Birthstone Chart By Month (With Meanings & Pictures)

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Plus, read the history of and style tips for each birthstone

Co-authored by Valeria Johnson and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: August 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Birthstones By Month

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What are modern vs. traditional birthstones?

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FAQs

If you didn’t already know, each month of the year has its own special, dynamic, and (usually) shimmering birthstone. These month-and-gem associations typically come from ancient cultural beliefs and practices, although there are also some modern additions. To find your birthstone (or anyone else’s), check out this brilliant guide to monthly birthstones, modern vs. traditional options, and more.

Birthstone Chart

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visual chart showing the birthstone for every month of the year.

The birthstone chart shows the modern or traditional gem that’s associated with each month of the year, either stemming from ancient beliefs or contemporary associations. The 12 months and birthstones, in order, are:

January: Garnet
February: Amethyst
March: Aquamarine or bloodstone
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
June: Pearl, alexandrite, or moonstone
July: Ruby
August: Peridot, spinel, or sardonyx
September: Sapphire
October: Opal or tourmaline
November: Citrine or topaz
December: Turquoise, blue zircon, tanzanite, or blue topaz

Section 1 of 3:

Birthstones By Month

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January: Garnet Garnets have been worn since at least the Bronze Age, when they were most popularly worn by warriors as protective amulets. The idea of a garnet as a protective crystal remains prevalent, as the gem is thought to shield its wearer from injury and protect them from insincerity or betrayal. Due to their deep red shade, garnets can also be associated with blood—specifically how it gives life and promotes vitality.^{[1]
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- Color: Red (less commonly; purple, green, yellow, and orange)
- Meaning: Protection, strength, loyalty, sincerity, friendship, vitality, and life-giving.
- Styling Your Stone: Set garnets in yellow or rose gold, then pair your garnet jewelry with earth tones like browns, burgundy, or olive. When combining with other jewelry pieces, let your garnet shine as the only gem in a stack or set.
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February: Amethyst Amethysts are a vibrant purple variant of crystalline quartz. Historically, amethysts were widely worn by royalty and members of the clergy, given that the color purple often represents royalty, power, protection, and spirituality. Amethysts are also thought to bring peace to the wearer and ward off intoxication or negative energy (both internally and externally).^{[2]
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- Color: Purple
- Meaning: Spirituality, mental clarity, healing, peace, courage, and power.
- Styling Your Stone: Set amethysts in silver or white gold, then pair your amethyst jewelry with dark, calming shades like pastel lavender, slate grey, and navy. When combining with other jewelry pieces, opt for clear stones (e.g., quartz, diamond, etc.) and/or pearls.
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March: Aquamarine or Bloodstone The most common birthstone for March is aquamarine, which is considered the month’s modern birthstone. Aquamarine is a blue or blue-green stone from the beryl family, with a name coming from the Latin word for “seawater” and a history as a protection amulet for sailors and seafarers.^{[3]
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Research source} Bloodstone, on the other hand, is March’s traditional stone, and it was historically associated with physical strength, courage, and healing. Early Christians even believed that the stone’s red spots represented the blood of Jesus Christ falling on green stones during his crucifixion.^{[4]
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- Color: Blue or bluish-green; dark green with reddish-orange spots.
- Meaning: Protection at sea, marital happiness, intellect, harmony, and youth; bravery, strength, and health.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Aquamarine—set the gem in white or platinum gold, then style your aquamarine jewelry with beachy tones like sky blue, white, or soft pastels. Pair with minimalist earrings or dainty silver chain necklaces.
  - Bloodstone—set the gem in silver, yellow gold, or rose gold, then style your bloodstone jewelry with neutral earth tones like brown, olive green, rust, or beige. Pair with bohemian accessories like wooden rings, leather bracelets, or simple gemstone pendants.
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April: Diamond Diamonds are a girl’s best friend…so it’s no wonder that they’re the most popular gemstone in the world. Diamond jewelry is commonly seen as a luxurious status symbol, and they’re traditionally used in wedding and engagement rings. Diamonds were just as precious in ancient times, when the gems were thought to have healing powers and Cupid’s arrows were said to be diamond-tipped. Their hardness (aka scratch resistance) is also exceptional, along with their beauty and brilliance.^{[5]
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- Color: Colorless or clear (but they can technically be found in any color)
- Meaning: Strength, invincibility, power, longevity, eternal love, and healing.
- Styling Your Stone: Diamonds are very versatile, so they can be set in any metal and paired with any outfit. However, to really emphasize the shine of diamond jewelry, consider black, white, or red clothing and textured, pavé-accented pieces.
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May: Emerald An emerald is a popular gem from the beryl family that boasts a brilliant, rich green hue. According to certain folklore, emeralds can give their wearers greater intelligence, clearer thinking, exceptional beauty, and immense power. Other tales tell of healing or divinatory powers being brought on by emeralds. Emeralds are even believed to have been the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra! In fact, in ancient Egypt, it was widely believed that the emerald color represented abundance and eternal youth.^{[6]
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- Color: Green
- Meaning: Rebirth, fertility, love, joy, healing, abundance, eternal youth, and intelligence.
- Styling Your Stone: Set your emeralds in yellow gold, then pair your emerald jewelry with a jewel tone like sapphire blue, amethyst purple, or ruby red. When combining with other jewelry pieces, try gold metals with diamond accents.
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June: Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone The traditional (and arguably most common) June birthstone is pearl, along with moonstone and the modern addition, alexandrite. Pearls have long been thought to be tears shed by the gods, while other cultures place pearls in graves or believe that pearls are objects of wisdom and power carried by dragons.^{[7]
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Research source} Alexandrite, meanwhile, is a famously color-changing gem that was named after Czar Alexander II and beloved by Russian royalty.^{[8]
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Research source} Moonstone, lastly, has a (unsurprisingly) lunar-like appearance that ancient cultures believed to form from frozen or trapped dollops of moonlight.^{[9]
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- Color: White; green and red; milky white with a blue sheen.
- Meaning: Honesty, purity, wisdom, power, humility, loyalty, and innocence; luck, balance, transformation, and power; protection, intuition, and romance.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Pearl—set a pearl in silver, yellow gold, or rose gold, then wear your pearl jewelry with a sophisticated shade like cream, navy blue, or blush pink. Pair with layered chain necklaces or bracelets.
  - Alexandrite—set alexandrite in platinum or white gold, then wear your alexandrite jewelry with soft, neutral tones like denim blue, sage green, beige, or navy blue. Pair with delicate, diamond-accented matching metals.
  - Moonstone—set moonstones in silver or white gold, then wear your moonstone jewelry in cool tones like cerulean, navy blue, charcoal grey, and white. Pair with organic or clear sparkling gems, such as pearls, opals, diamonds, or quartz.
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July: Ruby The immensely popular and vividly red ruby is a corundum gem that can cost over $1,000,000 per carat—so July babies are anything but low value! In ancient times, rubies were often worn by warriors due to their associations with physicality, strength, stamina, and an innate connection to the human body. Some cultures also believed that rubies could offer good luck, dampen feelings of anger, and help their wearers navigate challenging or high-tempered situations.^{[10]
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- Color: Red
- Meaning: Passion, love, vitality, courage, harmony, fortune, and protection.
- Styling Your Stone: Set your rubies in minimalistic gold or silver settings, then wear your ruby jewelry with blacks, whites, or jewel tones. Less is more when it comes to styling rubies with other accessories, but if you’re into a more amped-up look, pair them with diamond or pearl accents.
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August: Peridot, Spinel, or Sardonyx Peridot is the modern and most common August birthstone, with green hues and a reputation for protecting its wearer during nighttime. This was largely due to ancient beliefs that the gemstone harnessed the powers of the sun.^{[11]
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Research source} The secondary modern birthstone is spinel, a red gem that was once confused with and categorized as a ruby.^{[12]
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Research source} Sardonyx is the traditional birthstone for August—it was popularly used as a carved seal or signet ring in ancient Greece and Rome (particularly by Roman soldiers).^{[13]
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- Color: Green or greenish-yellow; deep red or purple; reddish-brown, white, and black.
- Meaning: Strength, protection, and prosperity; vitality; hope, and renewal; courage, energy, and protection.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Peridot—set the gem with yellow gold, then wear your peridot jewelry with warm colors like coral, mustard, or mulberry. Pair with thin gold bangles, rings, or necklace chains.
  - Spinel—set the gem with platinum or yellow gold, then wear your spinel jewelry with blacks, whites, or jewel tones like emerald green and amethyst purple. Pair with other vibrant gems like sapphires or garnets.
  - Sardonyx—set the gem with yellow gold, then wear your sardonyx jewelry with warm earth tones like camel, tan, and chocolate brown. Pair with organic accents like leather bands or wooden beads.
- Is your birthstone…not really your vibe? Take our “What Is My (Actual) Birthstone?” quiz to find the gem that truly matches your personality!
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September: Sapphire A stunningly beautiful, blue, and durable sapphire is special for several reasons—one of which is its natural asterism, meaning you can see a glowing, six-rayed star on its surface. Historically, sapphires were often worn by priests due to their believed medicinal properties, association with spirituality, and ability to shield their wearers from physical or emotional harm (e.g., envy). Like rubies, sapphires are a variety of corundum gem.^{[14]
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- Color: Blue
- Meaning: Wisdom, loyalty, clarity, protection, healing, spirituality, honesty, and truth.
- Styling Your Stone: Set a sapphire in silver or gold metals, then pair your sapphire jewelry with neutral shades like grey, black, and cream. When pairing with other jewelry, opt for items with white topaz or diamond accents.
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October: Opal or Tourmaline Opal is the traditional (and arguably more common) birthstone for October. Opals are very delicate and unique, with each stone having a dynamic rainbow sheen within a white or black stone. According to legend, opals have healing properties and can make their wearers invisible, but they’re also associated with light, magic, and luck.^{[15]
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Research source} Tourmaline, the modern birthstone, is another color-changing stone with pink, red, blue, and green hues. They’re associated with stress relief, healing, boosted creativity, and the repairing of a broken heart.^{[16]
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- Color: White or black with rainbow tones; pink, green, blue, black, or red.
- Meaning: Light, magic, luck, hope, purity, confidence, emotion, and creativity; balance, healing, and strength.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Opal—set the gem in silver or rose gold, then wear your opal jewelry with whites and soft pastels (like baby pink or butter yellow). Pair with delicate gemstone accessories in complementary colors (like light blue or green).
  - Tourmaline—set the gem in yellow or rose gold, then wear your tourmaline jewelry with neutral colors like black, cream, or charcoal grey. Pair with minimalist accessories that have diamond or pearl accents.
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November: Citrine or Topaz Citrine is a yellow or reddish-orange type of crystalline quartz, and it’s also the modern birthstone for November. It’s associated with happiness, protection, and healing, especially when it comes to relieving insomnia, body ailments, or stress. Considered a “stone of the sun,” citrine gems were especially popular during ancient Greece and the Art Deco period. Topaz, meanwhile, is November’s traditional stone. Across different cultures, it’s been believed that wearing topaz can grant physical strength, break magic spells, dampen anger, protect against injury, and attract wealth.^{[17]
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- Color: Yellow or reddish-orange; gold or yellow.
- Meaning: Happiness, hope, abundance, joy, positivity, and protection; strength, power, calm, protection, wisdom, wealth, and beauty.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Citrine—set the gem in yellow gold, then wear your citrine jewelry with autumn tones like rust, chocolate, or mustard. Pair with leather bands or braids, gold hardware, and complementary stones like amethyst or smoky quartz.
  - Topaz—set the gem in yellow gold, then wear your topaz jewelry with warm neutrals like cream, beige, and chocolate brown. Pair with thin yellow gold chains or tiny white diamonds.
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December: Turquoise, Blue Zircon, Tanzanite, or Blue Topaz December’s traditional birthstone is turquoise, a light blue or bluish-green stone with white, web-like patterns across it. Turquoise has been used for millennia as a protective talisman (particularly by certain Native American tribes). Modern choices include blue zircon, a sparkly green-blue gemstone, tanzanite, a vivid blue-violet gem, and blue topaz, a crystal-clear blue stone that’s considered a more affordable alternative to the luxurious December stones.^{[18]
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- Color: Light blue or turquoise; greenish-blue; blue-violet; Swiss blue.
- Meaning: Protection, good fortune, and healing; clarity, wisdom, and prosperity; spiritual growth, new beginnings, and transformation; communication, emotional balance, and peace.
- Styling Your Stone:
  - Turquoise—set the stone in silver, then wear your turquoise jewelry with earthy neutrals like brown and cream or warm contrasting colors like rusty red or sunset orange. Pair with engraved silver cuffs or brown leather accents.
  - Blue Zircon—set the stone in platinum or white gold, then wear your blue zircon jewelry with crisp cool tones like white, navy blue, and black. Pair with minimalistic silver jewelry or small diamonds.
  - Tanzanite—set the stone in white gold or platinum, then wear your tanzanite jewelry with soft neutrals and pastels like black, white, charcoal, lavender, and baby pink. Pair with minimalistic, diamond-accented pieces.
  - Blue Topaz—set the stone in silver or white gold, then wear your blue topaz jewelry with cool tones like slate grey, ink black, sky blue, and teal. Pair with thin silver chains, dainty silver rings, and tiny diamonds.

Section 2 of 3:

What are modern vs. traditional birthstones?

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Traditional birthstones come from ancient practices; modern ones were chosen in 1912 or later. Traditional birthstone lists originate from the gemstone-studded breastplate worn by Aaron in Exodus and evolved over time based on cultural and religious customs.^{[19]
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Research source} They also include opaque and organic stones, including bloodstones, pearls, and turquoise. Modern birthstone charts, on the other hand, were largely developed by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. In 1912, this organization updated the traditional birthstone list to favor or include transparent gems that were more easily available on the consumer market.^{[20]
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- More recently, the American Gem Society added alexandrite (1952), tanzanite (2002), and spinel (2016) as alternative birthstones.

Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions About Birthstones

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What's the rarest birthstone to have? The rarest birthstone is amethyst, February’s birthstone, because February is the month that’s rarest to be born in. This is most likely due to February being the shortest month of the year.^{[21]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- If you’re wondering which birthstone is the rarest gem, that would be alexandrite—one of the birthstones for June. The second rarest is tanzanite, followed by natural rubies.
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What’s the difference between a birthstone and a Zodiac stone? Birthstones are based on the actual month in which you were born, while Zodiac stones are tied to your star sign according to astrology. Star signs can encompass two different months, so two people who were born in the same month may have the same birthstone but different Zodiac stones.^{[22]
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Can you wear a birthstone that’s not from your birth month? Yes, absolutely! You can wear any birthstone you want, whether it’s because of your favorite colors, personal style preferences, or because another stone has a special meaning to you. Jewelry designer and gemstone expert Valeria Johnson shares that she’s “never liked the gemstone” assigned to her birth month, so she goes with whatever she’s drawn to. “That’s the best indicator of what you need at the time,” continues Johnson, “so just tune into yourself and follow what your urges are and what you’re drawn to the most.”^{[23]
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Expert Source

Valeria Johnson
Jewelry Designer and Gemstone Expert

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