Birthstones by month: the chart and the meanings
Birthstones are one of the oldest personalization traditions — a gem assigned to each month, worn as a talisman or slipped into gifts and jewelry. The modern (US) list:
| Month | Stone | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | protection on journeys |
| February | Amethyst | clarity and calm |
| March | Aquamarine | courage, calm seas |
| April | Diamond | strength, eternity |
| May | Emerald | rebirth, growth |
| June | Pearl | purity, wisdom |
| July | Ruby | passion, vitality |
| August | Peridot | good fortune |
| September | Sapphire | truth, loyalty |
| October | Opal | hope, creativity |
| November | Topaz | warmth, abundance |
| December | Turquoise | luck, protection |
Months with alternates
Several months officially carry more than one stone: June (pearl, alexandrite, moonstone), August (peridot, spinel), October (opal, tourmaline), November (topaz, citrine), December (turquoise, tanzanite, zircon). Jewelers added alternates over the years partly for price range — a fine alexandrite costs more than many diamonds.
Using it in a gift without buying jewelry
The stone's name and meaning personalize far cheaper things: a card ("July's ruby suits you"), an engraving — or a birth poster where it sits beside the zodiac, moon phase and birth flower. Our poster maker fills it in automatically from the date.
Get this letter personalized in 2 minutes
Our generator fills in your details, the correct legal citations and current mailing addresses — and builds the rest of the pack around it. Free preview, no signup.
Frequently asked questions
Are birthstones the same in every country?
The core list is broadly shared, but variations exist (UK and older European lists differ for a few months — e.g. December turquoise vs. lapis).
What if I don't like my birthstone?
Use a month with an official alternate (June, August, October, November, December all have several) or the stone of your zodiac sign instead — both are "legitimate" traditions.
Why does June have three birthstones?
Alternates were added to give options across price ranges — natural pearl and alexandrite are rare and costly, so moonstone joined the list.