Birthstone by Month
Every month’s birthstone with color, meaning, Mohs hardness, and alternate stones.
Pick a Month
Garnet
January birthstone · Mohs hardness 6.5–7.5
Meaning: Protection and safe travel; named after the pomegranate seed ("granatum").
Birthstones by Month — Full List
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Hardness (Mohs) | Alternates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Swatch: #7A1F2Bgarnet tones | 6.5–7.5 | — |
| February | Amethyst | Swatch: #6A4C9Camethyst tones | 7 | — |
| March | Aquamarine | Swatch: #7FDBD5aquamarine tones | 7.5–8 | Bloodstone (traditional) |
| April | Diamond | Swatch: #DDE6EDdiamond tones | 10 | — |
| May | Emerald | Swatch: #1F8A4Cemerald tones | 7.5–8 | Agate (traditional) |
| June | Pearl | Swatch: #F2EDE4pearl tones | 2.5–4.5 | Alexandrite, Moonstone |
| July | Ruby | Swatch: #C21E3Aruby tones | 9 | — |
| August | Peridot | Swatch: #9ACD32peridot tones | 6.5–7 | Spinel (added 2016), Sardonyx (traditional) |
| September | Sapphire | Swatch: #1B4F9Csapphire tones | 9 | — |
| October | Opal | Swatch: #B8D8E8opal tones | 5.5–6.5 | Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz | Swatch: #F4A83Dtopaz tones | 8 | Citrine |
| December | Turquoise | Swatch: #3EB8C4turquoise tones | 5–6 | Tanzanite, Zircon, Lapis lazuli (traditional) |
Modern standard list (American Gem Trade Association / Jewelers of America). December has three official choices — turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon.
Quick Answer
A birthstone is the gem traditionally assigned to your birth month. The modern standard list runs: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz, and December turquoise, tanzanite, or zircon (all three are official). Pick a month above for its color, meaning, Mohs hardness, and alternate stones — or browse the full 12-month table below. Free and instantly in your browser.
How It Works
Open the month picker — it defaults to the current month
Select any month to see its birthstone, color swatch, meaning, and hardness
Check the "also accepted" line for months with alternate stones
Scroll to the 12-month table for the complete list at a glance
Gift shopping? Match the stone’s Mohs hardness to how often the jewelry will be worn
Key Facts
- Covers all 12 months of the modern standard birthstone list
- Color swatch, meaning, and Mohs hardness for every stone
- December shows all three official options: turquoise, tanzanite, zircon
- Alternate and traditional stones listed where they exist
- Indexable 12-month table for quick reference
- Opens on your current month automatically
- Free, no sign-up, 100% client-side
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the birthstone for each month?
The modern list: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz, December turquoise (with tanzanite and zircon as official alternatives). The full table above includes colors, meanings, and hardness for each.
Why does December have three birthstones?
In 2002 the American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite to December, and zircon was recognized alongside turquoise as well — partly because turquoise alone couldn’t support demand, and partly to give shoppers affordable options. All three are official December birthstones, so you can choose whichever suits your style and budget.
Why does June have more than one birthstone?
Pearl is the modern June birthstone, but alexandrite and moonstone are also widely accepted — alexandrite is a modern addition prized for changing color in different light, while moonstone is a traditional choice. August similarly gained spinel in 2016 alongside peridot.
What do the hardness numbers mean?
They’re Mohs hardness, a 1–10 scratch-resistance scale where talc is 1 and diamond is 10. Each mineral scratches everything below it. A ruby or sapphire (9) survives everyday wear far better than an opal (5.5–6.5) or a pearl (2.5–4.5), which is why soft stones need gentler care and are better suited to occasional-wear pieces.
Do birthstones have real meanings?
The meanings — protection for garnet, calm for amethyst, love for emerald — come from centuries of folklore, first-century historian Josephus, and the 1912 standardization by Jewelers of America. They’re traditions rather than science, but they make birthstones a personal, story-rich gift choice.