Every month of the year has a gemstone attached to it, and that tradition has become one of the most popular ways to personalize jewelry. A birthstone pendant is an easy, meaningful gift because you only need to know someone's birthday, not their favorite color or style. This guide covers all twelve months, where the tradition comes from, how durable each stone is for everyday wear, and pieces from our collection for each month.
Key Takeaways
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The idea is often traced to the twelve stones on Aaron's breastplate in the Book of Exodus, which later writers linked to the twelve months and zodiac signs. The custom of wearing a stone for your own birth month became popular in Europe a few centuries ago. In 1912, the American National Retail Jewelers Association (now Jewelers of America) published the modern list to standardize stones that were available and affordable. It has been updated since: tanzanite joined December in 2002, and spinel joined August in 2016. Traditional stones are still recognized for several months, which is why some birthdays have two or three options.
| Month | Birthstone(s) | Color | Mohs hardness | Everyday ring? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | 6.5 to 7.5 | Yes, with care |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | 7 | Yes |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Sea blue | 7.5 to 8 | Yes |
| April | Diamond | Colorless | 10 | Excellent |
| May | Emerald | Green | 7.5 to 8 (brittle) | Protective setting |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | White, color-change | Pearl 2.5 to 4.5; alexandrite 8.5 | Pearl: occasional wear |
| July | Ruby | Red | 9 | Excellent |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Yellow-green | Peridot 6.5 to 7; spinel 8 | Yes, with care |
| September | Sapphire | Blue (and other colors) | 9 | Excellent |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Play of color, pink | Opal 5.5 to 6.5; tourmaline 7 to 7.5 | Opal: occasional wear |
| November | Citrine, topaz | Golden | Citrine 7; topaz 8 | Yes |
| December | Tanzanite, blue topaz, zircon, turquoise | Blue | Tanzanite 6 to 7; topaz 8; turquoise 5 to 6 | Topaz best for daily wear |
The Mohs scale ranks scratch resistance from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Hardness is not the whole story: emeralds are fairly hard but brittle, and pearls and opals are sensitive to chemicals and dryness.
Winter birthdays get some of the most saturated colors on the calendar: deep red garnet, royal purple amethyst and sea-blue aquamarine.
Deep wine-red garnet in sterling silver, the classic January stone.
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A bold purple amethyst, long linked with calm and clarity.
$213 Shop Now →
Sea-blue aquamarine, legendary as a sailor's good-luck stone.
$187 Shop Now →
Diamond, emerald and pearl are three of the most requested stones in fine jewelry, prized for hardness, color and luster.
April's hardest, most timeless stone in 10K white gold.
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Rich green emerald; also offered in garnet, peridot or pink tourmaline.
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A harder, everyday alternative for June babies who prefer color to pearl.
$3,036 Shop Now →
Summer runs through durable, richly colored stones: ruby, peridot and sapphire all wear well and glow in warm light.
Fall closes the year with the most varied stones: opal's shifting flashes, citrine's warm gold and December's choice of blues.
No two opals look alike. Keep away from water and harsh chemicals.
$1,605 Shop Now →
A durable, vivid December blue in sterling silver.
$211 Shop Now →
Glass-Filled Ruby & Tanzanite Ring
July and December · treated ruby, clean gently.
$204.00 Shop Now →
Modern birthstones come from the list US jewelers standardized in 1912 and updated in 2002 and 2016. Traditional birthstones come from older European and biblical sources. Both are still used, which is why some months have more than one stone.
Diamond (10 on the Mohs scale), sapphire and ruby (9) are the most durable. Pearl and opal are softer and better for pendants, earrings or occasional wear.
March (aquamarine, bloodstone), June (pearl, moonstone, alexandrite), August (peridot, spinel, sardonyx), October (opal, tourmaline), November (citrine, topaz) and December (tanzanite, blue topaz, zircon, turquoise).
Yes. Birthstones are a tradition, not a rule. Many people choose by color or meaning, or wear family members' stones.
Hard stones like diamond, sapphire and ruby can be cleaned with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Wipe pearls, opals, emeralds and turquoise with a damp soft cloth only, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
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