Birthstones by Month
Every month’s birthstone with its color, hardness and care notes, plus how the US, UK and Japanese birthstone lists differ.
Birthstones for each month
US, UK and Japanese lists compared
The month pages follow the US list maintained by Jewelers of America and the American Gem Society. Stones in parentheses are alternates on the same list.
| Month | US list | UK list | Japanese list (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet(Rose quartz) | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst(Amber) | AmethystChrysoberyl cat's eye |
| March | Aquamarine(Bloodstone (heliotrope)) | Aquamarine(Jade) | AquamarineCoralBloodstone (heliotrope)Iolite |
| April | Diamond | Diamond(Rock crystal) | DiamondMorganite |
| May | Emerald | Emerald(Chrysoprase) | EmeraldJadeite |
| June | PearlMoonstoneAlexandrite | Pearl(Moonstone) | PearlMoonstoneAlexandrite |
| July | Ruby | Ruby(Carnelian) | RubySphene (titanite) |
| August | PeridotSpinel(Sardonyx) | Peridot(Spinel) | PeridotSardonyxSpinel |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire(Lapis lazuli) | SapphireKunzite |
| October | OpalTourmaline | Opal(Tourmaline) | OpalTourmaline |
| November | TopazCitrine | Topaz(Citrine) | TopazCitrine |
| December | TurquoiseTanzaniteZircon | Tanzanite(Topaz) | TurquoiseLapis lazuliTanzaniteZircon |
Where the modern list comes from
The list most Americans know was adopted in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association (today Jewelers of America) at a meeting in Kansas City. It was revised in 1952, tanzanite joined December in 2002, and spinel was added to August in 2016.
Other countries keep their own versions. Japan’s list dates to 1958 and gained ten stones in 2021, which is why coral, jadeite and lapis lazuli appear there and not on the US chart. The UK list pairs each month with one main stone and one alternate.
Why some months have more than one stone
Revisions tend to add stones rather than remove them, usually to offer a more affordable or more colorful option. June now has pearl, moonstone and alexandrite; December has turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
None of a month’s stones outranks the others. Color preference and how the piece will be worn matter more: softer stones like pearl, opal and turquoise scratch and chip more easily than sapphire or diamond.
FAQ
Which birthstone list is official?
In the United States, Jewelers of America maintains the standard list, and the American Gem Society publishes the same stones with a few historical alternates. The UK and Japan each publish their own.
Do I use my birth month or my zodiac sign?
Birthstones follow the calendar month you were born in. Zodiac stones are a separate tradition with different dates.
Do birthstones have healing powers?
No. Birthstones are a jewelry and cultural custom. The meanings attached to them are traditions, not medical or scientific claims.
Birthstones are a jewelry and cultural tradition, and their meanings are folklore. Gem facts are compiled from public material by GIA, the American Gem Society and Jewelers of America.