You know your zodiac sign. You may even have a favorite crystal. But do you know your birthstone? Each month of the year has its own stone, with its own color and meaning: garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, and so on. It's a simple way to pick a stone that means something to you, and it makes an easy, thoughtful birthday gift.
In this guide, you'll find the stone for every month, what it stands for, and how to wear it or give it as jewelry.
Where does the birthstone tradition come from?
Pairing twelve stones with a cycle is a very old idea. It goes back to ancient times and the famous breastplate of Aaron, set with twelve gems, and to the links between stones and months that people drew up over the centuries. The modern list was set by American jewelers in 1912 and has been adjusted since. Like zodiac signs, birthstones are a symbolic tradition with no scientific basis: a way to connect a month, a color and an intention. One more thing to know: several of these stones (citrine, topaz, aquamarine, turquoise) are often treated in the trade, whether heated, stabilized or reconstituted.
Some classic birthstones are precious gems: diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Each one also has a more affordable natural-stone alternative, and we list it for every month below.
Birthstone chart by month
| Month | Stone | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Vitality, life force |
| February | Amethyst | Serenity, spiritual growth |
| March | Aquamarine | Clarity, gentleness |
| April | Diamond (clear quartz) | Purity, light |
| May | Emerald (aventurine) | Renewal, luck |
| June | Pearl, moonstone | Intuition, femininity |
| July | Ruby (carnelian) | Drive, zest for life |
| August | Peridot | Light, confidence |
| September | Sapphire (lapis lazuli) | Wisdom, truth |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Creativity, protection |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Joy, abundance |
| December | Turquoise | Protection, serenity |
January birthstone: garnet
Deep red garnet brings warmth to the middle of winter. It's the stone of vitality and life force, and people give it to wish someone energy and staying power for the year ahead. Browse our garnet jewelry.
February birthstone: amethyst
Purple and soothing, amethyst is one of the most loved crystals of all. It's known for quieting the mind and inviting serenity, which makes it a beautiful stone for sensitive, dreamy souls. Read our amethyst guide to learn everything about it, and shop our amethyst jewelry.
March birthstone: aquamarine
Clear blue like seawater, aquamarine has long been the stone of travelers and of gentle words. It's said to bring calm and clarity. Our aquamarine guide tells its story, and our aquamarine jewelry comes in bracelets and pendants.
April birthstone: diamond, or clear quartz
April's traditional stone is the diamond, a symbol of purity. Among natural stones, clear quartz carries that same meaning of clarity and light. It's transparent, and it's known for clarifying and amplifying your intentions. Check out our clear quartz guide and our clear quartz jewelry.
May birthstone: emerald, or aventurine
May's green is the green of renewal. Next to the precious emerald, green aventurine is the natural alternative, known as the stone of luck and new opportunities. Our aventurine guide covers its meaning in detail, and you'll find the stone in our aventurine jewelry.
June birthstone: moonstone
June gets two treasures: pearl and moonstone. Moonstone, with its milky, shifting glow, is the stone of intuition, gentleness and feminine energy. Read our moonstone guide and browse our moonstone jewelry.
July birthstone: ruby, or carnelian
July's fiery red belongs to the ruby. Carnelian is the natural stone that brings the same warmth: bright orange, it's known as the stone of creative drive and zest for life. Read our carnelian guide and shop our carnelian jewelry.
August birthstone: peridot
Bright olive green, peridot is one of the few gems that comes in only one color. It's said to light up the mind and build confidence. Browse our peridot jewelry.
September birthstone: sapphire, or lapis lazuli
September's deep blue is the blue of sapphire, the stone of wisdom. Lapis lazuli, midnight blue flecked with gold, is its natural counterpart: the stone of truth and intuition since ancient Egypt. Our lapis lazuli guide tells that story, and our lapis lazuli jewelry lets you wear it.
October birthstone: opal and tourmaline
October has two stones: shimmering opal and tourmaline. Black tourmaline, known as a powerful stone of protection and grounding, is the one people wear most as jewelry. Read our black tourmaline guide and browse our tourmaline jewelry.
November birthstone: topaz and citrine
November's golden tones belong to topaz and citrine. Sunny yellow citrine is the stone of joy, confidence and abundance, a stone that brings warmth to the fall. (Most citrine on the market is heated amethyst or quartz, which doesn't change its symbolic meaning.) Read our citrine guide and shop our citrine jewelry.
December birthstone: turquoise
Veined sky-blue turquoise closes out the year. People have worn it as a sign of protection for thousands of years, from the Persians to Native American peoples, and it stands for protection and serenity. A word of caution: in jewelry, turquoise is very often stabilized or reconstituted, and sometimes replaced with dyed howlite, so check exactly what the stone is before you buy. Browse our turquoise jewelry.
How to wear or give a birthstone
A bracelet is the easiest way to keep your birthstone with you every day. It's subtle, unisex, and looks great on its own or stacked. Our Birth Month bracelet comes in the stone of each of the twelve months, and our birthstone bracelets collection gathers a dedicated selection, month by month.
A birthstone is also one of the most personal gifts you can give. For a birthday, a new baby or Mother's Day, the stone of someone's month is jewelry that's truly about them. Add a short note on what the stone means: that's often the part people love most.
If you enjoy these pairings, there's a second system to explore: our guide to crystals for each zodiac sign matches a stone to every sign. And to keep your jewelry looking its best, follow our guide to cleansing and caring for your crystals.
Frequently asked questions
What is my birthstone?
It's the stone of your birth month: garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond or clear quartz (April), emerald or aventurine (May), moonstone (June), ruby or carnelian (July), peridot (August), sapphire or lapis lazuli (September), opal or tourmaline (October), topaz or citrine (November), turquoise (December).
Where does the birthstone tradition come from?
Its roots go back to ancient times and the twelve gems of Aaron's breastplate. The modern list was set in 1912 by the American jewelers' association and adjusted over time. Like zodiac signs, it's a symbolic tradition.
Can I wear a birthstone from a different month?
Of course. Your birthstone is a starting point, not a rule. If another stone draws you in with its color or its meaning, that's the one to choose. Many people wear their birthstone together with a stone they picked by intuition.
Which birthstone should I give for a birthday?
The stone of the person's birth month, as a bracelet they can wear every day. Birthstone jewelry is a personal gift that gets kept and passed down, and the story behind it always makes an impression when it's unwrapped.
What's the difference between a birthstone and a zodiac stone?
Your birthstone follows the calendar month (January, February and so on). Your zodiac stone follows your sign (Aries, Taurus and so on). The two traditions sit side by side and complement each other, so feel free to wear both.
At the end of the day, your birthstone is a gentle way into the world of crystals: a simple match, jewelry that means something, and an intention you can wear on your wrist all year long.
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