Birthstones by month: the complete guide

October 9, 2026

A birthstone is one of the most personal gifts you can give: a colour chosen for someone's birthday month. This guide to birthstones by month follows the modern list published by GIA (the Gemological Institute of America). For each month you'll find the stone, how well it wears, how to care for it and a little of its traditional lore. Some months have more than one stone, so you can choose by colour or by how it wears.

A note on the lore: we share it because it's part of each stone's story. These are traditional beliefs, not proven effects, and are no substitute for medical advice.

Birthstones by month at a glance

January: garnet
February: amethyst
March: aquamarine (GIA also lists bloodstone)
April: diamond
May: emerald
June: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite
July: ruby
August: peridot, spinel and sardonyx
September: sapphire
October: opal and tourmaline
November: topaz and citrine
December: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon

Hardness below is on the Mohs scale, from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Higher means better at resisting scratches, but toughness (resistance to chipping) matters too.

January birthstone: garnet

Garnet's name is linked to the deep red of the pomegranate. At 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale with fair to good toughness, it suits all kinds of jewellery as long as it's kept away from hard knocks. Warm, soapy water is always safe. In medieval times garnet was thought to calm an angry heart. Shop January birthstone jewellery.

February birthstone: amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, from pale lilac to deep reddish purple. At 7 on the Mohs scale it's suitable for daily wear, though it may need repolishing over time; prolonged strong light can fade some amethyst. Its name comes from the ancient Greek for "not drunk", and in folklore it was linked to a clear, sober mind. Shop February birthstone jewellery.

March birthstone: aquamarine

Aquamarine ranges from deep green-blue to light, slightly greenish blue, the colour of the sea. At 7.5 to 8 it's durable enough for everyday jewellery if protected from scratches and hard knocks. In folklore, sailors believed it would calm the waves and keep them safe at sea. GIA also lists bloodstone, a dark green chalcedony with red spots, for March. Shop March birthstone jewellery.

April birthstone: diamond

Diamond is the hardest gem, at 10 on the Mohs scale, but a sharp knock in the wrong direction can still chip it. Clean it at home with a soft, lint-free cloth and mild detergent. The name comes from the Greek "adamas", meaning invincible, and diamond is traditionally associated with clarity, resilience and lasting love. Shop April birthstone jewellery.

May birthstone: emerald

Emerald (7.5 to 8) has only fair to good toughness, so protect it from hard knocks. Clean it gently with warm, soapy water and avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, which can affect the oils or resins often used to fill it. Its green has long been linked with rebirth and spring. Shop May birthstone jewellery.

June birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite

June has three. Pearls are very soft (2.5 to 4.5), so necklaces and earrings are easiest to enjoy; put them on after perfume and make-up and wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing. Moonstone (6 to 6.5) has poor toughness and is best treated gently. In Hindu mythology it is said to be made of solidified moonbeams. Alexandrite, a colour-change chrysoberyl, looks green in daylight and red to purplish red under incandescent light, and at 8.5 with excellent toughness it suits rings worn daily. Shop June birthstone jewellery.

July birthstone: ruby

Ruby is 9 on the Mohs scale with excellent toughness and no cleavage, so it suits rings worn every day. Warm, soapy water is always safe. Ruby is traditionally associated with passion, love and life, because early cultures linked its red to blood. Shop July birthstone jewellery.

August birthstones: peridot, spinel and sardonyx

Peridot (6.5 to 7) is durable enough for jewellery but should be protected from scratches and knocks; the ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun". Spinel (8) has good toughness and no cleavage, making it a durable everyday gem. Sardonyx, banded chalcedony at 6.5 to 7, was used by the Romans for seals and signet rings and is associated today with courage and happiness. Shop August birthstone jewellery.

September birthstone: sapphire

Like ruby, sapphire is 9 on the Mohs scale with excellent toughness, a strong choice for everyday rings. Traditionally it symbolises nobility, truth, sincerity and faithfulness. Shop September birthstone jewellery.

October birthstones: opal and tourmaline

Opal (5 to 6.5) is soft, so it's happiest in earrings and pendants, or in rings with a protective setting worn occasionally. Clean it only with warm, soapy water. The Romans saw opal as a symbol of love and hope; the idea that it's unlucky comes from a 19th-century novel, not ancient belief. Tourmaline (7 to 7.5) resists everyday scratches but should be kept from hard knocks. Shop October birthstone jewellery.

November birthstones: topaz and citrine

Topaz (8) is hard but can split with a hard knock, so protective settings help. Citrine, the yellow to orange variety of quartz (7), handles normal wear well and can be used in any jewellery. Citrine was long confused with topaz and was traditionally believed to soothe tempers. Shop November birthstone jewellery.

December birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon

Turquoise (5 to 6) is soft and porous, so keep it from heat, chemicals and cosmetics, and clean it only with warm, soapy water. In European tradition a turquoise ring means "forget me not". Tanzanite (6 to 7), whose primary source was found in 1967, can split if knocked and is lovely in earrings and pendants. Zircon (6 to 7.5) comes in a wide range of colours; avoid wearing it in rough conditions. Shop December birthstone jewellery.

Choosing a birthstone gift

For everyday rings, the harder, tougher stones (diamond, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, spinel) cope best.
For softer stones such as pearl, opal and turquoise, a pendant or earrings is the easier choice.
For a mom, a necklace with her children's birthstones is a lovely way to keep them close.

Not sure about size? Our ring size guide has a printable sizer, and our care guide covers cleaning.