Gemstone Guide

What Is My Birthstone? Birthstones by Month, Color & Meaning

Find your birthstone in seconds. The complete month-by-month chart — every stone, its color, and its meaning — plus traditional versus modern birthstones and how to wear yours.

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Published February 17, 2026 11 min read

Everyone's birthday comes with a gemstone — a stone tied to your birth month, rich with color, history, and meaning. Whether you are choosing a meaningful gift, a piece of everyday jewelry, or a truly personal engagement ring, your birthstone is a lovely place to start. This guide gives you the complete birthstone chart, the meaning behind every month's stone, and how to wear it — so you can find yours in seconds.

Birthstones at a Glance

What it is: a gemstone assigned to each of the twelve birth months.
Origins: traced to the twelve stones of Aaron's breastplate; standardized in 1912.
Some months have several — June, October, November, and December each offer choices.
Meaning: every stone carries its own symbolism, from protection to new beginnings.
You can wear any: yours, a loved one's, or simply the color you love.

Ready to find yours? Browse all birthstone jewelry as you read.

What a Birthstone Actually Is

A gemstone for your birth month.

A birthstone is a gemstone associated with the month you were born. Each of the twelve months has one or more assigned stones, each with its own color and symbolism, so your birthstone becomes a small, personal emblem you can wear.

The tradition is ancient. It is often traced to the twelve gems on the breastplate of Aaron described in the Bible, later linked to the twelve months and the twelve zodiac signs. The modern, standardized list most people use today was established in 1912 by the Jewelers of America and has been lightly updated since. You can read more about the history in this overview of birthstones, and see the official modern list from the GIA.

The Complete Birthstone Chart

Every month, at a glance.

Month	Birthstone	Color	Meaning
January	Garnet	Deep red	Protection, loyalty, constancy
February	Amethyst	Purple	Calm, clarity, wisdom
March	Aquamarine	Sea-blue	Serenity, courage, the sea
April	Diamond	Colorless	Strength, clarity, eternal love
May	Emerald	Green	Rebirth, love, renewal
June	Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite	White / glowing	Purity, intuition, new beginnings
July	Ruby	Red	Passion, vitality, protection
August	Peridot	Lime green	Strength, good fortune, light
September	Sapphire	Blue	Wisdom, loyalty, faithfulness
October	Opal, Tourmaline	Iridescent / multicolor	Hope, creativity, imagination
November	Topaz, Citrine	Yellow to gold	Warmth, abundance, joy
December	Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon	Blue	Friendship, protection, calm

Your Birthstone, Month by Month

The stone, the meaning, and where to find it.

January — Garnet. A deep, glowing red stone of protection and constancy, garnet is durable and rich in color. Explore January birthstone jewelry.
February — Amethyst. The regal purple quartz of calm and clarity, long linked to wisdom and serenity. Explore February birthstone jewelry.
March — Aquamarine. The serene sea-blue beryl of courage and tranquility. See our aquamarine guide or shop March birthstone jewelry.
April — Diamond. The hardest gem of all, symbol of strength and eternal love. Explore April birthstone jewelry.
May — Emerald. Vivid green beryl of rebirth and love. See our emerald guide or shop May birthstone jewelry.
June — Pearl, Moonstone & Alexandrite. A trio of gentle, glowing gems of purity and intuition. See our moonstone meaning guide or shop June birthstone jewelry.
July — Ruby. The fiery red corundum of passion, vitality, and protection. Explore July birthstone jewelry.
August — Peridot. A bright lime-green gem of strength, light, and good fortune. Explore August birthstone jewelry.
September — Sapphire. The blue corundum of wisdom and faithfulness, and a superb ring stone. See our sapphire guide or shop September birthstone jewelry.
October — Opal & Tourmaline. Iridescent opal and rainbow tourmaline, gems of hope and creativity. Explore October birthstone jewelry.
November — Topaz & Citrine. Warm golden-yellow stones of abundance and joy. Explore November birthstone jewelry.
December — Turquoise, Tanzanite & Zircon. A cool blue trio of friendship and protection. Explore December birthstone jewelry.

Find yours

Birthstone Jewelry

Handcrafted and made to order — rings, pendants, and gifts in every month's birthstone, in silver, vermeil, or solid gold.

Browse Birthstone Jewelry

Traditional vs Modern Birthstones

Why you'll sometimes see two answers.

If you have ever found conflicting birthstone lists, here is why. Traditional birthstones are the older stones used historically, while modern birthstones come from the standardized 1912 list (and its updates), created to make birthstones more consistent and affordable. For most months the two agree.

Where they differ, it is usually a matter of adding options: some traditional lists name bloodstone for March, or list moonstone and alexandrite for June, and newer additions like tanzanite (added to December in 2002) broadened the choices. Both traditional and modern stones are perfectly valid — the modern list is simply the most widely used today, and having options means you can pick the color, price, or meaning you love most.

Zodiac Birthstones

A separate, older system.

You may also come across zodiac (astrological) birthstones, which assign gems to the twelve zodiac signs rather than to calendar months. Because each sign spans parts of two months, they do not line up exactly with the monthly chart. Some people enjoy wearing both — their monthly birthstone and their zodiac stone — but for finding "your" birthstone, the modern monthly chart above is the standard, and the easiest place to start.

How to Wear Your Birthstone

Personal, meaningful, and yours.

As everyday jewelry. A birthstone ring, pendant, or pair of earrings keeps your stone close — browse all birthstone jewelry.
As an engagement ring. A birthstone center stone makes a deeply personal ring; durable stones like sapphire, diamond, and ruby are ideal, softer ones lovely in protective settings. Explore gemstone engagement rings.
As a meaningful gift. Give a loved one their birthstone for a birthday, anniversary, or milestone — a thoughtful, personal gesture.
Mix and stack. Combine family birthstones in a single piece, or stack birthstone rings for a personal, layered look.
Choose what you love. There is no rule — wear your own stone, a partner's, or simply the color that speaks to you.

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Birthstone FAQ

What is a birthstone?

A birthstone is a gemstone associated with your month of birth. Each of the twelve months has one or more assigned stones, each with its own color, history, and meaning. The tradition is thought to trace back to the twelve gems on the breastplate of Aaron in the Bible, and the modern standardized list was set in 1912 by the Jewelers of America. Wearing your birthstone is a personal, meaningful way to carry a stone tied to who you are.

How do I find my birthstone?

Simply match your birth month to the chart: January is garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl or moonstone, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal or tourmaline, November topaz or citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite, or zircon. Some months have more than one birthstone, so you can choose the stone or color you love most.

Why do some months have more than one birthstone?

Several months have multiple birthstones for a mix of reasons: historical tradition assigned certain stones, while modern lists added more affordable or newly discovered alternatives. June (pearl, moonstone, alexandrite), October (opal, tourmaline), November (topaz, citrine), and December (turquoise, tanzanite, zircon) each offer choices, so you can pick the color, price, or meaning that suits you best.

What is the difference between traditional and modern birthstones?

Traditional birthstones are the older, historically used stones, while modern birthstones come from the standardized list created in 1912 (and updated since) to make birthstones more consistent and accessible. For most months the two agree, but some differ — for example, some traditional lists name bloodstone for March or moonstone for June. Either is perfectly valid; the modern list is simply the most widely used today.

Can I wear a birthstone that isn't my own?

Absolutely. There is no rule that you must wear your own birthstone. Many people choose a stone for its color, meaning, or beauty, or wear a partner's or child's birthstone as a sentimental gesture. Birthstones are a lovely starting point, but the stone you connect with most is always the right choice — for jewelry, gifts, and engagement rings alike.

Are birthstones good for engagement rings?

Many are, and a birthstone engagement ring is deeply personal. Durable birthstones like diamond (April), sapphire (September), and ruby (July) are ideal for everyday wear, while softer ones like opal (October), pearl (June), and emerald (May) are beautiful in protective settings with gentle care. Choosing a center stone tied to a birth month adds meaning that a generic diamond can't.

What is a zodiac birthstone?

Zodiac (or astrological) birthstones are a separate, older system that assigns gemstones to the twelve zodiac signs rather than to calendar months. Because the signs overlap two months, they don't line up exactly with monthly birthstones. Some people like to combine both — wearing their monthly birthstone and their zodiac stone — but the modern monthly chart is the most common way to find 'your' birthstone.

Find and wear your birthstone

From garnet in January to the December blues, every Aquamarise birthstone piece is handcrafted and made to order in silver, vermeil, or solid gold — a stone as personal as your birthday.

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