Birthstones by Month: All 12 Stones and Their Meaning
Every month has its own birthstone, from garnet in January to turquoise in December. The list used today goes back to American jewelers in 1912 and has been expanded several times since, which is why some months have more than one stone.
By Carola · Updated November 2026 · Sources
Genuine stones, handmade, gift note included free of charge.
Birthstones by month: the table
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Traditionally stands for | Jewelry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | dark red | loyalty, friendship | Garnet jewelry |
| February | Amethyst | violet | clarity, composure | Amethyst jewelry |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | sea blue | calm, clarity | Aquamarine jewelry |
| April | Diamond, on the British list also rock crystal | colorless | purity, constancy | Rock crystal jewelry |
| May | Emerald | green | love, new beginnings | Emerald jewelry |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | white, lustrous | purity, intuition | Pearl and moonstone |
| July | Ruby | red | passion, zest for life | Ruby jewelry |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | olive green | light, confidence | Peridot jewelry |
| September | Sapphire | blue | wisdom, loyalty | no piece right now, blue alternatives |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | play of color, many colors | hope, protection | Opal and tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, citrine | yellow to golden brown | warmth, zest for life | Citrine jewelry |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | blue | protection, calm | Turquoise jewelry |
Which birthstone suits me?
The easiest way is to choose the stone of your birth month. If your month has several stones, decide by color or by what you like. In June, for example, the pearl looks classic and the moonstone mysterious. Many people also wear the stone of a child, a partner or their wedding month. Looking by zodiac sign? The matching stones are under Birthstones by zodiac sign.
The birthstones of the twelve months
Here is a short overview of each month. The full version with a fact sheet, care tips and every shape is on each month's page.
January: Garnet
The January birthstone is garnet. Most people think of its deep red, but garnet is a whole group of minerals in almost every color. By tradition, it stands for loyalty and friendship. The list names no second stone for January.
February: Amethyst
The February birthstone is amethyst, the violet form of quartz. Its shade ranges from soft lilac to rich purple. By tradition, it stands for clarity and composure. No second stone is listed for February.
March: Aquamarine
The March birthstone is aquamarine, a beryl in sea blue to blue-green. Its name means seawater, and sailors carried it as a lucky charm. By tradition, it stands for calm and clarity. The month's second stone is bloodstone, a dark green chalcedony with red spots.
April: Diamond or rock crystal
The April birthstone is diamond. The British goldsmiths' list also names rock crystal, a colorless quartz with a natural shape. By tradition, it stands for purity and constancy. At By Carola you can wear rock crystal raw, as a teardrop or as a cylinder.
May: Emerald
The May birthstone is emerald, the green form of beryl and so a relative of aquamarine. Fine inclusions are part of its character. By tradition, it stands for love and new beginnings. The list names no other stone for May.
June: Pearl, moonstone and alexandrite
June has three birthstones. The pearl grows inside a mollusk, moonstone shows a bluish glow, and alexandrite changes color depending on the light. By tradition, pearl and moonstone stand for purity and intuition. At By Carola you'll find cultured freshwater pearls and raw moonstone.
July: Ruby
The July birthstone is ruby, red corundum. With a hardness of 9, it is one of the hardest gemstones after diamond. By tradition, it stands for passion and zest for life. The list names no second stone for July.
August: Peridot, sardonyx and spinel
The best-known August birthstone is peridot, an olivine ranging from yellow-green to olive green. August also includes sardonyx with its red and white layers, the month's original stone, and, since 2016, spinel. By tradition, peridot stands for light and confidence.
September: Sapphire
The September birthstone is sapphire, blue corundum and a close relative of ruby. By tradition, it stands for wisdom and loyalty. At By Carola there is no piece with sapphire right now. If you are looking for a blue gift, you'll find one with aquamarine in March or turquoise in December. If you have questions, write to Carola.
October: Opal and tourmaline
October has two birthstones. Opal shows a play of all the colors of the rainbow, and tourmaline comes in almost every color, often several in one crystal. By tradition, opal stands for hope, tourmaline for protection and zest for life. Opal-look jewelry does not count.
November: Topaz and citrine
November has two birthstones, topaz and citrine. Both come in warm yellow to golden brown. Citrine is yellow quartz. By tradition, it stands for warmth and zest for life. At By Carola you can wear citrine.
December: Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon
December has three birthstones, all in shades of blue. Some lists also name blue topaz. Turquoise is the classic December stone, opaque and sky-blue to blue-green. By tradition, it stands for protection and calm.
Birthstones by zodiac sign
The birthstone follows the birth month, not the zodiac sign. Every zodiac sign spans two months, so two month stones match it. The table shows which ones. Depending on the source, the line between two signs shifts by one day.
| Zodiac sign | Dates | Birthstones |
|---|---|---|
| Aquarius | 21 January to 19 February | garnet in January, amethyst in February |
| Pisces | 20 February to 20 March | amethyst in February, aquamarine in March |
| Aries | 21 March to 20 April | aquamarine in March, diamond or rock crystal in April |
| Taurus | 21 April to 20 May | diamond or rock crystal in April, emerald in May |
| Gemini | 21 May to 21 June | emerald in May, pearl or moonstone in June |
| Cancer | 22 June to 22 July | pearl or moonstone in June, ruby in July |
| Leo | 23 July to 23 August | ruby in July, peridot in August |
| Virgo | 24 August to 23 September | peridot in August, sapphire in September |
| Libra | 24 September to 23 October | sapphire in September, opal or tourmaline in October |
| Scorpio | 24 October to 22 November | opal or tourmaline in October, citrine or topaz in November |
| Sagittarius | 23 November to 21 December | citrine or topaz in November, turquoise in December |
| Capricorn | 22 December to 20 January | turquoise in December, garnet in January |
There are also separate lists of zodiac stones. They differ a lot depending on the source, so this page only names the month stones.
Where the birthstone list comes from
The idea is old. As far back as the Bible, the high priest Aaron wears a breastplate with twelve stones. Later, twelve stones were assigned to the months. The list that applies almost everywhere today was set in 1912 by the American jewelers' association that later became Jewelers of America. More stones have been added since, most recently spinel for August in 2016. In Britain, the goldsmiths keep a list of their own, which names rock crystal for April, for example.
Genuine stones, clearly described
At By Carola every birthstone is a genuine stone. The only exception is the aquamarine blue rectangle from the Luxury collection, a faceted cubic zirconia in the color of the March birthstone. Many are raw, just as nature shaped them. Every product page shows the stone, its size and the material at a glance. Opal-look jewelry does not count as a birthstone.
Giving a birthstone as a gift
A birthstone necklace is one of the most personal jewelry gifts. It is right for a birthday, the birth of a child, an anniversary or Christmas. Every piece is handmade, in 14K gold-filled or 925 sterling silver. On request, a gift note is included free of charge. For ideas by occasion, see gift a necklace with meaning. If you'd rather let them choose, a gift card is a good fit.
More popular stones
Not every favorite stone is on the birthstone list. Tourmaline, labradorite with its blue play of color and rose quartz in soft pink are also very popular.
Frequently asked questions about birthstones
Which birthstone belongs to which month?
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine and bloodstone, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, moonstone and alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot, sardonyx and spinel, September sapphire, October opal and tourmaline, November topaz and citrine, December turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
What is the September birthstone?
The September birthstone is sapphire, blue corundum. By tradition, it stands for wisdom and loyalty.
Why do some months have several birthstones?
The 1912 list was expanded later, often with stones that are easier to find. Spinel, for example, was added for August in 2016.
Is the April birthstone diamond or rock crystal?
The April birthstone is diamond. The British goldsmiths' list also names rock crystal, a clear quartz.
What is the difference between a birthstone and a zodiac stone?
A birthstone follows the calendar month. Zodiac stones follow the signs of the zodiac, which each span two months. That is why the assignments differ.
Which birthstone suits my zodiac sign?
The birthstone follows the birth month. A Leo with a birthday in August wears peridot, a Leo born in July wears ruby. The table Birthstones by zodiac sign shows all twelve signs.
Are the birthstones at By Carola genuine?
Yes, every birthstone at By Carola is a genuine stone. The only exception is the aquamarine blue rectangle from the Luxury collection, a faceted cubic zirconia in the color of the March birthstone. Many are raw, just as nature shaped them.
Can I wear a birthstone that is not from my month?
Of course. Many people simply choose the stone whose color they love, or the month of someone who matters to them.
Sources
- GIA, Gemological Institute of America: Birthstones, stones by month, hardness and localities
- GIA: Tanzanite, blue topaz as an additional December stone
- Jewelers of America: Birthstones, the 1912 list
- American Gem Society: Spinel Named Third Birthstone for August, sardonyx and spinel
- Wikipedia: Birthstone, the British list of the National Association of Goldsmiths with rock crystal for April
- mindat.org: Quartz, hardness and localities
- wissen.de: Is there a 13th zodiac sign? (German), zodiac signs as fixed periods starting on 21 March
