Birthstones by Month: A Complete Guide to Natural Birthstone Gemstones

Birthstone traditions vary slightly by country and by source, but the modern list used by most jewellers gives every month at least one recognised natural gemstone. Here’s the full list, along with a note on where lists sometimes disagree.

The birthstone list, month by month

January — Garnet. Most commonly deep red, though garnet occurs in nearly every colour except blue.
February — Amethyst. Purple quartz, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet.
March — Aquamarine. Pale blue to blue-green beryl, the same family as emerald.
April — Diamond. The only non-coloured stone on the list.
May — Emerald. Green beryl; most fine emerald includes some visible inclusion (“jardin”), which is normal, not a flaw.
June — Pearl or Moonstone. Alexandrite is also sometimes listed; this is one of the months with the most variation between sources.
July — Ruby.
August — Peridot (sometimes listed alongside spinel).
September — Sapphire. Most associated with blue, though sapphire occurs in every colour except red.
October — Opal or Tourmaline. Another month where modern and traditional lists split.
November — Topaz or Citrine. Topaz occurs naturally in blue, though much commercial blue topaz is treated — ask about treatment when buying.
December — Tanzanite, Turquoise, or Blue Topaz. The most recently added stone on the list is tanzanite, recognised in 2002.

Why some months have more than one option

The birthstone list isn’t a single ancient tradition — it was standardised in the early 1900s by jewellers’ trade associations and has been added to since (tanzanite is the most recent addition). That’s why a few months list two or three alternatives rather than one fixed stone: different traditions (modern Western, Ayurvedic/Vedic, and mystical/older European lists) don’t always agree, and both are in genuine use today.

Choosing between a traditional and a modern birthstone

There’s no wrong choice between a month’s alternatives — it comes down to which colour and stone you’d actually want to wear. If you’re buying for someone else, the safer route is usually the more universally recognised option (e.g. sapphire for September rather than a less common regional alternative).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear a birthstone that isn't mine?

Yes — there’s no rule against it. Many people choose a stone for its colour or meaning rather than strict birth-month tradition; birthstones are a custom, not a requirement.

What if my birth month has two traditional stones?

Either is correct — pick based on which colour and stone you’d actually want to wear. Jewellers list both because two overlapping traditions (modern and older/regional) are both still in active use today.