We all know our zodiac signs, but do you know your birthstones? Since roughly around the 16th century it was a common practice to associate specific gems with each month. In 1912 a more modern birthstone chart was created by the National Association of Jewelers to include more jewelry-friendly gems. This chart has since been updated to include even more options including some newly discovered gems like tanzanite. It has long been believed that wearing your birthstone can bring you luck and other fortunes.
January: Garnet
Garnet is both the traditional and the modern birthstone for the month of January. Garnet is an abundant gemstone that comes in many different colors and varieties, however, red garnets are usually used to represent the month of January. This stone has been used in jewelry dating back to the Bronze Age and can be found all over the world. Garnet is said to get rid of negative feelings and promote mental clarity.
February: Amethyst
Like January, February has the same modern and traditional birthstone; the beautiful purple amethyst. This gemstone is a variety of quartz that gets its color from iron deposits in the crystal that are exposed to natural radiation deep inside the earth. This stone can be found throughout the world but gets its name from ancient Greece where it was believed that wearing this stone can keep you clear-headed not just during a party but also in both battle and business.
March: Bloodstone, Aquamarine
The traditional gem for March was bloodstone, a variety of chalcedony with a deep green color that is splattered with red. This gemstone can be found in multiple parts of the world but most commonly in India, Brazil, the US, and China. It was believed that wearing bloodstone could increase your strength and keep you young and healthy.
March’s more modern birthstone is aquamarine, named for its stunning water-blue color. Aquamarine is a variety of beryl commonly found in parts of Africa, Brazil, Pakistan, the US, and other countries. Ancient mariners believed that this stone would keep them safe and quick-witted while sailing long weeks at sea. Today aquamarine is said to imbue its wearer with courage, strength, and clear communication.
April: Diamond, Moissanite
While both the traditional and modern gemstone for April is diamond, moissanite is widely accepted as the closest simulant to diamond in all aspects, including as an alternative birthstone. Both diamonds and moissanites come in a wide variety of colors.
Diamond is the hardest material on earth with Moissanite coming in second. These birthstones are said to give their wearer strength, clarity, and beauty, traits commonly associated with the stones themselves. While diamonds can be found all over the world, Moissainte is a lab-created gemstone. Check out our blog post for more on diamonds vs moissanite.
May: Emerald
A stunning green gem that has been praised for its beauty for centuries, emerald is the one and only birthstone for May. Worn by royalty in Ancient Egypt and the Inca Empire, this green gem is a rare and precious stone. Emerald is said to give its wearer good health, it also promotes healthy relationships, loyalty, and commitment and it’s often the gift given for both the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
June: Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone
The only organic gemstone on this list, pearl is the traditional birthstone for June and is found in oceans, rivers, and lakes the world over. Often associated with clarity and purity, not just for their demure appearance but also because the mollusks that create them cannot thrive in polluted waters. Pearls are also said to give the wearer long life and prosperity.
Alexandrite and moonstone are both considered modern birthstones for June. Added to the list of birthstones not just for their transparent appearance but also for their durability as they are both harder and tougher than pearls. Moonstone is a variety of feldspar that can give blue flashes and has an ethereal appearance. Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl and while it is found in nature, most alexandrite jewelry is lab-created because of its rarity. This gemstone has color change properties depending on the light. Both of these stones are said to bring their wearer love, luck, and passion.
July: Ruby
The red version of corundum, rubies are both the modern and traditional birthstone for July. The stone gets its incredible red coloring due to deposits of chromium, which makes all rubies fluorescent. A highly coveted precious gemstone, rubies have been traded since at least 200 B.C and can be found in India, parts of Africa, Thailand, Madagascar, Pakistan and other countries. Because of its deep blood red to pink color, it is believed that wearing a ruby can promote good health, passion, and prosperity.
August: Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx
Sardonyx is the traditional birthstone of August, a combination of two types of chalcedony, sard and onyx, from which it gets its name. Sardonyx is a banded red gemstone that was popular for use in jewelry in Ancient Rome. It’s said to bring its wearer courage, happiness, and success.
The more modern birthstone for August is peridot, with spinel being added to the list more recently. Peridot is a variety of olivine that is found in many places around the world like China, the US, Tanzania, and Pakistan, some Peridots came to us in meteorites from space. It is believed wearing Peridot will ease your sleep, your emotions, and your mind.
Spinel comes in a variety of colors and is often mistaken for other gemstones. This master of disguise is found in some gemstone hotspots like Tanzania, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Myanmar. This stone is said ease anger and bring harmony to anyone who wears it.
September: Sapphire
While sapphire may be the only September birthstone, it comes in every color so your options are limitless. Sapphire is the name for every version of corundum except for red which are considered rubies. Sapphires are found in many places, including parts of Asia, Africa, The US, Australia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Kashmir. Wearing a sapphire brings one tranquility, wisdom, and creativity.
October: Opal, Tourmaline
Opals are the traditional birthstone for October, most famous for their stunning shifting color display known as opalescence or play-of-color. This stunning visual effect has made them a sought-after stone for centuries. In ancient times opal was said to give the wearer the gift of prophecy and longevity, while modern beliefs are that the stone enhances creativity and imagination. While opals are mined in many places, Australian opals are the most durable as they are non porous and able to withstand water. Check out our blog on opals for more info.
Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October. Tourmaline comes in many colors, and it’s one of few stones that can come in multiple colors in a single crystal. Like opal this stone is said to enhance creativity, imagination, and artistic expression. However, each color of the stone has its own meaning and abilities. While this stone is found all over the world most of the gems that are used in jewelry come from Brazil.
November: Yellow Topaz, Citrine
Topaz comes in many colors, however the yellow to orange color is the one that was November’s original birthstone. This stunning stone is most commonly mined in Brazil but it is found in other countries. Yellow and orange topaz bring love, affection, and good fortune to their wearer.
November's modern birthstone, citrine, was often mistaken for topaz in ancient times because of their similarity in color. Citrine is the yellow to orange form of quartz, the perfect fall hue for the autumn month. This stone is very common and is mined pretty much everywhere. Used in jewelry for thousands of years, citrine along with amethyst were the highlight of royal jewels in Greece, Rome, and Scotland. Because of it’s sunshiny color, this stone is said to give the wearer a radiant energy and attract positive vibes.
December: Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Topaz, Blue Zircon, Tanzanite
The month with the most birthstone options is December. Boasting five different stones in various shades of blue to represent the cold frosty feel of the winter month.
The original birthstones for December were turquoise and lapis lazuli. Turquoise is a light blue to green stone that often has lines of its matrix stone running through it. It’s a stone that is important to people all over the world including the people of Tibet and many Indigenous American tribes. Lapis is a dark blue stone with stunning gold colored flecks that come from pyrite inclusions. Both stones can be found in several places around the world and both are said to be stones of luck, wisdom, truth, and communication.
There are three modern December birthstones. Blue topaz and blue zircon were added to the list first, followed by tanzanite which is relatively new to the gemstone world, first found in 1967 and added as an official birthstone in 2002. Both zircon and topaz are mined all over the world and come in a variety of colors, however only the various shades of blue are considered the birthstones for December.
Tanzanite is a rare gemstone (1,000 times rarer than diamond) that comes in a shade range of light blue to deep purple and is found in only one place in the world; Northern Tanzania where it gets its name. Unlike the traditional birthstones which share their metaphysical properties, the three modern stones all offer different benefits. Blue topaz bestows its wearer with calmness and sharpens both the intuition and the intellect. Blue zircon protects against negativity and aids in self-discovery. Tanzanite provides inspiration while also calming fears and anxieties.
Birthstone jewelry makes the perfect gift! If you’d like jewelry in a birthstone that isn’t listed in our catalog we can custom make a piece for you with any gemstone. Check out custom page for more info.
