Birth stones

Birthstones are gems assigned to each month of the year, worn as a personal talisman tied to the month of your birth. The tradition traces back to the breastplate of Aaron described in the Book of Exodus, which held twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Scholars later linked those stones to the twelve months and the twelve zodiac signs. The modern American list most jewelers follow today was standardized in 1912 by the Jewelers of America (then the National Association of Jewelers), and it has been updated only a handful of times since.

The 12 Birthstones by Month

January — Garnet

Garnet is a silicate mineral group (almandine, pyrope, spessartine and others) with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7.5. Most people picture a deep red pyrope or almandine, though garnets also occur in orange (spessartine), green (tsavorite, demantoid) and even color-change varieties. The name comes from the Latin granatum, pomegranate, after the fruit's red seeds. Medieval travelers carried garnet as a protective stone against accidents on the road, and it came to symbolize loyalty, friendship and safe return. Its deep winter red makes it a fitting stone for January. Shop our January birthstone jewelry or read more on our garnet education page.

February — Amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz (SiO₂), colored by traces of iron and natural irradiation, with a Mohs hardness of 7. Shades run from pale lilac to deep Siberian violet. The Greeks believed it prevented drunkenness; the word derives from amethystos, "not intoxicated," and goblets were carved from it to keep wine-drinkers clear-headed. For centuries amethyst ranked among the five cardinal gems alongside diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, until large deposits were found in Brazil in the 1800s. It represents sobriety, clear thinking and spiritual focus, which suits a month of reflection. Browse February birthstone jewelry or see our amethyst education page.

March — Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) colored by iron, sharing its mineral family with emerald. It rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and ranges from pale sky blue to a saturated sea-green blue. The name is Latin for "seawater," and Roman sailors carried it as a charm against storms and seasickness. Most gem-quality aquamarine today comes from Minas Gerais in Brazil, with notable finds in Pakistan, Nigeria and Madagascar. Its cool blue represents calm, courage and clear communication, a fitting symbol for March when winter gives way to spring tides. See our March birthstone jewelry and our aquamarine education page.

April — Diamond and Rock Crystal

Diamond is pure crystallized carbon and the hardest natural material known, sitting at the top of the Mohs scale at 10. It is colorless in its purest form but occurs in yellow, brown, pink, blue and green. The name comes from the Greek adamas, "unconquerable," and diamond has symbolized strength, eternal love and clarity for more than two thousand years. For shoppers who want a white gemstone look without the diamond price, clear quartz (rock crystal) is the traditional sterling silver alternative, with a hardness of 7 and excellent transparency. Both stones suit April's theme of spring clarity and new beginnings. Explore our April birthstone jewelry.

May — Emerald

Emerald is the green variety of beryl, colored by chromium and sometimes vanadium, with a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8. Classic emerald green runs from grassy to a deep bluish green; the finest material has historically come from the Muzo and Chivor mines of Colombia, with other deposits in Zambia, Brazil and Afghanistan. Cleopatra prized emerald, and the stone was sacred to Venus as a symbol of rebirth, fertility and spring growth. Most emeralds contain internal inclusions called jardin, French for "garden." Its green is the color of May itself. Shop our May birthstone jewelry or visit our emerald education page.

June — Pearl

Pearl is the only organic gem on the birthstone list, formed when a mollusk coats an irritant with layers of nacre (calcium carbonate and conchiolin). Its Mohs hardness is a soft 2.5 to 4.5, so pearls need gentler care than mineral gems. Colors run from white and cream to silver, rose, gold, peacock and black, depending on the species of oyster or mussel. Pearls have been harvested for at least 4,000 years and were once more valuable than diamonds. They represent purity, wisdom and the calm of summer waters, matching June weddings and June brides. Shop our June birthstone jewelry or read our pearl education page.

July — Ruby

Ruby is the red variety of corundum (Al₂O₃), colored by chromium, and it rates 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond. The most valued color is a saturated "pigeon blood" red, historically from Mogok in Burma (Myanmar), with other sources in Mozambique, Thailand and Sri Lanka. In Sanskrit ruby was called ratnaraj, "king of gems." Medieval European warriors sewed rubies into their armor, believing the stone drew life force and courage. Its fiery red suits July's peak summer heat and stands for passion, vitality and protection. Browse our July birthstone jewelry or read more on our ruby education page.

August — Peridot

Peridot is gem-quality olivine, (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7. It is one of only a few gems that form in a single color: yellow-green to olive-green, with iron providing the tint. Major sources include Egypt's Zabargad Island (mined for 3,500 years), the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona, Pakistan and Myanmar. Some peridot has even arrived on Earth inside pallasite meteorites. Ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun" and believed it warded off nightmares. Its bright green captures late-summer light. See our August birthstone jewelry or our peridot education page.

September — Sapphire

Sapphire is corundum in any color other than red, with a Mohs hardness of 9. The classic blue comes from traces of iron and titanium, but sapphire also occurs in pink, yellow, green, purple, orange (the rare padparadscha) and colorless. Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka produce the most celebrated blue material; Montana yields distinctive steely blues and teals. Medieval clergy wore sapphire as a symbol of heaven, and the stone has long stood for truth, wisdom and faithfulness, which is why it shows up in so many royal engagement rings. Shop our September birthstone jewelry or our sapphire education page.

October — Opal

Opal is hydrated silica (SiO₂·nH₂O) containing 3 to 21 percent water, with a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6.5. Precious opal displays "play-of-color," a rainbow flash caused by microscopic silica spheres diffracting light. Australia produces most of the world's white and black opal; Ethiopia has become a major source of bright Welo opal; Mexico supplies fire opal. The Romans called opal opalus and considered it the most precious stone because it contained the colors of all others. It represents creativity, imagination and emotional expression. See our October birthstone jewelry or our opal education page.

November — Topaz and Citrine

Topaz is a fluorine aluminum silicate (Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂) with a Mohs hardness of 8. It occurs naturally in colorless, yellow, sherry-brown, pink and pale blue; the vivid Swiss blue and London blue tones seen in jewelry today are produced by treating colorless topaz with irradiation and heat. Brazil is the largest producer. Citrine, the yellow variety of quartz (hardness 7), is November's affordable alternative and shares the month's warm autumn palette. Both stones stand for warmth, generosity and good fortune, carrying summer's color into the darker months. Browse our November birthstone jewelry or visit our blue topaz education page.

December — Turquoise, Tanzanite and Blue Zircon

Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate, CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O, rating 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Its sky-blue to blue-green color comes from copper. Turquoise has been mined for more than 6,000 years, from the Sinai Peninsula to Persia (Iran) to the American Southwest, where it remains central to Navajo, Zuni and Pueblo silversmithing. It was prized by Pharaohs, Aztec rulers and Native American nations as a protective stone and a link between sky and earth. Tanzanite (from Tanzania, discovered 1967) and blue zircon are modern December additions. Shop our December birthstone jewelry or our turquoise education page.

How to Choose and Gift a Birthstone

Start with the wearer's daily habits. Hard, durable stones like sapphire (9), ruby (9) and topaz (8) hold up well in rings worn every day; softer stones such as pearl (2.5 to 4.5), opal (5.5 to 6.5) and turquoise (5 to 6) do better in earrings, pendants and occasional-wear pieces where they avoid knocks and abrasion. Consider color balance with skin tone and wardrobe: warm skin often flatters peridot, citrine, garnet and ruby, while cooler tones complement aquamarine, amethyst, sapphire and tanzanite. Sterling silver settings suit every birthstone and keep the focus on the stone itself.

For gifting, a birthstone piece is most meaningful when it marks a specific moment: a first birthday, a milestone anniversary, the birth of a child, or graduation. Mother's rings and family pendants combine several birthstones in one setting, with each stone standing in for a child, a parent or a grandparent. If you want to layer multiple birthstones without a custom order, pick separate pieces that share a metal and a style, then stack them as rings or wear them as pendant trios. When in doubt about ring size or preference, a pendant or pair of stud earrings is the safer gift and works across sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions