Reference
Birthstones by Month
The modern birthstone list was standardized by the US jewelry trade in 1912 and has been updated a few times since — tanzanite joined in 2002, spinel in 2016. Where a month’s older, traditional stone differs, it’s listed alongside.
January
Garnet
Garnet takes its name from the Latin granatum, pomegranate — a nod to the deep red grains it forms in rock. It's been January's stone on every list, old and new.
February
Amethyst
The name comes from the Greek amethystos, "not intoxicated": the ancient Greeks believed the violet quartz kept its wearer clear-headed. February has never had another stone.
Shop 13 bracelets with Amethyst
March
Aquamarine & Bloodstone
Aquamarine, Latin for "sea water", is the modern pick: pale blue beryl that looks like its name. Bloodstone — dark green chalcedony flecked with red iron oxide — is the older March stone.
April
Diamond & Clear Quartz
Diamond is pure carbon and the hardest natural mineral, a 10 on the Mohs scale. Clear quartz, long called rock crystal, is the stone most often chosen in its place.
Diamond
Traditional & modern
Clear Quartz
Alternative
May
Emerald
Emerald is green beryl colored by traces of chromium and vanadium. Egypt was mining it more than 2,000 years ago, and it has been May's stone ever since the lists began.
June
Pearl, Moonstone & Alexandrite
June has three stones. Pearl is the only one grown by a living animal; moonstone is feldspar with a soft blue sheen; alexandrite, found in Russia's Urals in the 1830s, shifts from green in daylight to red under lamplight.
July
Ruby
Ruby is red corundum, colored by chromium; the name comes from the Latin ruber, red. It's the same mineral as sapphire — only the color separates them.
Ruby
Traditional & modern
August
Peridot, Spinel & Sardonyx
Peridot is gem-quality olivine, formed deep in the Earth's mantle. Sardonyx, banded red and white, is the older August stone, and spinel joined the list in 2016.
September
Sapphire
Sapphire is corundum in every color except red, which is ruby. Blue is the classic, colored by traces of iron and titanium.
Sapphire
Traditional & modern
October
Opal & Tourmaline
Opal's play of color comes from tiny silica spheres that split light like a prism. Tourmaline, added in 1952, comes in more colors than almost any other gem.
Opal
Traditional & modern
Tourmaline
Modern
November
Topaz & Citrine
Topaz is November's traditional stone; citrine, yellow quartz, joined it in 1952. The two share the same warm golden tones.
Topaz
Traditional & modern
Citrine
Modern
December
Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon
Turquoise was carved by the ancient Egyptians and Persians. Tanzanite, found only near Mount Kilimanjaro, joined the list in 2002; zircon includes the oldest known mineral grains on Earth.
Choosing by chakra, color or zodiac sign instead? Browse all crystals.