The Rarest and Most Expensive Birthstones, Month by Month

Which birthstones are considered the rarest and most expensive, why, and how to choose a meaningful birth-month piece at an everyday price.

Birthstone edit

Rarity and price are not always the same thing.

Some birthstones are scarce in nature, others are simply in high demand. Knowing the difference helps explain why a June stone can outprice a diamond per carat, and why birth-month meaning doesn't depend on cost.

Answer key: fine natural alexandrite (June) is a strong example of a scarce birthstone. Fine ruby, alexandrite and diamond can be expensive, but a month alone cannot determine the highest price

Prices for any gemstone vary widely with size, color, clarity and origin, so this guide describes general patterns rather than exact values. To shop birth-month pieces, browse our birthstone jewelry.

Quick Answer: What Is the Rarest Birthstone?

Fine natural alexandrite, a June birthstone, is a useful starting point when comparing rare birthstones. GIA describes fine-color material as extremely rare. That does not establish a universal rarity ranking: size, quality, natural versus laboratory-grown origin and the particular gemstone variety change the comparison.

If you mean the most expensive birthstone, compare individual stones of a stated size and quality. Ruby, alexandrite, diamond, emerald and sapphire can all include costly examples. There is no fixed price winner for every month or every stone. This guide is an educational comparison, not a valuation or a dated retail price list.

Key Takeaways

• Rarity and price answer different questions: scarce supply does not set a universal retail value.
• June includes alexandrite; fine-color natural examples are particularly scarce.
• Compare like-for-like carat weight, quality, treatments and documentation when judging cost.
• A birth-month color or design name does not prove a product contains a natural gemstone.
• Choose a meaningful gift by the recipient and verified product details, not a supposed price ranking.

The Rarest Birthstones

Alexandrite (June)

Alexandrite is a color-change variety of chrysoberyl. GIA describes fine-color material as extremely rare and notes that larger, better-quality examples rise sharply in price. That supports calling fine alexandrite scarce, without declaring every alexandrite rarer than every other birthstone.

Tanzanite (December)

A blue-violet gem added to the December list in 2002. Its commercial source is limited to a small area near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which makes long-term supply uncertain.

Fine Ruby (July)

Rubies themselves are well known, but large rubies with a rich, even red color are rare, which is what drives their prices.

Opal (October)

Common opal is plentiful, but precious opal with a vivid play of color is far less so, and the finest examples are highly valued.

The Most Expensive Birthstones

The table below compares general price patterns for high-quality examples of each month's traditional or modern birthstone. It is not a price list; real values depend on the individual stone.

Read the table as a broad comparison of varieties, not a ranked price chart. Comparing an ordinary stone of one variety with an exceptional example of another can reverse an apparent ranking. A whole-piece jewelry price also includes the setting and workmanship, so it is different from a loose-stone price per carat.

Gifting note

The month carries the meaning.

A birth-month color accent gives a gift its personal story. You don't need a rare or costly gem for the gesture to land.

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Why Rare Doesn't Always Mean Expensive

A gem can be scarce but little known, which limits demand and keeps prices lower than you might expect. Meanwhile, a well-known gem with steady demand can command higher prices even when it is easier to find. Quality matters most: a small, pale ruby can cost less than a large, vivid garnet.

How to Compare Birthstone Prices Fairly

1. Choose the same unit: a loose stone per carat, a complete piece, or an exceptional auction result are different comparisons.
2. Check whether the description means a natural, laboratory-grown or imitation material; a similar appearance does not establish the same identity.
3. Record size and quality details before comparing two prices. A category name alone leaves too much unknown.
4. Ask what documentation establishes identity, treatments and any stated origin.
5. Keep the comparison date and seller context. This article does not offer a resale estimate or investment forecast.

If your question is simply which month feels most meaningful, use the month table below instead of a rarity contest. A color-inspired piece can carry a personal association without being described as a rare natural gem.

Choosing a Meaningful Birthstone Gift

For most gifts, the point is the month and what it means to the person, not the rarity of the stone. Birth-month jewelry often uses stones or crystals chosen to represent each month's color, which keeps pieces giftable at everyday prices. When you shop North & Pearl birthstone styles, select the month you want and check the product page for the material details of that piece. Our birthstone necklace guide covers choosing by month.

Shop the Story

Birth-month pieces to gift

Heart Birthstone Pendant Necklace A heart pendant with a birth-month inspired color accent. $49.00 View piece Rectangle Birthstone Pendant Necklace A clean rectangle pendant in the month color you choose. $59.00 View piece Marquise Birthstone Bracelet A delicate bracelet with a marquise-shape month color accent. $49.00 View piece

Select your month before adding to cart. Product pages are the source of truth for materials; these pieces are not described as natural or rare gemstones.

Birthstone by Month

Looking for one specific month rather than a ranking? Each guide below covers that month's stone, its meaning and how it is usually worn.

Gemology Sources and Comparison Limits

For the limited factual points about color change, scarcity and quality, see GIA: Alexandrite Quality Factors. The broad month comparison is editorial guidance, not an official GIA ranking of birthstones by rarity or price.

FAQ

What is the rarest birthstone?

Fine natural alexandrite, a June birthstone, is a strong example of scarcity. There is no universal ranking that makes every stone of one birthstone variety rarer than every other variety.

What is the most expensive birthstone?

The answer depends on the individual stone, its size and quality, treatments and whether you mean a loose-stone price or a complete piece. Fine ruby, alexandrite, diamond and other birthstones can all be costly.

Which month has the most expensive birthstone?

A birth month alone does not determine price. April, July and June include diamond, ruby and alexandrite, but ordinary and exceptional examples cannot be placed in one reliable fixed-price order.

Why can a rare birthstone cost less than a more common one?

Demand, quality, size and the individual example affect price as well as supply. Rarity alone is not a valuation.

Do North & Pearl birth-month pieces contain rare natural gemstones?

A birth-month color or product name does not establish gemstone identity. Review the specific listing and ask about any essential missing composition detail before ordering.

Related Guides

• July Birthstone: Ruby
• May Birthstone: Emerald
• Birthstone Chart by Month
• December Birthstone: Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon
• October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline
• Birthstone Necklace Guide
• Birthstone Ring Guide
• Birthstone Jewelry Gift Guide
• The Origin of Birthstones

Final Buying Note

Fine alexandrite illustrates rarity; exceptional examples of several birthstones illustrate high value. Neither establishes a permanent winning month. For a gift, choose the meaning and design you enjoy, then verify what the selected product actually includes.