Every month of the year has a gemstone attached to it, and that little tradition has turned into one of the most popular ways to personalize jewelry. A birthstone pendant makes an easy, meaningful gift because it does not require knowing someone's favorite color or style, just their birthday. This guide breaks down all twelve birthstones, where the tradition comes from, how durable each stone is for everyday wear, and real pieces from our jewelry collection to shop for each month.
A birthstone is a gemstone associated with the month a person was born. The idea has roots in the biblical account of the twelve stones on Aaron's breastplate in the Book of Exodus, which were later connected to the twelve months and zodiac signs by European gem traders. The birthstone list most people know today, called the modern list, was standardized in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) to reflect stones that were more available and affordable at the time. Traditional birthstones, which trace back to 15th century Europe, are still recognized for several months alongside the modern picks, which is why you will sometimes see two or three stones listed for the same birthday.
Here is the modern birthstone for every month, at a glance.
Grouping birthstones by season is a handy way to see the color story of the year unfold, from garnet's deep winter red to opal's shifting fall light.
Winter babies get some of the most saturated colors on the birthstone calendar: deep red garnet, royal purple amethyst, and sea-toned aquamarine.
A deep wine-red garnet in polished sterling silver, the classic January stone.
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A bold purple amethyst, long linked to clarity and calm, in an 18K gold plated setting.
$213 Shop Now →
Sea-blue aquamarine with sparkling white topaz accents, once carried by sailors for safe passage.
$187 Shop Now →
Spring's three birthstones, diamond, emerald, and pearl, are also three of the most requested stones in fine jewelry overall, prized for very different reasons: hardness, color, and luster.
A solitaire diamond in a spiral 10K white gold setting, April's hardest and most timeless stone.
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A rich green emerald halo pendant in 10K white gold, also available in garnet, peridot, or pink tourmaline.
From $1,732 Shop Now →
A lustrous 5mm cultured pearl haloed in diamonds, the softest and most classic June birthstone.
$1,978 Shop Now →
Summer birthdays land on a run of durable, richly colored stones: ruby, peridot, and sapphire all wear well and photograph beautifully in warm-weather light.
A vivid ruby set in 14K white gold with diamond accents, prized for deep color and durability.
$1,690 Shop Now →
A sunny yellow-green peridot paired with black spinel in sterling silver, an easy everyday pick.
$114 Shop Now →
A classic blue sapphire with diamond accents in 14K yellow gold, nearly as hard as diamond.
$1,440 Shop Now →
Fall closes out the year with some of the most varied stones on the list, from opal's shifting rainbow flashes to citrine's warm gold and December's three-way tie between tanzanite, blue topaz, and turquoise.
A play-of-color Ethiopian opal with diamond accents, no two opals ever look quite alike.
$1,605 Shop Now →
A warm golden citrine paired with black spinel, a budget-friendly take on November's sunny stone.
$235 Shop Now →
A vivid Swiss blue topaz in sterling silver, one of three recognized December birthstones.
$211 Shop Now →
Not all birthstones wear the same. Jewelers rate mineral hardness on the Mohs scale, a 1 to 10 rating of how resistant a stone is to scratching. Diamond sits at the top at a 10, while a stone like pearl is closer to a 3, which means it scratches far more easily. This matters most for rings, since hands take the most daily wear and tear. For a birthstone that will be worn constantly, look toward the harder end of the scale. For a birthstone worn occasionally, in earrings or a pendant that spends more time in a jewelry box, a softer stone like opal or pearl can be a beautiful, lower-risk choice.
A few things to check before buying birthstone jewelry, whether for yourself or as a gift:
Modern birthstones were standardized in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) to reflect stones that were more available and affordable, while traditional birthstones trace back to 15th century European gem lists and older biblical and astrological sources. Some months, like June and October, list more than one option because both traditions stayed in use.
Diamond, sapphire, and ruby sit at the top of the Mohs hardness scale at 9 to 10, making them excellent choices for rings and other jewelry worn daily. Softer stones like pearl and opal, roughly 3 to 6.5 on the same scale, are better suited to necklaces, earrings, or occasional wear, where they are less likely to be scratched.
Yes. Birthstones are a tradition, not a rule. Many people choose a stone for its color, meaning, or simply because they like how it looks, and mixing birthstones for family members, such as a mother's necklace with each child's stone, is a popular way to personalize jewelry.
These four months each have more than one recognized birthstone. June is pearl, alexandrite, or moonstone. August is peridot or spinel. October is opal or tourmaline. December is tanzanite, blue topaz, or turquoise. Any of the listed stones is considered correct for that month.
Care depends on the stone's hardness. Durable stones like diamond, sapphire, and ruby can typically be cleaned with warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft brush. Softer or more porous stones such as pearl, opal, and turquoise should never be soaked and are best wiped with a damp, soft cloth only, since soaking or ultrasonic cleaners can cause damage.
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