The modern birthstones are garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), pearl, moonstone or alexandrite (June), ruby (July), peridot, spinel or sardonyx (August), sapphire (September), opal or tourmaline (October), topaz or citrine (November) and tanzanite, zircon or turquoise (December). Hardness varies a lot: diamond, ruby and sapphire suit daily-wear rings, while pearl, opal and emerald are better in earrings and pendants.
Birthstone jewelry makes a personal gift. Some birthstones are tough enough for an everyday ring, and others are better in earrings or a pendant. Hardness below is on the Mohs scale.
Birthstone chart
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Hardness | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red (also other colors) | 6.5 to 7.5 | Any jewelry |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | 7 | Any jewelry |
| March | Aquamarine | Pale blue | 7.5 to 8 | Any jewelry |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | 10 | Everyday rings |
| May | Emerald | Green | 7.5 to 8 (brittle) | Earrings, pendants, protected rings |
| June | Pearl / Moonstone / Alexandrite | White / pearly sheen / color-change | 2.5 to 4.5 / 6 to 6.5 / 8.5 | Pearl and moonstone: earrings, pendants; alexandrite: any |
| July | Ruby | Red | 9 | Everyday rings |
| August | Peridot / Spinel / Sardonyx | Lime green / many colors / banded red-white | 6.5 to 7 / 8 / 6.5 to 7 | Peridot and sardonyx: earrings, pendants; spinel: any |
| September | Sapphire | Blue (and other colors) | 9 | Everyday rings |
| October | Opal / Tourmaline | Play of color / many colors | 5.5 to 6.5 / 7 to 7.5 | Opal: earrings; tourmaline: any |
| November | Topaz / Citrine | Golden, blue / yellow-orange | 8 / 7 | Any jewelry |
| December | Tanzanite / Zircon / Turquoise | Violet-blue / blue / sky blue | 6 to 6.5 / 6 to 7.5 / 5 to 6 | Earrings, pendants |
Choosing for everyday wear
Hard stones (8 and up) such as diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz and alexandrite handle daily knocks best. Softer or brittle stones look beautiful but scratch or chip more easily in rings, so set them in earrings, pendants or protective bezel settings.
Natural, lab-created and treated
Many birthstones are also lab-created (ruby, sapphire, emerald, alexandrite) or treated to improve color (topaz, tanzanite and many others). These are common and normal, but a good seller should disclose them.
Caring for birthstone jewelry
- Clean hard stones with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Wipe pearls, opals and turquoise with a damp cloth only.
- Store pieces separately so harder stones don’t scratch softer ones.
Common questions
What is the birthstone for each month?
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, moonstone or alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot, spinel or sardonyx, September sapphire, October opal or tourmaline, November topaz or citrine, December tanzanite, zircon or turquoise.
Which birthstones are best for rings?
Diamond, ruby and sapphire are the hardest and most durable. Aquamarine, topaz and garnet also wear well. Pearl, opal and emerald are more delicate and better suited to earrings and pendants.
Why do some months have two birthstones?
The US birthstone list has been updated over time, adding alternatives to give more choice in color and price.