Few gifts feel as personal as a birthstone. Each month has its own gem — woven through centuries of history, symbolism, and tradition — which makes birthstones one of the most meaningful ways to choose jewelry or a present. At Gems Lore, this is our quick-reference home for every month’s stone, so whether you’re looking up your own or shopping for someone you love, you’ll find it here.
This guide covers what birthstones are, a complete month-by-month chart, the meaning of each stone, and the difference between modern and traditional lists. Where a month has its own full guide, we’ll point you there.
What Are Birthstones?
Birthstones are gemstones associated with each month of the year, traditionally believed to bring luck, protection, or special meaning to those born in that month. The idea is ancient — many trace it back to the twelve stones of the breastplate of Aaron in the Bible, later linked to the twelve months and the twelve zodiac signs.
The list most people use today, the modern birthstone list, was standardized in 1912 by the jewelry trade to bring consistency, and it’s been lightly updated since. Older traditional lists still exist too, which is why some months have more than one stone (more on that below).
The Complete Birthstone Chart
Bookmark this quick reference — modern birthstones, with popular alternatives noted.
| Month | Birthstone(s) | Traditionally symbolizes |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Protection, strength, devotion |
| February | Amethyst | Calm, clarity, wisdom |
| March | Aquamarine (also Bloodstone) | Courage, calm, the sea |
| April | Diamond (also Clear Quartz) | Love, clarity, strength |
| May | Emerald | Growth, love, renewal |
| June | Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite | Purity, intuition, new beginnings |
| July | Ruby | Passion, vitality, protection |
| August | Peridot (also Spinel, Sardonyx) | Positivity, strength, harmony |
| September | Sapphire | Wisdom, loyalty, truth |
| October | Opal, Tourmaline | Hope, creativity, protection |
| November | Topaz, Citrine | Abundance, warmth, confidence |
| December | Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon | Protection, calm, good fortune |
Note: meanings below come from tradition and symbolism rather than science.
Birthstones by Month
January — Garnet
Deep red garnet symbolizes protection, strength, and enduring devotion — a warm, grounding start to the year. Full guide: January birthstone.
February — Amethyst
The calming purple quartz stands for clarity, wisdom, and peace of mind. Full guides: February birthstone and amethyst meaning.
March — Aquamarine
The sea-blue stone of courage and calm (with bloodstone as its traditional alternative). Full guide: March birthstone.
April — Diamond
The classic symbol of love, strength, and clarity — with clear quartz as a beautiful budget alternative. Full guides: April birthstone and clear quartz meaning.
May — Emerald
Lush green emerald represents growth, love, and renewal — perfect for spring birthdays. Full guide: May birthstone.
June — Pearl, Moonstone & Alexandrite
June is spoiled with three: classic pearl, glowing moonstone, and rare color-changing alexandrite — symbols of purity, intuition, and new beginnings. Full guides: June birthstone and moonstone meaning.
July — Ruby
The fiery red “king of gems” symbolizes passion, vitality, and protection. Full guide: July birthstone.
August — Peridot
Bright lime-green peridot stands for positivity, strength, and harmony (with spinel and sardonyx as alternatives). Full guide: August birthstone.
September — Sapphire
The deep blue stone of wisdom, loyalty, and truth — though sapphires come in nearly every color. Full guide: September birthstone.
October — Opal & Tourmaline
Shimmering opal and rainbow tourmaline represent hope, creativity, and protection. Full guides: October birthstone and black tourmaline meaning.
November — Topaz & Citrine
Warm golden topaz and citrine symbolize abundance, warmth, and confidence — a sunny stone for late autumn. Full guides: November birthstone and citrine meaning.
December — Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon
A trio of blues standing for protection, calm, and good fortune to close the year. Full guide: December birthstone.
Modern vs. Traditional Birthstones
If you’ve seen different stones listed for the same month, here’s why. The modern list (1912, lightly updated since) is what most jewelers use today. Traditional and ancient lists assigned different stones — for example, bloodstone was the older March stone before aquamarine became standard. Neither is “wrong”; the modern list is simply the most widely recognized. Many months kept more than one option, which is why June, October, November, and December each have several.
Birthstones and the Zodiac
Birthstones are tied to calendar months, but there’s also a parallel tradition of zodiac stones linked to astrological signs — which can differ from your monthly birthstone since signs straddle two months. If you’d like to explore stones for your sign, see our zodiac guides, starting with the overview in zodiac birthstones.
How to Use & Gift Birthstones
Birthstones make deeply personal gifts. A few ideas:
- Jewelry — a birthstone ring, pendant, or pair of earrings is a timeless, personal present.
- For new babies — birthstone pieces are a classic, sentimental gift.
- Carry or display the raw stone — a lovely, affordable option for those who prefer crystals to jewelry.
- Combine birthstones — family pieces featuring several months’ stones are especially meaningful.
For anniversary gem traditions too, see our anniversary gemstones by year guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the birthstones for each month?
- January: Garnet
- February: Amethyst
- March: Aquamarine
- April: Diamond
- May: Emerald
- June: Pearl/moonstone/alexandrite
- July: Ruby
- August: Peridot
- September: Sapphire
- October: Opal/tourmaline
- November: Topaz/citrine
- December: Turquoise/tanzanite/zircon
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Because both modern and traditional lists exist, and some months kept multiple options. June, October, November, and December each have several recognized birthstones.
What’s the difference between modern and traditional birthstones?
The modern list was standardized in 1912 and is what most jewelers use today; traditional and ancient lists assigned some different stones. Both are valid — the modern list is simply the most widely used.
Is a birthstone the same as a zodiac stone?
Not always. Birthstones follow calendar months, while zodiac stones follow astrological signs, which span parts of two months — so the two can differ.
Where to Go From Here
Whether you’re discovering your own birthstone or choosing a gift, there’s a gem for every month — each with its own color, history, and meaning. Find yours in the chart above, then explore its full guide for the story behind the stone.
New to gemstones? Start with our types of gemstones overview and our beginner’s guide to healing crystals. Looking for a meaningful gift? Pair this with our anniversary gemstones by year guide. Explore more any time here at Gems Lore.
What’s your birthstone — and do you love it, or wish you’d been born a month over? Tell us in the comments.
