The May birthstone is emerald, the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Emerald has held May on the American birthstone list since 1912, rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, and has long symbolized rebirth and renewal. Agate is May's older traditional alternate, and the UK list adds chrysoprase.
This guide goes deep on May only. For every month at a glance, see the birthstone chart by month.
What Is the May Birthstone?
Emerald is the official May birthstone in the United States, recognized by the American Gem Society. Its green color comes mainly from trace chromium, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
| May birthstone fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Modern birthstone | Emerald |
| Alternates | Agate (traditional), chrysoprase (UK list) |
| Mineral | Beryl |
| Color | Green to bluish green |
| Mohs hardness | 7.5 to 8 |
| Main sources | Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan |
| Anniversaries | 20th and 35th |
| Birth flowers | Lily of the valley and hawthorn |
Colombia has supplied the finest emeralds for more than 500 years, with Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez as its best known mines, per GIA's May birthstone guide. Zambia is a major African source, and Brazil, Pakistan and Afghanistan are important producers too.
Why Emerald Became the May Birthstone
Emerald became the official May birthstone in August 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) met in Kansas City and adopted a standard list. The 1912 list kept emerald alone for May, and later American updates never changed it, which makes May one of the most stable months on the modern birthstone chart (Birthstone history).
Older European traditions paired emerald with agate for May. The 1912 American list named emerald alone, so agate survives today only on traditional charts.
The UK took a different path. The National Association of Goldsmiths list of 2013 names emerald for May with chrysoprase as an alternative. That is why some charts show two May stones and others show one.
| Year or era | List | May stones |
|---|---|---|
| 15th to 20th century | Traditional European lists | Emerald, agate |
| 1912 | US, National Association of Jewelers | Emerald |
| 2013 | UK, National Association of Goldsmiths | Emerald, chrysoprase |
| Today | US modern list | Emerald |
Emerald Color, Meaning and Lore
Emerald means rebirth, renewal, love and growth in birthstone tradition. The name comes from smaragdos, ancient Greek for a green gem, per GIA.
The lore is rich. Legend held that emerald made its wearer more intelligent and quick witted, that placing one under the tongue revealed the future, and that it exposed lovers who made false promises. Cleopatra was known for her passion for emerald, and the stone was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. Treat those stories as history, not health advice.
Emerald color ranges from pure green to bluish green. GIA uses lab graded comparison stones to decide whether a green beryl is saturated enough to be called emerald, so a pale green beryl may not qualify. Most natural emeralds also show inclusions, often called jardin, the French word for garden.
Emerald vs Chrysoprase vs Green Agate
Emerald is the hardest and usually the most valuable of the three May options, while chrysoprase and green agate offer a softer, more opaque green at a lower price tier. Chrysoprase and agate both belong to chalcedony, a fine grained form of quartz.
| Stone | Mohs hardness | Color range | Relative price tier | Everyday wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | 7.5 to 8 | Green to bluish green, transparent | Highest of the three | Good in protective settings; often fracture filled |
| Chrysoprase | 6.5 to 7 | Apple green to deeper green, translucent | Lower | Fair; some stones fade in sun or heat |
| Green agate | 6.5 to 7 | Banded or solid green, translucent to opaque | Lower | Fair; avoid hard knocks; often dyed |
Chrysoprase gets its apple green color from nickel, while emerald gets its green mainly from chromium. Chrysoprase rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale versus 7.5 to 8 for emerald, and dyed or European chrysoprase may fade in sunlight or heat, so chrysoprase suits pendants and earrings better than daily rings (International Gem Society; GIA).
Price tiers here are relative. Fine chrysoprase commands much lower prices than the green gems it resembles, according to the International Gem Society, and any stone rises in price with size, color and clarity.
Emerald Stone, Emerald Cut and Emerald Green Are Not the Same
An emerald stone is the gem itself, an emerald cut is a shape, and emerald green is a color name. Mixing them up is the most common May birthstone shopping mistake.
- Emerald stone: the green beryl gem described above.
- Emerald cut: a rectangular step cut with cut corners. Any gem can wear it, including clear stones. A rectangular pendant like the Kali Birthstone Necklace shows the shape.
- Emerald green: a color description used for glass, crystal, enamel and other materials.
Read product descriptions for the actual stone material. A piece named for its color or cut is not automatically a natural emerald.
How to Care for Emerald Jewelry
GIA advises never putting an emerald in an ultrasonic cleaner. Emerald often carries oils, waxes or artificial resins that fill surface reaching fractures, and vibration can disturb those fillers. The safest routine for emerald jewelry is a gentle scrub with a soft brush and warm, soapy water, followed by a careful dry (GIA).
- Clean with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush.
- Skip ultrasonic machines, steam cleaners and harsh household chemicals.
- Take emerald rings off for gym sessions, gardening and heavy cleaning.
- Store emerald pieces separately so harder stones cannot scratch them.
- Ask a jeweler to check prongs and settings once a year if you wear the piece daily.
Emerald is more susceptible to scratching than diamond, so bezel and protective settings make sense for rings. For chrysoprase, add one rule: keep it out of long, direct sun.
How to Wear and Gift the May Birthstone
Wear the May birthstone near the face or on the hand where green reads clearly against skin and metal. Gold tones warm up green stones; silver tones cool them down.
Earrings are the easiest start. The Emerald Dream Hoop Earrings pair a hoop with an oval emerald green drop that slots into an ear stack. Browse more color options in gemstone earrings, and plan placements with the earring stack guide.
For rings, the Evergreen Stacked Ring brings a band of green stones to a ring stack. Compare more styles in gemstone rings and balance them using how to stack rings.
For a May birthday gift, a birthstone necklace feels personal without being loud. Look at the Faye Birthstone Necklace and the Noa Birthstone Necklace, check each page for current stone options, or explore gemstone necklaces and the birthday collection.
May Birthstone FAQ
What are the two birthstones for May?
The two May birthstones most charts show are emerald and either agate or chrysoprase. Emerald is the official modern stone on the US list adopted in 1912. Agate appears in older traditional European lists, while chrysoprase is the alternative on the UK list published in 2013. If you want the standard American answer, choose emerald. If you prefer a softer, more affordable green, chrysoprase or green agate keeps the May color story with a lower price tier.
What color is the May birthstone?
The May birthstone is green. Emerald ranges from pure green to bluish green, and its color comes mainly from trace chromium, according to GIA. Chrysoprase shows an apple green from nickel, and green agate can be solid or banded. When shopping, look for a saturated, even green with good transparency in emerald. A very pale green beryl may not be graded as emerald at all, because GIA uses comparison stones to set that color threshold.
Is emerald good for everyday wear?
Emerald can be worn every day with some care. Emerald rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, harder than quartz but softer than sapphire or diamond, and most stones carry natural inclusions plus oil or resin fillers. Choose bezel or protective settings for rings, remove them for sports and cleaning, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Earrings and pendants face fewer knocks, so they are the easiest way to wear emerald daily.
What is May's birthstone and flower?
May's birthstone is emerald and May's birth flowers are lily of the valley and hawthorn, per The Old Farmer's Almanac. Lily of the valley is linked with sweetness and the return of happiness, and hawthorn with hope. Both flowers bloom in spring, which matches emerald's 2 core themes of rebirth and renewal. Pairing the stone with a floral motif makes a thoughtful May birthday gift.
Who should not wear an emerald?
No gemological rule says anyone should avoid emerald. The question comes from astrology traditions, which assign stones to planets and signs, and those beliefs vary by tradition. From a practical view, emerald is less ideal for people who work with their hands all day, because a 7.5 to 8 hardness stone with fillers can chip or lose clarity under hard knocks. Those wearers can choose emerald earrings or a pendant instead of a ring.
What anniversary is emerald for?
Emerald is the gemstone for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries, according to GIA. That makes emerald a double use stone: a May birthday gift and a milestone anniversary gift. For an anniversary, an emerald or emerald green piece in a protective setting suits daily wear better than a delicate prong ring. Pair it with a card that explains the stone's meaning of love, growth and renewal.
Ready to wear your May green? Start with the EVRY gemstone earrings collection, then see how emerald fits the full year in the birthstone chart by month.
