Birthstones by Month: Complete Chart, Colors, Meanings & Jewelry Guide

What are the birthstones by month? January is garnet, February is amethyst, March is aquamarine and bloodstone, and April is diamond. From May emerald to December turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, each month is associated with one or more gemstones.

The important detail is that birthstone lists are not completely identical across organizations and traditions. Some months have multiple recognized stones, and historical or regional lists may differ.

This guide follows the current birthstone references used by major gemological and jewelry organizations, while explaining where those lists differ.

If you are choosing birthstone jewelry for yourself or developing a birthstone collection for a jewelry brand, the chart below gives you the essentials first.

Birthstones by Month: Quick Chart

Note: Different birthstone charts may list additional traditional or regional stones. For example, Jewelers of America currently lists March as aquamarine alone and August as peridot and spinel, while GIA recognizes aquamarine and bloodstone for March. This is why two reputable birthstone charts can look slightly different.

Birthstones by Month: January to December

January Birthstone: Garnet

Color: Usually red, but garnet occurs in many colors

Common associations: Protection, friendship and commitment

Garnet is the traditional January birthstone and is best known for its rich red color. However, garnet is actually a family of related gem minerals, and some varieties occur in green, orange, yellow and other colors.

Red garnet works especially well in jewelry because its deep color pairs naturally with yellow gold, rose gold and sterling silver.

Best jewelry applications: Birthstone necklaces, rings, earrings and personalized bracelets.

February Birthstone: Amethyst

Color: Purple to violet

Common associations: Peace, clarity and spirituality

Amethyst is the February birthstone and a purple variety of quartz. Its color can range from pale lavender to deep violet.

Because amethyst combines a distinctive color with relatively accessible pricing, it is particularly popular for personalized jewelry and February birthday gifts.

Best jewelry applications: Rings, pendants, earrings and charm jewelry.

March Birthstones: Aquamarine and Bloodstone

March is an interesting example of why birthstone charts can differ.

Aquamarine is a blue to slightly greenish-blue variety of beryl. Its light, clean appearance makes it particularly popular for delicate and contemporary jewelry.

Bloodstone is a dark green variety of chalcedony that can contain distinctive red iron-oxide inclusions. It offers a much more unusual appearance than aquamarine.

GIA currently presents aquamarine and bloodstone as March birthstones, while Jewelers of America lists aquamarine on its current U.S. birthstone chart.

Best jewelry applications: Aquamarine for minimalist necklaces and earrings; bloodstone for distinctive rings, pendants and men’s jewelry.

Is March the only month with two birthstones?

No. March is not the only month associated with multiple birthstones.

Depending on the organization or tradition, June, August, October, November and December can also have two or more recognized stones. This is one reason birthstone charts sometimes appear different from one another.

April Birthstone: Diamond

Color: Usually colorless, but diamonds occur in many colors

Common associations: Strength, clarity and enduring love

Diamond is the traditional April birthstone and is valued for its exceptional hardness, brilliance and optical properties.

Although colorless diamonds are the classic choice, natural diamonds can also occur in yellow, pink, blue, brown and other colors.

For everyday rings and other frequently worn jewelry, diamond’s durability makes it particularly practical.

Best jewelry applications: Rings, earrings, pendants, engagement jewelry and fine jewelry.

May Birthstone: Emerald

Color: Green

Common associations: Growth, renewal and prosperity

Emerald is the May birthstone and one of the best-known green gemstones. It belongs to the beryl family and is valued primarily for its distinctive green color.

Natural emeralds commonly contain internal features known as inclusions, sometimes described by the French term jardin, meaning “garden.” These inclusions are common in natural emeralds and can be part of the stone’s identity rather than simply a defect.

For jewelry designers, emerald requires more attention to setting and handling than very hard stones such as diamond, ruby or sapphire.

For a more detailed look at this gemstone, see our May birthstone guide.

Best jewelry applications: Pendants, earrings, statement rings and decorative birthstone jewelry.

June Birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone

June has three widely recognized birthstones in many modern charts: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. GIA also presents all three as June birthstones.

Pearl

Pearl is unusual because it is an organic gem rather than a mineral crystal. It occurs in a range of colors including white, cream, pink, golden, gray and black.

Pearls are especially popular in elegant and personalized jewelry.

If you are comparing pearl materials for jewelry production, see our guides to freshwater pearls vs. shell pearls and cultured freshwater and saltwater pearls.

Alexandrite

Alexandrite is famous for its color-change effect. Depending on the lighting, a fine stone can appear greenish or bluish-green in daylight and reddish or purplish under warmer incandescent light.

Natural fine alexandrite is also one of the rarer birthstone materials, which is why it is frequently discussed when people ask about the rarest birthstone.

Moonstone

Moonstone is known for its soft appearance and adularescence, an optical effect that can create a floating glow across the surface.

Its subtle appearance works well in romantic, vintage and bohemian jewelry designs.

July Birthstone: Ruby

Color: Red to pinkish-red

Common associations: Passion, courage and vitality

Ruby is the July birthstone and belongs to the corundum family. Fine ruby is valued for its strong red color and overall quality.

The difference between commercial ruby and fine ruby can be substantial, so gemstone quality, treatment and origin can have a major effect on price.

Best jewelry applications: Rings, earrings, pendants and fine jewelry.

August Birthstones: Peridot and Spinel

Peridot is best known for its yellowish-green to green color. Unlike many gemstones whose color is caused mainly by trace elements, peridot’s green color is closely related to its chemical composition.

Spinel occurs in a much wider range of colors, including red, pink, orange, blue and black. Red spinel is particularly interesting because historically some famous red stones were mistaken for ruby.

The current Jewelers of America list recognizes peridot and spinel for August.

Best jewelry applications: Peridot for fresh, colorful designs; spinel for colorful fine jewelry and alternative gemstone collections.

September Birthstone: Sapphire

Color: Blue is the classic color, but sapphire occurs in many colors

Common associations: Wisdom, loyalty and sincerity

Sapphire is the September birthstone and is particularly famous for its deep blue varieties.

However, sapphire is not limited to blue. Pink, yellow, green, orange and other colors are also found.

Sapphire’s durability also makes it a practical option for jewelry intended for frequent wear.

Best jewelry applications: Rings, earrings, pendants and engagement jewelry.

October Birthstones: Opal and Tourmaline

October offers two very different gemstone choices.

Opal is famous for its play-of-color, where flashes of different colors appear as the gemstone moves under light. This makes every opal visually distinctive.

Tourmaline occurs in an exceptionally broad range of colors, including pink, green, blue and multicolored crystals.

For personalized jewelry, October is particularly flexible because customers can choose between opal’s optical effect and tourmaline’s wide color range.

Best jewelry applications: Statement rings, pendants, earrings and colorful personalized jewelry.

November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine

Topaz occurs in several colors, including blue, yellow, pink and colorless varieties.

Citrine is a yellow to orange variety of quartz and is especially popular for its warm golden appearance.

Together, these two stones give November birthstone jewelry a broad range of color and price options.

Best jewelry applications: Earrings, rings, pendants and warm-toned seasonal jewelry.

December Birthstones: Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon

December has three particularly distinctive birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. GIA’s December guide also presents these three stones together.

Turquoise ranges from blue to green and has been used in jewelry for thousands of years.

Tanzanite is known for its blue to violet appearance and is notable for its geographically limited source in Tanzania.

Zircon occurs in several colors, including blue, yellow, brown, red and colorless. Colorless zircon can show strong brilliance, while blue zircon is a popular December jewelry choice.

Important: Zircon is a natural gemstone. It is not the same material as cubic zirconia (CZ), which is a laboratory-created diamond simulant.

Best jewelry applications: Turquoise for distinctive casual or bohemian designs; tanzanite for fine jewelry; zircon for colorful and brilliant gemstone designs.

Birthstone Colors by Month

If your main goal is choosing a gemstone by color, this simplified chart is useful:

Remember that these are typical colors, not strict limits. Sapphire, garnet, tourmaline, topaz and several other birthstones occur in multiple colors.

Why Do Birthstone Lists Differ?

If you compare GIA, Jewelers of America and other birthstone charts, you may notice that they do not always contain exactly the same stones.

That does not necessarily mean one source is wrong.

The modern U.S. birthstone list originated in 1912, when the American National Retail Jewelers Association established a standardized list. Jewelers of America, the organization’s modern successor, still publishes a birthstone chart today.

Gemological references can use somewhat different conventions. For example, GIA currently presents March with aquamarine and bloodstone, while Jewelers of America lists aquamarine for March.

So when a jewelry brand creates a birthstone collection, the practical question is not simply “Which list is correct?”

It is:

Which birthstone standard does the collection follow?

For additional gemstone reference information, see the GIA birthstone guide.

What Is the Rarest Birthstone?

There is no single answer unless you define what “rare” means.

Natural alexandrite is often considered one of the rarest birthstone gemstones, particularly when the stone has a strong natural color-change effect and good quality. Fine natural ruby, emerald and other gemstones can also become extremely rare at high quality and large sizes.

Rarity and price are not the same thing. A gemstone can be geographically rare but still have a lower market value than a high-quality diamond, ruby or emerald.

If you want to compare birthstones specifically by rarity and value, see our guide to the rarest birthstones.

Do Birthstones Bring Luck?

Birthstones have long been associated with ideas such as protection, love, strength, prosperity and good fortune. These associations come from tradition, folklore and cultural symbolism rather than scientific evidence.

So if someone asks, “What is the luckiest birthstone?” there is no scientifically proven winner.

The more practical answer is to choose the gemstone whose color, story or personal meaning matters most to the wearer.

The same applies to questions such as “Which gemstone removes negative energy?” or “Which stone removes bad luck?” There is no scientific evidence that a gemstone can remove negative energy or change someone’s luck.

That does not make the symbolism meaningless. Birthstone jewelry is often valuable precisely because the wearer attaches a personal meaning to it.

How to Choose Birthstone Jewelry

Choosing a birthstone is easier when you separate the decision into four factors.

1. Start With the Birth Month

If the month has more than one recognized gemstone, compare:

• Color
• Availability
• Durability
• Price
• Personal preference

There is no requirement to choose the first stone listed on a chart.

2. Match the Gemstone to the Jewelry Type

Durability matters more for rings than for many necklaces or earrings.

Diamond, ruby and sapphire are particularly well suited to frequent wear because of their high hardness. Pearls and opals are more vulnerable to scratching and impact and generally require more care.

3. Consider the Metal

The same gemstone can create a very different look depending on the metal.

• Emerald + yellow gold: classic and warm
• Sapphire + white metal: clean and sophisticated
• Amethyst + rose gold: soft and romantic
• Turquoise + sterling silver: casual and distinctive

For custom jewelry, the gemstone and metal should be considered together rather than separately.

4. Set the Budget Before Choosing the Stone

Birthstone jewelry can range from affordable personalized pieces to high-value fine jewelry.

The final price depends on:

• Gemstone type
• Natural or laboratory-grown material
• Size
• Color
• Clarity
• Treatment
• Metal
• Setting
• Design complexity

This is especially important when a product is described simply as a “gold birthstone necklace.” Gold-plated brass, gold-plated sterling silver, vermeil and solid gold are very different products.

Birthstone Jewelry for Jewelry Brands

Birthstones also work well as a collection strategy because one concept can generate multiple product variations.

A jewelry brand can build:

12-Month Collections

Create one core design for each birth month, then change the gemstone.

Personalized Jewelry

Combine a birthstone with:

• Names
• Initials
• Dates
• Engravings
• Zodiac symbols

Family Birthstone Jewelry

A single necklace, bracelet or ring can combine several stones representing children, parents or partners.

Gift Collections

Birthstone jewelry naturally fits birthday gifts, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, graduation gifts and personalized family jewelry.

This makes birthstones particularly useful for brands that want personalization without creating an entirely new product structure for every customer.

Birthstone Jewelry Manufacturing: What Brands Should Know

For a jewelry brand, choosing the birthstone is only the beginning.

Before placing a production order, clarify:

• Gemstone material and grade
• Natural, synthetic or simulated stone
• Stone size and shape
• Setting method
• Base metal
• Gold karat
• Plating specification
• Product dimensions
• Logo or engraving
• Packaging
• Sample requirements
• Production quantity
• Lead time

The setting should also match the gemstone. For example, more delicate materials such as pearls and opals need different handling from harder stones such as sapphire or diamond.

If you are developing a birthstone collection or custom gemstone jewelry line, see our complete guide to gemstone jewelry manufacturing.

For brands looking for a custom manufacturing partner, you can also explore our custom jewelry manufacturing service.

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to find your birthstone is to start with your birth month, then look at the available gemstones, colors, durability and price.

The most familiar choices include 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.

But birthstone traditions are not completely fixed. Different organizations and historical lists may recognize additional stones, so it is worth checking which standard a jewelry collection follows.

For jewelry brands, that flexibility is also an advantage. A single birthstone concept can become a 12-month collection, personalized family jewelry line, birthday gift range or custom gemstone collection.

Frequently Asked Questions