A birthstone is more than a color assigned to a calendar page. For a jeweler, designer, collector, or gift buyer, a birthstone chart by month is a practical starting point for comparing gem varieties, durability, price range, treatment considerations, and suitable jewelry styles. Some months offer one familiar choice, while others include several accepted modern and traditional options.
The modern list is the standard most US buyers recognize. Traditional lists vary by source and may include historical substitutes, which can be useful when a customer wants a specific color, a more durable material, or a stone within a defined budget.
Birthstone Chart by Month
| Month | Modern Birthstone | Traditional or Alternate Choices | Typical Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet | Deep red, orange, green, purple |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst | Violet to deep purple |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone | Light blue; green with red inclusions |
| April | Diamond | Diamond | Colorless and fancy colors |
| May | Emerald | Emerald | Green |
| June | Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone | Pearl | White, cream, color-change, blue sheen |
| July | Ruby | Ruby | Red to vivid red |
| August | Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx | Sardonyx | Yellowish green, many colors, banded brown-red |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire | Blue and many fancy colors |
| October | Opal, Tourmaline | Opal | Play-of-color; pink, green, blue, and more |
| November | Topaz, Citrine | Topaz | Blue, yellow, orange, brown |
| December | Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon | Turquoise | Blue-green, violet-blue, blue |
Choosing by Month Is Only the First Step
Birthstone traditions are useful, but they do not replace gemstone evaluation. Two stones assigned to the same month can differ substantially in hardness, toughness, clarity, rarity, and care needs. A natural vivid purple amethyst and a natural emerald, for example, may both be selected for meaningful jewelry, yet emerald typically requires more protection from impact and careful attention to clarity characteristics.
For custom jewelry, consider where the stone will be worn. Rings receive frequent contact with hard surfaces, so diamond, sapphire, ruby, spinel, and many garnets are often practical options depending on setting design. Earrings and pendants allow greater flexibility for softer or more delicate materials, including opal, pearl, turquoise, and moonstone.
Color is equally important. Birthstones are often purchased as gifts, but the recipient may prefer a shade outside the conventional expectation. September does not have to mean only medium blue sapphire. A pink, yellow, teal, or parti-color sapphire can still honor the month while offering a more individual result. Likewise, an October customer may choose a vivid pink tourmaline instead of opal if they want a faceted stone with fewer care concerns.
January: Garnet
Garnet is widely known for deep red color, especially almandine and pyrope varieties, but the family offers far more range. Rhodolite can show purplish red to raspberry color, spessartite may be vivid orange, and tsavorite is prized for strong green color. This variety makes garnet especially useful for coordinated jewelry collections and custom designs.
Most garnets are suitable for earrings, pendants, and carefully designed rings. Their hardness varies by species, so stone selection and setting style should reflect intended wear. A clean, well-cut faceted garnet can provide strong value compared with more expensive red gemstones.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst remains one of the most accessible and recognizable purple gemstones. Quality is judged largely by color, with desirable material often showing an even medium-dark to deep purple face-up appearance. Very dark stones can lose brightness, while overly pale material may appear less saturated once set.
Because amethyst is quartz, it offers good everyday versatility, although it should not be exposed to harsh impacts or prolonged intense heat. It is a practical choice for larger center stones, matching pairs, cabochons, and gift jewelry where color presence matters.
March: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
Aquamarine is valued for its clean blue to greenish-blue color and transparent faceted appearance. Lighter material is common, while stronger, more saturated blue can command a premium. It works well in larger cuts because its color is often more evident when the stone has adequate face-up size.
Bloodstone provides a completely different March option. This opaque green chalcedony is identified by red inclusions or spots, creating a traditional look that suits signet rings, men's jewelry, carvings, and cabochon designs. The choice depends on whether the buyer wants bright transparency or historic character.
April: Diamond
Diamond is the best-known April birthstone and a natural fit for frequent-wear jewelry. Round Brilliant diamonds maximize light return, while oval, pear, emerald cut, cushion, and marquise shapes change the visual personality of a piece. Buyers should compare cut quality, color, clarity, carat weight, and measurements rather than relying on carat weight alone.
April also offers creative room through fancy-color diamonds. Yellow, champagne, cognac, blue, pink, and other fancy colors can provide an alternative to a traditional colorless stone. For significant purchases, an identification report and clear disclosure of natural status, treatments, and relevant quality factors help support confident selection.
May: Emerald
Emerald is defined by green color, but no single green fits every design. Some stones lean bluish green, others show a warmer yellowish green, and saturation can range from soft to vivid. Natural inclusions are common in emerald and should be evaluated as part of the stone's overall appearance rather than treated as an automatic defect.
Emerald requires thoughtful care. Its inclusions and common clarity enhancement practices mean it is generally better suited to protective settings, such as bezels or halo designs, than to exposed high-impact ring settings. A clean-looking natural emerald with attractive color can be more compelling than a larger stone with weak saturation.
June: Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone
June has one of the broadest birthstone selections. Pearls offer organic luster rather than faceted sparkle and are often chosen for classic necklaces, earrings, and bridal jewelry. They are comparatively soft and should be kept away from perfumes, hairspray, household chemicals, and abrasion.
Alexandrite is a rare chrysoberyl known for color change, often appearing greenish in daylight and reddish or purplish under incandescent light. Fine natural alexandrite can be expensive, so buyers should assess the strength of the color change, clarity, size, and whether a stone is natural or laboratory-grown.
Moonstone is appreciated for its floating blue or white sheen, called adularescence. Cabochon cutting is standard because it best displays this effect. It is attractive in pendants and earrings and can work in rings when protected by a suitable setting.
July Through December: Color, Durability, and Alternatives
Ruby is July's red corundum birthstone. Strong color is central to value, and fine ruby may show vivid red with balanced saturation rather than excessive darkness. Ruby has excellent hardness for rings, but natural stones commonly contain inclusions and may be heat treated. Treatment disclosure matters because it affects value and purchase expectations.
August offers peridot, spinel, and sardonyx. Peridot's fresh yellowish-green color creates an accessible option, while spinel is available in red, pink, blue, purple, gray, and other colors with excellent brilliance and strong durability. Sardonyx, typically cut as a cabochon or carving material, offers a more traditional alternative with visible bands of color.
September sapphire is not limited to blue. Natural sapphire occurs in pink, yellow, green, purple, white, and multicolor varieties. With hardness second only to diamond among commonly used jewelry gemstones, sapphire is a practical center-stone choice for engagement rings and other high-wear designs. Ask whether a sapphire is heated, unheated, diffusion treated, or otherwise enhanced before comparing prices.
October's opal and tourmaline present a meaningful trade-off. Opal can display exceptional play-of-color, but its relative softness and sensitivity to impact make it better for careful wear. Tourmaline offers a broad color palette, from neon blue-green and rich green to pink, red, and watermelon color zoning. It is often the easier October choice for a faceted custom ring.
November topaz and citrine are both warm-toned options, though blue topaz is especially popular in the modern market. Natural imperial topaz can show orange, peach, pink, or golden hues and is considerably rarer than common blue topaz. Citrine ranges from pale yellow to deep orange-brown and provides an attractive value option for larger stones.
December gives buyers turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. Turquoise is opaque, often cut en cabochon, and should be protected from chemicals and heat. Tanzanite offers violet-blue color and is usually heat treated to achieve its familiar appearance. Zircon, not to be confused with cubic zirconia, is a natural gemstone with lively brilliance and blue, white, yellow, and warm earth-tone varieties.
Buy the Stone That Fits the Jewelry
A birth month creates the personal connection, but the finished piece should determine the final selection. Confirm natural versus laboratory-grown status, disclosed treatments, measurements, cutting style, and whether the gem is appropriate for the intended setting. For higher-value diamonds and colored stones, an in-house gemstone or diamond identification report can add useful documentation to the purchase decision.
NW Gems & Diamonds can help buyers compare loose stones across birthstone families, from faceted amethyst and peridot to natural sapphire, emerald, ruby, alexandrite, and diamond. Choose the stone that suits the recipient's month, then let color, quality, and daily wear determine the one they will want to keep wearing.