Birthstones by month
Every month of the year has its own birthstone, a gem carrying its own color and centuries of meaning. Here is the full chart, from January's deep-red garnet to December's sky-blue turquoise. Pick a month for the detail.
January
Garnet, Rose Quartz
February
Amethyst, Onyx
March
Aquamarine, Bloodstone
April
Diamond, White Sapphire
May
Emerald, Chrysoprase
June
Pearl, Alexandrite
July
Ruby, Carnelian
August
Peridot, Spinel
September
Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli
October
Opal, Tourmaline
November
Topaz, Citrine
December
Turquoise, Tanzanite
The complete birthstone list
Birthstones are one of the oldest ways to mark a birthday. The tradition traces back to a breastplate described in the Book of Exodus set with twelve stones, later linked to the twelve months. The list most jewelers use today was standardized in the twentieth century, but several older traditional stones are still recognized, which is why a few months carry more than one gem. The origin of that standardization is set out, along with what we can and cannot source about it, on the methodology page and in the comparison guide.
| Month | Modern stone | Color | Traditional | Also recognized | Zodiac signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | same | Rose Quartz | Capricorn, Aquarius |
| February | Amethyst | Violet purple | same | Onyx | Aquarius, Pisces |
| March | Aquamarine | Sea blue-green | Bloodstone | none | Aries, Pisces |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | same | White Sapphire, Rock Crystal | Aries, Taurus |
| May | Emerald | Rich green | same | Chrysoprase, Agate | Taurus, Gemini |
| June | Pearl | Creamy white | same | Alexandrite, Moonstone | Gemini, Cancer |
| July | Ruby | Vivid red | same | Carnelian | Cancer, Leo |
| August | Peridot | Olive green | Sardonyx | Spinel | Leo, Virgo |
| September | Sapphire | Royal blue | same | Lapis Lazuli | Virgo, Libra |
| October | Opal | Iridescent play-of-color | same | Tourmaline | Libra, Scorpio |
| November | Topaz | Golden yellow to amber | same | Citrine | Scorpio, Sagittarius |
| December | Turquoise | Sky blue to teal | same | Tanzanite, Zircon, Blue Topaz | Sagittarius, Capricorn |
Modern versus traditional birthstones
When people say the birthstone for a month, they usually mean the modern stone from the standard list. Traditional lists, and cultural variants such as older European and Hindu systems, sometimes name a different gem. Where a month has a distinct older stone, we note it on that month's page. None of these lists is more correct than another; they are cultural traditions, so pick the one that speaks to you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the birthstones by month?
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz and December turquoise.
Which month has the most birthstones?
June and December. June is linked to pearl, alexandrite and moonstone, while December is linked to turquoise, tanzanite, zircon and blue topaz.
Where can I find birth flowers too?
Every month also has a birth flower. See the full birth flowers by month chart, or open a month overview to see the stone, flower and zodiac signs together.
Last updated 2 July 2026.
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