Birthstones by Month, Modern and Traditional
All twelve months, with the stone most often listed today, the older traditional choice, and how to pick one that survives being worn.
Birthstone lists are conventions rather than measurements, and the lists in use today are not the same ones people used a century ago, which is why you will find more than one acceptable answer for several months.
Where the lists come from
The modern American list took shape in the twentieth century as a trade convention, and it added stones over time. Traditional lists are older and vary by country, descending from a mix of scriptural interpretation and later European custom. Neither list is wrong. They are different traditions with different vintages.
The twelve months
| Month | Modern | Traditional and alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone, jasper |
| April | Diamond | Diamond, sapphire |
| May | Emerald | Emerald, agate |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | Pearl, moonstone |
| July | Ruby | Ruby, onyx, carnelian |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Sardonyx, peridot |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal, tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz, citrine |
| December | Turquoise, zircon, tanzanite | Turquoise, zircon, ruby, lapis lazuli |
June carries three stones on the modern list, and December carries three as well. That is not an error. Additions happened as new material entered the market.
Alternatives worth knowing
If the birthstone for your month is a soft stone, or one you dislike, there is no rule that you have to wear it.
- April has widely accepted colorless alternatives in white sapphire, white topaz, and zircon.
- November's citrine is quartz and is one of the most affordable stones on any list.
- December's turquoise is opaque, often treated, and comparatively soft; tanzanite is a harder option in the same month.
- September's sapphire comes in nearly every color except red, so if blue is not to your taste, the month has range.
Some people choose by meaning or tradition instead of by month, and that is just as legitimate. Birthstone jewelry is a custom, and customs tolerate variation.
Match the stone to how it will be worn
Birthstone jewelry is usually worn often, which turns the month into a secondary question.
Rings take the most abuse. Corundum (ruby, sapphire) at Mohs 9 and diamond at 10 handle daily wear best, and spinel at 8 is a good alternative. Quartz at 7 is the practical floor for a ring worn every day.
Pendants and earrings take far less contact than a ring does, so a soft stone loses little there. Stones at the softer end belong in earrings, pendants, and occasional-wear pieces: opal, pearl, turquoise, and tanzanite all sit between roughly 5 and 6.5 on the scale, and pearl is lower still. None of them are fragile in a pendant. All of them will show wear in a ring.
Treatments matter too, because they set the cleaning rules. A treated or dyed stone is a poor candidate for an ultrasonic cleaner, whatever month it represents.
If you are shopping for a birthstone ring that will be worn daily, choose the month's harder stone or ask for the same species in a protective setting, and save the softer one for a pendant.
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