Birthstones are gemstones traditionally associated with the months of the year. Their origins trace back centuries, often linked to astrology, religion, and culture. While there are birthstones associated with your astrological sign, fine jewelry mainly sticks to birth month to keep things simple and clear.
The presence of birthstones is nothing new. It was commonly believed that these stones carry unique qualities that can benefit the wearer, like strength, calm, love, and protection. However, the stones were not as precisely classified as they are today. Many centuries ago, the stones were categorized by color, not by specific stone like ruby or garnet. This means our list of birthstones may contain a wider variety within its monthly associations.
In western areas, birthstones have a biblical relation as described in the book of Exodus. A connection was made between the twelve stones on Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve months of the year, and the twelve zodiac signs. Later on, in the 16th Century, the Gregorian Calendar had poems that matched each month to a gemstone. And by the 18th Century, marketing took charge and birthstones became a modern concept and biblical meaning was removed.
In the 1900s, the American National Association of Jewelers standardized birthstones which led to solidifying which stones will pair with which month. While this list has been updated three times since then, what remains constant is the idea that these stones carry unique qualities that can benefit the wearer, like strength, calm, love, and protection. In fine jewelry, birthstones feel especially intentional. Whether you are shopping for yourself or gifting something meaningful, knowing what each stone means can help you make an educated selection on a personalized gift.
January: Garnet
January’s birthstone is garnet. Garnet’s are plentiful and rich in color, a deep red. While the red is mostly associated with being January’s birthstone, they can also form in green, yellow, and orange. Carrying or wearing this stone is thought to bring strength, prosperity, and passion.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst is notably February’s birthstone. It is a purple hued variety of quartz, one of the most abundant minerals on Earth’s crust. Amethyst is believed to have number of properties, including protection, calming, and enhancing intuition.
March: Aquamarine
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine. The name stems from its transparent bluish greenish color looking like ocean water and often worn by sailors to protect them from harm. The stone promotes inner peace, communication, and soothing stress.
April: Diamond
Diamond, considered to be the most valuable of the precious gemstones, is April’s birthstone. Ancient India believed them to be fragments of fallen stars. The stone has long symbolized love, strength, beauty, and purity.
May: Emerald
Known as Cleopatra’s favorite gemstone, Emerald is May’s birthstone. Emeralds are traditionally thought to offer benefits like wisdom, wealth, mental clarity, and emotional balance.
June: Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone
June has two birthstones. Pearls are a solid colored and smoothly shaped gemstone formed inside oysters and mussels as a defense mechanism. Wearing pearls offer emotional balance, stress relief, purity, and wisdom.
Alexandrite, on the other hand, promotes transformation, luck, confidence. The second stone associated with June is a two toned stone and thought to bring good luck. In daylight, the stone looks bluish-green, and in incandescent light it looks purplish-red.
The last of June’s birthstones is Moonstone. Understandably so, this stone is connected to the moon. Almost colorless, Hindu mythology believes that moonstone is made of solidified moonbeams. It is often linked to emotional balance and intuition while also helping ease stress, anxiety, and other imbalances.
July: Ruby
Known as the king of gems, Ruby is July’s birthstone. Like sapphires, they rank second to diamonds on the Mohs Hardness scale, right after diamonds. Wearing a ruby offers a boost in vitality, confidence, and passion. Its color is often linked to the heart, promoting physical strength and blood flow.
August: Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx
Another month with three birthstones, August was traditionally represented by Sardonyx. Peridot later became the primary birthstone, and Spinel was added to the lineup in 2016.
Spinel was often mistaken for ruby, but does form in various other shades like blue, pink, purple, orange, green, grey, brown, black, and even colorless. It is believed that spinel can be used for physical vitality, supporting joints and muscles, emotional healing, and spiritual growth.
Peridot is a great stone for emotional healing, protecting from negativity, attracting prosperity, and uplifting the immune system. While wearing Sardonyx stone helps improve courage, luck, stability, authenticity, strength, and protection.
September: Sapphire
Coming in almost every color except red, sapphire is September’s birthstone. Historically linked to royalty, sapphires are thought to symbolize wisdom, focus, and clarity. While rubies get their color from chromium rich and iron poor environments, sapphires form from corundum of any other and iron rich soil, making them more abundant than rubies.
October: Opal and Tourmaline
Opal and tourmaline are October’s birthstone. The traditional October birthstone, opal, is unique and unlike any other stone. It shows a rainbow of colors when viewed from different angles and positions. The iridescent stone promotes creativity and passion to its wearer.
Tourmaline is a newer addition to birthstones. This stone forms in more colors than any other gemstone.
November: Topaz and Citrine
November is represented by Citrine and topaz. While these birthstones look similar, Topaz mainly forms as a colorless stone. Other natural colors range from golden yellows to deep oranges and browns. However, vibrant colors can be achieved through treated methods like heat treatments and radiation. The stone benefits its wearer through inner peace, raising self esteem, and clear communication.
Citrine also forms in brighter yellow hues. It’s properties are thought to repel negativity and instead attract prosperity, boost your inner confidence, and promote joy.
December: Turquoise, Blue Zircon, and Tanzanite
Ending our list with another month with three birthstones. A popular stone of many cultures, turquoise has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs making it a part of some of the oldest jewelry in the world. Turquoise is known for its vibrant color, a shade between blue and green. Wearing this stone is thought to calm stress, balance to the mind, and clarity for decision making.
Zircon forms in many shades, but blue is connected to December. It is a brilliant stone that resembles a diamond. During the Middle Ages, blue zircon was used to ward off evil spirits and also helped with falling asleep. It’s a great stone to wear to bring inner peace.
The newest addition to the December birthstones, tanzanite is named after its country of origin, Tanzania. The stone forms in a deep, saturated blue or purple and is often described as velvety. Similar to the rest of December’s lineup, this stone also helps reduce anxiety and improve vitality.