The modern birthstone chart by month is: 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. Six months also have alternate stones, such as alexandrite for June, spinel for August and tanzanite for December. The US list dates to 1912 and was last updated in 2016.
Use the chart below to find your stone, its color and its hardness, then see what changed between the traditional and modern lists. All hardness figures come from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) birthstone guides.
Birthstone Chart: All 12 Months at a Glance
This birthstone chart shows the current US stones, the stones on the original 1912 list, the typical color and the Mohs hardness of each gem. The Mohs scale runs from 1 to 10, and diamond is the only birthstone that reaches 10.
| Month | Modern birthstone(s) | 1912 list | Typical color | Mohs hardness (GIA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet | Deep red (other colors exist) | 6.5 to 7.5 |
| February | Amethyst | Amethyst | Purple | 7 |
| March | Aquamarine, bloodstone | Bloodstone, aquamarine | Pale blue; dark green with red spots | 7.5 to 8; 6.5 to 7 |
| April | Diamond | Diamond | Colorless | 10 |
| May | Emerald | Emerald | Green | 7.5 to 8 |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | Pearl, moonstone | White to cream; milky sheen; color change | 2.5 to 3; 6 to 6.5; 8.5 |
| July | Ruby | Ruby | Red | 9 |
| August | Peridot, spinel, sardonyx | Sardonyx, peridot | Yellowish green; many colors; banded red and white | 6.5 to 7; 8; 6.5 to 7 |
| September | Sapphire | Sapphire | Blue (other colors exist) | 9 |
| October | Opal, tourmaline | Opal, tourmaline | Rainbow play of color; pink and many colors | 5 to 6.5; 7 to 7.5 |
| November | Topaz, citrine | Topaz | Yellow to orange (topaz comes in many colors) | 8; 7 |
| December | Turquoise, zircon, tanzanite | Turquoise, lapis lazuli | Blue to green; blue and many colors; blue to violet | 5 to 6; 6 to 7.5; 6 to 7 |
Ruby and sapphire share one hardness value because GIA identifies both as varieties of the mineral corundum. The 1912 column follows the original list as reproduced in the Wikipedia birthstone history, which cites gem expert George F. Kunz's 1913 book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones.
Modern vs Traditional Birthstones: What Changed and When
The first standardized US birthstone list was adopted in Kansas City in August 1912 by the national jewelers association that is now Jewelers of America. The US birthstone list has changed only a few times since: in 1952, in 2002 when tanzanite joined December, and in 2016 when spinel joined August (National Jeweler, 2016; Wikipedia, Birthstone).
"Traditional birthstones" usually means the stones on the 1912 list, while "modern birthstones" means today's list. The modern list kept most 1912 stones and added options, so a traditional stone is rarely wrong. Here is the full change log.
| Year | Change | Who made it |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | First standardized US list adopted in Kansas City | National jewelers association, now Jewelers of America |
| 1952 | Added alexandrite (June) and citrine (November); named pink tourmaline for October; zircon replaced lapis lazuli (December); aquamarine became March's lead stone | Jewelry Industry Council of America |
| 2002 | Added tanzanite (December) | American Gem Trade Association |
| 2016 | Added spinel (August) | American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America |
Sources: National Jeweler's history of the birthstone list and the Wikipedia birthstone history linked above. If your month has more than one stone, every stone on the list is yours. Choose by color, budget or durability.
Why Birthstone Charts Do Not Always Match
Birthstone charts differ because several trade groups keep their own lists, and retailers sometimes add stones of their own. The differences are small, but they explain why two charts can disagree.
According to National Jeweler (2016), the American Gem Society list leaves out moonstone for June, while Jewelers of America and the American Gem Trade Association include it. The American Gem Trade Association also lists bloodstone for March. Some retail lists use blue topaz for December, a stone that does not appear on the GIA December list of turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
Outside the US, Britain's National Association of Goldsmiths created its own list in 1937, so UK charts can name different alternates. For gifts in the US, the chart above reflects the stones GIA covers for each month.
Birthstone Colors by Month
Birthstone colors fall into five families: red, purple, blue, green and warm neutrals. Thinking in colors is the fastest way to match a birthstone to a wardrobe or to a gift recipient's style.
| Color family | Months and stones |
|---|---|
| Red | January (garnet), July (ruby); August's spinel can also be red |
| Purple and violet | February (amethyst), December (tanzanite) |
| Blue | March (aquamarine), September (sapphire), December (turquoise, blue zircon) |
| Green | May (emerald), August (peridot), March (bloodstone) |
| Warm and neutral | April (colorless diamond), June (pearl, moonstone), October (opal, pink tourmaline), November (topaz, citrine) |
Alexandrite is the outlier. GIA describes June's alexandrite as a color change gem, so one stone can read as two colors depending on the light.
Birthstone Meanings by Month
Birthstone meanings come from folklore, word origins and history, so read them as tradition rather than promise. Each summary below is a quick introduction; the meanings draw on the GIA birthstone guides.
January: Garnet
The name garnet comes from the medieval Latin granatus, meaning "pomegranate," a nod to the red seeds. Garnets have been used as gems since the Bronze Age.
February: Amethyst
Amethyst comes from the Greek amethystos, "a remedy against drunkenness." The purple stone is also linked to inner strength and calm.
March: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin for seawater, and sailors once believed it calmed waves. Bloodstone shares a reputation for protecting well-being.
April: Diamond
Diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning "invincible" or "unbreakable." It symbolizes clarity and strength.
May: Emerald
Emerald has evoked rebirth and renewal for millennia. Cleopatra was known for her passion for emeralds.
June: Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite
Pearl is an organic gem that grows inside a living mollusk and has long stood for purity. Alexandrite is prized for its color change; moonstone for its soft glow.
July: Ruby
In ancient India, ruby was called the "king of precious stones." Ruby is red corundum, colored by traces of chromium.
August: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx
Peridot forms under extreme conditions and has even been found in meteorites. Spinel, added in 2016, gives August a stone in many colors.
September: Sapphire
Sapphire has traditionally symbolized sincerity, truth, faithfulness and nobility. Blue is the classic color, but sapphire comes in a rainbow of shades.
October: Opal and Tourmaline
Europeans long saw opal as a symbol of purity, hope and truth, prized for its shifting play of color. Tourmaline offers a color for every mood.
November: Topaz and Citrine
The word topaz may come from the Sanskrit tapas, "fire," and ancient Greeks believed it gave them strength. Citrine is loved for its sunny yellow to orange hues.
December: Turquoise, Zircon and Tanzanite
Turquoise was cherished in ancient Egypt and believed to bring good fortune. Tanzanite, discovered in 1967, is commercially mined in only one place on Earth.
Which Birthstones Are Best for Everyday Wear?
GIA rates pearl at 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, the softest stone on the modern birthstone chart, while diamond sits at 10 and ruby and sapphire at 9. Hardness is only part of durability: GIA notes that topaz scores 8 yet has poor toughness, so a hard birthstone can still chip from a sharp knock.
Rings and bracelets take the most knocks, so they suit the hardest stones. Earrings and necklaces take far less impact, which makes them the natural home for softer birthstones.
Best for daily rings: diamond (10), ruby and sapphire (9), alexandrite (8.5) and spinel (8). GIA notes that sapphire and alexandrite also have excellent toughness.
Good with some care: aquamarine and emerald (7.5 to 8), tourmaline (7 to 7.5), amethyst and citrine (7), garnet (6.5 to 7.5) and topaz (8, but with poor toughness).
Better as earrings or pendants: pearl, opal, turquoise, moonstone, tanzanite, zircon and peridot. GIA recommends tanzanite for earrings or pendants rather than daily ring wear. Store softer stones apart from harder pieces in a lined jewelry box to prevent scratches.
How to Wear and Gift Your Birthstone
Six of the twelve months on the modern US birthstone chart (March, June, August, October, November and December) list more than one stone, according to GIA. Gift buyers in those months can choose between colors, hardness levels and price points without breaking tradition, because every listed stone counts as the official birthstone.
A small pendant is the easiest way to wear a birthstone daily, since it sits away from impact. EVRY birthstone necklaces include the Faye Birthstone Necklace, the Noa Birthstone Necklace, the Kali Birthstone Necklace and the Celeste Birthstone Necklace. Check the necklace length guide so the stone sits where you want it.
If you prefer to match a color rather than an exact gem, browse gemstone earrings or gemstone rings in your month's shade, and measure your ring size at home first. June birthdays can go straight to pearl earrings.
For gifts, pair the birthstone color with a personal layer from personalized jewelry, or shop the EVRY birthday collection. Zodiac birthstones follow separate astrological lists that do not match this calendar chart, and if your sign matters more than your month, the EVRY zodiac collection is the place to start.
Birthstone Chart FAQ
What are the birthstones for all 12 months?
The 12 modern birthstones are garnet (January), amethyst (February), aquamarine (March), diamond (April), emerald (May), pearl (June), ruby (July), peridot (August), sapphire (September), opal (October), topaz (November) and turquoise (December). Six months add alternates: bloodstone, moonstone, alexandrite, spinel, sardonyx, tourmaline, citrine, zircon and tanzanite. Any stone on the list counts, so you can pick the one whose color or hardness suits you.
Do birthstones change every year?
No. Birthstones do not change from year to year, so February's birthstone in 2026 is amethyst, just as it was on the 1912 list. The US list was created in 1912 and has been updated only three times since, in 1952, 2002 and 2016. A new stone is added only when trade organizations such as the American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America announce it.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Some months have more than one birthstone because the 1912 list already gave several months two stones, and later updates added more. Alexandrite and citrine joined in 1952, tanzanite in 2002 and spinel in 2016. The additions gave buyers more colors and price points, plus harder options next to soft traditional stones such as pearl (2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale) and turquoise (5 to 6).
What is the rarest birthstone?
Tanzanite is often called the rarest birthstone because, according to GIA, it is commercially mined in only one place on Earth: the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania, where it was found in 1967. Fine alexandrite is also scarce, and GIA notes it is one of the more expensive gems because of that scarcity, especially in larger sizes. Rarity varies with quality, so a fine example of any birthstone can be rare.
What are the hardest and softest birthstones?
Diamond, April's birthstone, is the hardest at 10 on the Mohs scale, followed by ruby and sapphire at 9 and alexandrite at 8.5 (GIA). Pearl is the softest at 2.5 to 3, followed by opal at 5 to 6.5 and turquoise at 5 to 6. For a ring worn every day, a stone rated 8 or higher with good toughness is the safer pick. Softer stones shine in earrings and pendants.
Ready to wear your month? Explore the EVRY gemstone necklaces collection and find the color that feels like you.
