Birthstone Guide

Birthstones by month

The modern U.S. birthstone list dates to 1912 and has been updated since. January is garnet. February is amethyst. March is aquamarine, with bloodstone as an alternate. April is diamond. May is emerald. June is pearl, with moonstone and alexandrite.

July is ruby. August is peridot, with spinel and sardonyx. September is sapphire. October is opal and tourmaline. November is topaz and citrine. December is turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon, the natural gem, which is not the same as cubic zirconia.

Durability for daily wear

Hardness on the Mohs scale tells you how well a stone resists scratches. Diamond is 10; ruby and sapphire are 9; alexandrite is about 8.5; topaz and spinel about 8; aquamarine and emerald 7.5 to 8; tourmaline, amethyst, and citrine about 7; garnet 6.5 to 7.5; peridot 6.5 to 7; tanzanite about 6.5; opal and turquoise 5 to 6.5; and pearl only 2.5 to 4.5.

For a ring worn every day, the harder stones hold up best. Softer stones are lovely in pendants and earrings, which take fewer knocks, or in rings worn for occasions.

Natural, lab-created, and imitation stones

A natural gemstone formed in the earth. A laboratory-created stone, such as lab-created sapphire, ruby, or emerald, has the same chemistry and crystal structure as the natural gem but was grown by people, so it costs less and is often cleaner. An imitation or simulated stone only looks like the gem and is a different material, such as glass or cubic zirconia.

Every product page names which one each option uses. Many natural gems are also treated, with heat for example, which is standard practice. See our disclosures for how stones are described.

Choosing the stone on the page

Many birthstone styles are one design offered in several stones, so you pick the month the way you pick a metal. Look for a primary stone option on the page; each stone is its own option with its own price.

Browse birthstone jewelry and birthstone rings. April birthdays can shop natural diamond jewelry and lab grown diamonds; June birthdays will find pearls across earrings and necklaces.

Family and mother's pieces

A family piece gathers several birthstones, one for each child or family member. Some rings and pendants hold more than one stone; others are single-stone pieces meant to be worn together, a stack of rings or a cluster of pendants on one chain.

Order a single-stone style in each month you need and wear them together. For stacked rings, see how to stack rings and measure with the ring size guide.

Rings, pendants, and earrings

Birthstone rings need a real finger size, and rings made in your size are final sale, so measure first. Pendants and earrings need no size, which makes them the easier gift.

Pierced earrings are final sale for hygiene reasons under our Returns Policy, so confirm the stone and metal before you order. Necklaces and pendants in original, unworn condition can be returned within 7 days of delivery.

Caring for colored stones

Clean most birthstones in warm, mildly soapy water with a soft brush, then rinse and dry. Emerald, opal, turquoise, tanzanite, and pearls need gentler care: wipe them with a damp cloth, and keep them out of ultrasonic cleaners, heat, and harsh chemicals.

Store colored stones apart from diamonds, which scratch them. Our jewelry care and cleaning guide covers each material.

Beyond birthdays

Birthstones also mark anniversaries, the birth of a child, graduations, and milestones, and some couples choose each other's stones. Traditional anniversary gems, such as pearl for the thirtieth, ruby for the fortieth, and sapphire for the forty-fifth, overlap with the birthstone list.

Ideas are in the anniversary jewelry guide.

Birthstone colors by month

January's garnet is deep red. February's amethyst is purple. March's aquamarine is pale sea blue. April's diamond is colorless. May's emerald is green. June's pearl is creamy white, its moonstone glows softly, and its alexandrite changes from green to red in different light. July's ruby is red.

August's peridot is lime green, and its spinel comes in many colors. September's sapphire is blue. October's opal shows flashes of color, and its tourmaline is often pink. November's topaz and citrine are warm yellow to orange. December's turquoise is sky blue, and its tanzanite is violet-blue.

When a birthstone color is hard to match with a person's wardrobe, a small stone in a pendant or a pair of studs is the easiest way to wear it every day.

Common questions

Which birthstones hold up best to daily wear? Diamond, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, and spinel are the toughest, followed by topaz, aquamarine, and emerald, although emerald's inclusions call for gentle handling. They suit rings worn every day.

My birthstone is soft. What are my options? Wear it in a pendant or earrings, where it takes fewer knocks, or choose the month's other stone: alexandrite for June, which is far harder than pearl, and tourmaline for October, which is sturdier than opal.

Are laboratory-created birthstones real? Yes. A laboratory-created ruby, sapphire, or emerald has the same chemistry as the mined stone; only the origin differs. Product pages state whether each stone is natural, laboratory-created, or a simulant.

Can I wear a birthstone that is not mine? Of course. Many people choose a child's or partner's stone, or simply a color they love. Browse birthstone jewelry and birthstone rings.

What is the difference between traditional and modern birthstones? The traditional list reflects centuries of custom; the modern list, first set in 1912 and updated since, added stones such as tanzanite for December and spinel for August. Several months now have two or three accepted stones.

Are birthstone rings good for stacking? Yes. Slim birthstone rings are a popular way to wear the stones of family members side by side; keep the band widths similar so the stack sits evenly. See how to stack rings.