold IP Turquoise Pear Pearl Drop Earrings
$32.49
A turquoise-look pear drop under a small simulated pearl, gold-tone steel. Boho without the fragility of real turquoise.
Stainless Steel Silver Tanzanite Purple Crystal Pave Earrings
$19.49
Round pavé studs covered in violet-blue crystals — the tanzanite shade of December.
How to choose birthstone jewelry (without overpaying)
Decide what it's for. A birthstone ring for yourself can be bold. A birthstone gift for a mom, a new baby's family or a friend is usually safer as studs or a pendant, which don't need a size.
Choose the color, not the name. Since June, August, October, November and December all have more than one stone, pick the shade the person actually wears. A friend who only wears gold might love citrine yellow more than blue topaz.
Be honest about real vs. look-alike. Real rubies, sapphires and emeralds start in the hundreds of dollars and climb fast. CZ, crystal and simulated stones give you the same color for a fraction of the price. There's nothing wrong with either choice, as long as the listing tells you which one you're buying. Ours always do.
Pick the metal for real life. Stainless steel doesn't tarnish, is hypoallergenic for most people, won't turn your skin green and is fine with water and sweat, so it's the best choice for something worn every day. Sterling silver is brighter but tarnishes. Plated brass is the cheapest, but the finish wears faster, so keep it dry. Steel rings can't be resized, so check the ring size chart before ordering.
Birthstone gifts that work. A family ring or a stack with each child's birthstone color, a mom-and-kids set of studs, or matching birthstone-color pieces for best friends. Stackable rings make this easy because you can add a new color later.
FAQ
What is my birthstone? Find your birth month in the chart above: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz, December turquoise. Several months have additional official stones.
Are birthstones by month or by zodiac sign? The official birthstone list goes by calendar month. Zodiac stones are a separate tradition with no single official list, so different sources give different stones for each sign.
Which months have more than one birthstone? March, June, August, October, November and December. June and December each have three official stones, and August has three since spinel was added in 2016.
Who decides the official birthstones? In the US, the modern list was set in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) and has since been updated by the jewelry industry, most recently in 2016 when spinel was added for August.
Can I wear a birthstone that isn't a real gem? Yes. Birthstone color jewelry made with CZ, crystal or simulated stones is a popular, affordable way to wear your month's color. Just make sure the seller says clearly that it isn't a natural gemstone.
Do you ship free? Yes, standard shipping is free on every US order, and you have 30 days from delivery to return eligible items.
Looking for more? Browse solitaire rings, halo rings, stud earrings or pendant necklaces in your birthstone color.
The stones in our jewelry are cubic zirconia, crystal, glass or other simulated stones chosen for color; gem names in product titles describe color, not material. Birthstone meanings described here are historical traditions and folklore, not claims about what any stone can do.