Birthstones by month: the full chart, meanings and which last
Birthstones by month in one chart: each stone's color, meaning and hardness, which ones survive daily wear in a ring, and what to check when buying them.
The short answer
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl/alexandrite/moonstone. July ruby, August peridot/spinel, September sapphire, October opal/tourmaline, November topaz/citrine, December turquoise/tanzanite/zircon. Hardness decides daily wear: diamond, sapphire, ruby and spinel suit rings; opal, pearl and turquoise suit earrings and pendants. The US list dates from 1912; tanzanite joined in 2002 and spinel in 2016.
- Ask whether a stone is natural, lab-created or simulated; sellers must disclose it.
Every month has at least one birthstone, and several have two or three. The modern list used in the US dates from 1912, when the jewelry trade standardized it, and it has been updated a few times since: tanzanite joined December in 2002 and spinel joined August in 2016. Below is the full birthstone chart by month, with each stone's color, meaning and, most usefully, how hard it is, because that decides whether a stone survives daily wear in a ring.
Birthstone chart
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Hardness (Mohs) | Daily-wear ring? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red (also green, orange) | 6.5 to 7.5 | Yes, with some care |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | 7 | Yes |
| March | Aquamarine (also bloodstone) | Pale to sea blue | 7.5 to 8 | Yes |
| April | Diamond | Colorless (also fancy colors) | 10 | Yes, the most durable |
| May | Emerald | Green | 7.5 to 8, but often included | Protective setting advised |
| June | Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone | White, color-change, milky | 2.5 to 4.5 / 8.5 / 6 to 6.5 | Pearl and moonstone: occasional wear |
| July | Ruby | Red | 9 | Yes |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Lime green, many colors, banded | 6.5 to 7 / 8 / 6.5 to 7 | Spinel yes; peridot with care |
| September | Sapphire | Blue (also pink, yellow, white) | 9 | Yes |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Play of color, many colors | 5.5 to 6.5 / 7 to 7.5 | Opal: occasional wear |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Golden, blue / yellow to orange | 8 / 7 | Yes |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | Sky blue, violet-blue, blue | 5 to 6 / 6 to 7 / 6 to 7.5 | Earrings and pendants safest |
Mohs hardness: 10 is diamond. Stones below about 7 scratch more easily from everyday dust, which contains quartz (hardness 7).
Gem facts follow the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Hardness is only part of durability: emeralds are hard but often have inclusions that make them more fragile, and opals and pearls are softer and sensitive to chemicals.
Birthstones by month, explained
January: garnet
Usually deep red, though garnets come in nearly every color, including vivid green tsavorite. Traditionally associated with protection and friendship. Durable enough for most jewelry.
February: amethyst
The purple variety of quartz, from pale lilac to deep violet. Traditionally a stone of calm and clarity. Affordable, hard enough for rings, but prolonged strong sunlight can fade some stones.
March: aquamarine
Pale blue to sea-blue beryl, linked with the sea and with courage. Hard and usually clean, so it suits everyday rings. Bloodstone, dark green with red spots, is the traditional alternative.
April: diamond
The hardest natural material. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemistry and hardness at a lower price; our guide to lab-grown vs natural diamonds explains the difference.
May: emerald
The green variety of beryl, associated with rebirth and spring. Most emeralds contain inclusions and are often oil-treated, so avoid ultrasonic cleaners and choose protective bezel settings for rings.
June: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone
Pearls are organic and soft: last on, first off, away from perfume and hairspray. Our pearl necklace guide covers types and care. Alexandrite changes from green in daylight to red in incandescent light and is rare. Moonstone has a soft blue glow called adularescence.
July: ruby
Red corundum, second only to diamond in hardness among common gems. Long associated with passion and protection. Excellent for everyday rings.
August: peridot, spinel and sardonyx
Peridot is lime green and formed deep in the earth; spinel comes in red, pink, blue and more, and is harder; sardonyx is banded red and white.
September: sapphire
Corundum in every color except red. Blue is classic; pink, yellow and white are popular too. As hard as ruby, ideal for rings.
October: opal and tourmaline
Opal shows flashes of color but contains water and can crack with sudden temperature changes; best for pendants and earrings. Tourmaline comes in more colors than almost any gem, including pink and watermelon.
November: topaz and citrine
Golden "imperial" topaz is the traditional stone; blue topaz is usually treated colorless topaz. Citrine is yellow to orange quartz and very affordable.
December: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon
Turquoise is opaque sky blue and soft; tanzanite, found only in Tanzania, is violet-blue; blue zircon is a natural gem with strong sparkle, not cubic zirconia.
Buying birthstone jewelry
- Ask if it is natural, lab-created or simulated. Lab-created stones have the same properties as natural ones at a lower price. Simulants only look similar. Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, sellers must disclose lab-created and treated stones.
- Choose the metal she wears. Our guide to gold vermeil, gold-filled and gold-plated explains which lasts.
- Match the stone to the piece: softer stones (opal, pearl, turquoise) in earrings and pendants, harder ones (sapphire, ruby, diamond, spinel) in rings.
- Family pieces: a necklace or stacking rings with each child's stone make one of the most popular gifts for mom.
Read next: Christmas Gifts for Women: Ideas by Budget · White Elephant Gift Ideas: 40 Under $25
Questions people ask about this
What are the birthstones for each month?
January garnet; February amethyst; March aquamarine; April diamond; May emerald; June pearl, alexandrite or moonstone; July ruby; August peridot, spinel or sardonyx; September sapphire; October opal or tourmaline; November topaz or citrine; December turquoise, tanzanite or zircon.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The modern list was standardized by the US jewelry trade in 1912 and updated since, adding alternatives for availability, price or color. Tanzanite was added to December in 2002 and spinel to August in 2016.
Which birthstones are good for everyday rings?
Diamond, sapphire, ruby, spinel, aquamarine, topaz and amethyst are hard enough for daily wear. Opal, pearl, turquoise and moonstone are better in earrings and pendants.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Alexandrite (June) and tanzanite (December) are among the rarest. Fine alexandrite with a strong color change is especially scarce.
Are lab-created birthstones real?
Lab-created stones have the same chemical makeup and properties as natural ones. Simulants, such as glass or cubic zirconia, only look similar. Sellers must disclose which is which.
