The Birthstones by month are 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.
Six months have more than one official stone.
The official U.S. birthstone list has changed only three times since 1912, most recently in 2016, when spinel was added to August. J
ewelers of America and the American Gem Trade Association made that change, which gave August a second stone besides peridot.
The British list differs from the American list in 9 of the 12 months; for example, it gives rock crystal for April and lapis lazuli for September. It also leaves out tourmaline for October and zircon for December.
June’s pearl is the softest birthstone, at 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, and the only one that forms inside a living animal.
Table of Contents
Birthstones by month chart
This chart lists every month’s birthstones, as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) records them, with each stone’s main color and Mohs hardness. Follow the month link for that month’s full guide.
| Month | Birthstone(s) | Main color | Mohs hardness (GIA) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red (also green, orange and other colors) | 6.5–7.5 | January Birthstone |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | 7 | February Birthstone |
| March | Aquamarine; bloodstone | Pale blue to blue-green; dark green with red spots | 7.5–8 (aquamarine) | March Birthstone |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | 10 | April Birthstone |
| May | Emerald | Green | 7.5–8 | May Birthstone |
| June | Pearl; moonstone; alexandrite | White and cream; milky with blue sheen; green-to-red color change | 2.5–3; 6–6.5; 8.5 | June Birthstone |
| July | Ruby | Red | 9 | July Birthstone |
| August | Peridot; spinel | Yellowish green; red, pink, blue and other colors | 6.5–7; 8 | August Birthstone |
| September | Sapphire | Blue (also every color except red) | 9 | September Birthstone |
| October | Opal; tourmaline | Multicolored play-of-color; pink and many other colors | 5–6.5; 7–7.5 | October Birthstone |
| November | Topaz; citrine | Golden yellow to orange (also blue); yellow to orange | 8; 7 | November Birthstone |
| December | Turquoise; tanzanite; zircon | Sky blue to green; blue-violet; blue and other colors | 5–6; 6–7; 6–7.5 | December Birthstone |
Which months have more than one birthstone?
Six months have two or three official birthstones: March, June, August, October, November and December. Additional stones were usually added to offer a more affordable or more durable alternative. The table explains each case.
| Month | Stones | Why there is more than one |
|---|---|---|
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Bloodstone is the older, traditional stone; aquamarine was adopted on the modern list |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | Alexandrite was added in 1952 as a harder alternative to pearl |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Spinel was added in June 2016 |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Tourmaline was added in 1952 |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Citrine was added in 1952 |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | Zircon was added in 1952 and tanzanite in 2002 |
Is sardonyx still a birthstone for August?
Sardonyx appears on the traditional and British August lists but not on GIA’s current list, which gives peridot and spinel. When spinel was added in 2016, National Jeweler reported that it would “join the yellow-green gemstone peridot” as August’s birthstone; sardonyx was not mentioned. Jewelers who sell sardonyx often still list it as a traditional August birthstone.
How the birthstone list was set
The modern birthstone list dates from 1912, when the American National Retail Jewelers’ Association, now Jewelers of America, published the first standardized list.
Earlier traditions linked gems to months through the 12 stones of the High Priest’s breastplate in the Book of Exodus, but those lists varied from region to region. The table traces each official revision, as reported by National Jeweler.
| Year | Change | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | First standardized U.S. birthstone list | American National Retail Jewelers’ Association (now Jewelers of America) |
| 1952 | Added alexandrite (June), citrine (November), tourmaline (October) and zircon (December) | Jewelry Industry Council |
| 2002 | Added tanzanite (December) | American Gem Trade Association |
| 2016 | Added spinel (August) | Jewelers of America and American Gem Trade Association |
Tanzanite is the youngest birthstone in origin as well as on the list: it was discovered in 1967 near Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and named by Tiffany & Co., according to GIA.
U.S. vs. UK birthstones by month
The United Kingdom’s list, published by the National Association of Goldsmiths, matches the U.S. list for January, February and November but differs in the other nine months. The UK list adds traditional alternatives, such as rock crystal, chrysoprase, carnelian and lapis lazuli, and leaves out some modern additions.
| Month | United States (GIA) | United Kingdom (National Association of Goldsmiths) |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Aquamarine, bloodstone |
| April | Diamond | Diamond, rock crystal |
| May | Emerald | Emerald, chrysoprase |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | Pearl, moonstone |
| July | Ruby | Ruby, carnelian |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Peridot, sardonyx |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire, lapis lazuli |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz, citrine |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon | Turquoise, tanzanite |
The UK list follows The Curious Gem, which cites the National Association of Goldsmiths.
Birthstone hardness: which birthstones last in everyday jewelry?
Birthstones with a Mohs hardness of 7 or more, including diamond, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, topaz and spinel, resist everyday scratching best. Household dust contains quartz, which has a hardness of 7, so softer stones scratch over time. The table ranks the birthstones by GIA’s Mohs values.
| Hardness band | Birthstones (Mohs hardness) | Suitability for daily-wear rings |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 | Diamond (10); ruby (9); sapphire (9); alexandrite (8.5); topaz (8); spinel (8) | Well suited |
| 7 to 8 | Aquamarine (7.5–8); emerald (7.5–8); tourmaline (7–7.5); amethyst (7); citrine (7); garnet (6.5–7.5) | Suitable with care; emerald is often fracture-filled and needs gentle cleaning |
| 5 to 7 | Peridot (6.5–7); zircon (6–7.5); tanzanite (6–7); moonstone (6–6.5); opal (5–6.5); turquoise (5–6) | Better in earrings and pendants, or protective settings |
| Below 5 | Pearl (2.5–3) | Best in pendants, earrings and necklaces |
Choosing between birthstones by month when there are several
For months with more than one stone, choose by durability for everyday rings and by color for occasional jewelry. A June birthday ring worn every day, for example, holds up far better in alexandrite (8.5) or moonstone (6–6.5) than in pearl (2.5–3). A December ring is more durable in zircon or tanzanite than in turquoise.
Zodiac birthstones vs. birthstones by month
Zodiac birthstones follow astrological signs, which cross month boundaries, and there is no single standardized zodiac list. A Libra, for example, may be born in September or October, so a month list and a zodiac list can give different stones for the same birthday. The monthly list above is the only one standardized by jewelry trade organizations.
How to use this birthstones calendar
Find your birth month in the chart, then open the month guide for that stone’s colors, history and care. For months with more than one birthstone, any of the listed stones is correct.
The UK table helps when buying from British jewelers, whose alternatives differ. For gifts tied to a birthday date, the Calendar 2027 shows the weekday of every date in the coming year.
Frequently asked questions
What is my birthstone?
Your birthstone is set by your birth month: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine or bloodstone, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, moonstone or alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot or spinel, September sapphire, October opal or tourmaline, November topaz or citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite or zircon.
Which month has the most birthstones?
June and December each have three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite for June; turquoise, tanzanite and zircon for December.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Alexandrite (June) and tanzanite (December) are generally considered the rarest birthstones. Alexandrite changes color from green in daylight to red in incandescent light. Tanzanite is mined commercially only near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
