Birthstone Chart by Month: Modern and Traditional Birthstones

A month-by-month birthstone chart with modern and traditional stones, colors and meanings, plus why some months have more than one birthstone.

Birthstone edit

Twelve months, and a color for every one.

Birthstone charts link each month with a gem and a color. The modern list has been updated several times, so some months now have two or even three stones to choose from.

Answer key: the modern birthstones are garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, pearl, ruby, peridot, sapphire, opal, topaz and turquoise, with alternatives added for several months

This guide covers the gemstones themselves. North & Pearl birth-month pieces use a color accent inspired by each month rather than natural gemstones, so check each product page for its material. To shop, browse our birthstone jewelry.

Quick Answer: What Are the Birthstones for Each Month?

The modern birthstones are: January garnet; February amethyst; March aquamarine and 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. The modern US list was first published in 1912 and updated in 1952, 2002 and 2016.

Key Takeaways

• The modern birthstone list was set by the US jewelry industry in 1912.
• It was updated in 1952, when stones like citrine, tourmaline and alexandrite were added.
• Tanzanite joined December in 2002, and spinel joined August in 2016.
• June, August and December have three birthstones; March, October and November have two.
• Traditional stones, such as bloodstone for March, are still widely accepted alternatives.

Modern Birthstone Chart

Open any month for more detail: January, February, October, November and December. Pearl has its own guide in what pearls symbolize.

Traditional Birthstone Chart

Before the modern list, birthstones varied by region and period. The traditional stones below are the older choices that many people still use.

Traditional and modern lists agree for most months. For where these lists came from, read our origin of birthstones guide.

Gifting note

The chart is a starting point, not a rule.

Many people simply prefer another month's color. A birthstone gift works best when the color is one they will enjoy wearing.

Shop birthstone jewelry

Why Some Months Have More Than One Birthstone

The modern list was created by the National Association of Jewelers, now Jewelers of America, in 1912. Later updates added stones to give buyers more choice of color, price and durability.

• 1952: alexandrite (June), citrine (November) and pink tourmaline (October) were added, and zircon moved to December.
• 2002: tanzanite was added to December by the American Gem Trade Association.
• 2016: spinel was added to August.

How to Use a Birthstone Chart for Gifts

• Start with the month, then choose the stone or color the person would actually wear.
• For months with several stones, pick by color or by durability for rings.
• Family pieces can combine several months, such as children's birth months on one ring or necklace.
• For styles and occasions, see our birthstone necklace guide and birthstone ring guide.

Shop the Story

Birthstone jewelry for every month

Heart Birthstone Pendant Necklace A delicate heart pendant available in all 12 month colors. $49.00 View piece Baguette Birthstone Necklace A minimal baguette pendant with a month color accent. $69.00 View piece Family Birthstone Open Ring An open ring that can combine several birth months. $59.00 View piece Beaded Birthstone Bracelet A dainty beaded bracelet with a birth-month color story. $49.00 View piece

Birth-month pieces use a color accent inspired by each month, not natural gemstones. Product pages are the source of truth for materials and options.

FAQ

What are the 12 birthstones by month?

Garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), pearl (June), ruby (July), peridot (August), sapphire (September), opal (October), topaz (November) and turquoise (December), with alternatives for several months.

Which months have more than one birthstone?

March, October and November have two birthstones; June, August and December have three.

Who decides the official birthstones?

The modern US list was created in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers and updated by industry groups in 1952, 2002 and 2016.

What is the difference between modern and traditional birthstones?

Traditional birthstones are the older, historical choices. The modern list keeps most of them and adds alternatives for color, price and durability.

What is the rarest birthstone?

Alexandrite (June) and tanzanite (December) are usually considered the rarest. See our rarest birthstones guide for details.

Related Guides

• Jewelry Gifts for New Moms: What to Give After Baby Arrives
• Gift Ideas for Goddaughter: Jewelry for Every Age and Milestone
• Gift Ideas for Godmother: 10 Jewelry Picks She Will Actually Wear
• April Birthstone: Diamond
• June Birthstones: Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone
• August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx
• September Birthstone: Sapphire
• March Birthstone: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
• May Birthstone: Emerald
• July Birthstone: Ruby
• January Birthstone: Garnet
• October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline
• The Rarest and Most Expensive Birthstones
• The Origin of Birthstones

Final Buying Note

A birthstone chart gives every month a color and a story. Use it to start, then choose the shade and style the person will actually wear.