Table of Contents
- What Are Birthstones of the Month?
- The History of Monthly Birthstones
- Complete Birthstone Chart: January Through December
- How Birthstones Are Assigned to Each Month
- How to Choose Meaningful Birthstone Jewelry
- FAQ About Birthstones
- Find Your Perfect Birthstone Piece
What Are Birthstones of the Month?
Birthstones of the month are specific gemstones associated with each of the 12 calendar months, offering a personalized connection between the wearer and their birth month. The modern birthstone list, standardized by the Jewelers of America in 1912 and later updated by the American Gem Trade Association, assigns at least one gemstone to each month, with some months having multiple options. January claims garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl and alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal and tourmaline, November topaz and citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. According to a 2023 National Retail Federation survey, birthstone jewelry accounts for approximately $4.3 billion in annual U.S. sales, making it one of the most commercially significant categories in the jewelry industry.
Birthstones serve as more than decorative gems — they carry centuries of cultural meaning and personal significance. A 2024 survey by The Knot found that 37% of engagement ring buyers considered their partner birthstone when selecting a gemstone for the ring, and 52% of mothers own at least one piece of birthstone jewelry representing their children. From ancient breastplates to modern personalized necklaces, birthstones create a tangible link between jewelry and identity that resonates across generations.
The History of Monthly Birthstones
The concept of birthstones traces back to the Breastplate of Aaron described in the biblical Book of Exodus (circa 6th century BCE), which featured 12 gemstones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Over the following centuries, scholars including Flavius Josephus (1st century CE) and St. Jerome (4th century CE) drew connections between these 12 stones, the 12 months of the year, and the 12 zodiac signs. By the 8th and 9th centuries, the practice of wearing a different gemstone each month — and eventually one stone corresponding to your birth month — had spread throughout Europe and the Middle East.
The modern birthstone list took shape in 1912 when the Jewelers of America (then called the National Association of Jewelers) held a convention in Kansas City to standardize the list for commercial purposes. This was a practical move — before standardization, different regions and jewelers used different gemstones for the same month, creating confusion for consumers. The American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite as an additional December birthstone in 2002, and spinel as an additional August birthstone in 2016. These modern updates reflect both the discovery of new gemstone deposits and the jewelry industry ongoing effort to provide options at different price points — for example, spinel offers a more affordable August alternative to peridot for some buyers.
Complete Birthstone Chart: January Through December
- January — Garnet: Deep red, though also found in green, orange, and pink varieties. Measures 7.0-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Major sources: India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka. Symbolizes protection and friendship.
- February — Amethyst: Purple quartz crystal, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet. Hardness: 7.0. Primary sources: Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia. Historically associated with clarity of mind — ancient Greeks believed it prevented intoxication.
- March — Aquamarine: Pale blue to blue-green beryl crystal. Hardness: 7.5-8.0. Main source: Brazil (accounts for 70% of global supply). Named from Latin “aqua marina” meaning seawater.
- April — Diamond: The hardest natural material on Earth (10 on the Mohs scale). Formed 1-3 billion years ago deep in the Earth mantle. Symbol of enduring strength and clarity.
- May — Emerald: Rich green beryl, valued for over 4,000 years. Hardness: 7.5-8.0. Colombia supplies 50-60% of the world emeralds. Cleopatra famously adorned herself and her palace with emeralds.
- June — Pearl / Alexandrite: Pearl is the only gemstone produced by a living creature (mollusks). Alexandrite, discovered in Russia in 1830, displays a rare color-change from green in daylight to red in incandescent light.
- July — Ruby: Red corundum, the second hardest natural gemstone after diamond (9.0 on Mohs scale). The finest rubies — from Myanmar Mogok Valley — can command higher per-carat prices than diamonds.
- August — Peridot / Spinel: Peridot is one of the few gemstones that exists in only one color (olive green). Formed in the Earth mantle and brought to the surface by volcanic activity. Spinel was added in 2016.
- September — Sapphire: Blue corundum, though fancy sapphires exist in pink, yellow, green, and other colors. Hardness: 9.0. Kashmir sapphires (from a now-depleted mine active 1881-1887) remain the most sought-after.
- October — Opal / Tourmaline: Opals contain up to 20% water and display a unique play-of-color — Australia produces 95% of the world precious opals. Tourmaline occurs in more colors than any other gemstone.
- November — Topaz / Citrine: Topaz in its pure form is colorless; impurities create blue, pink, and golden varieties. Citrine is a yellow-to-orange quartz, with Brazil as the primary source for both gemstones.
- December — Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircon: Turquoise has been mined for over 5,000 years, with the earliest known mines in Egypt Sinai Peninsula (circa 3000 BCE). Tanzanite is found exclusively in a 7-square-kilometer area near Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania — making it 1,000 times rarer than diamond.
How Birthstones Are Assigned to Each Month
Birthstones are assigned to months through a combination of ancient tradition and modern industry standardization. The original connection came from the 12 gems on the Breastplate of Aaron, which early scholars linked to the 12 zodiac signs and later to the Gregorian calendar months. The 1912 Jewelers of America standardization was driven by commercial practicality — retailers needed a consistent list to market birthstone jewelry effectively across the United States. This list was subsequently adopted internationally, with minor regional variations (for example, the British National Association of Goldsmiths published its own version in 1937, differing slightly on a few months).
The selection of a particular gemstone for a given month depends on several factors: historical precedent (some associations date back over 2,000 years), gemstone availability at a range of price points, and cultural resonance. Modern additions are made sparingly — only two stones have been added since 1912 (tanzanite in 2002 and spinel in 2016) — to maintain the list integrity and consumer recognition. The American Gem Trade Association and the International Colored Gemstone Association jointly oversee any proposed changes, ensuring the list remains both authoritative and commercially practical.
How to Choose Meaningful Birthstone Jewelry
Selecting birthstone jewelry involves balancing personal meaning, aesthetic preference, and practical considerations. For personal birthstone pieces, the choice is straightforward: wear your own birth month gemstone as a celebration of your identity and season of birth. For gifts, birthstone jewelry carries exceptional emotional weight — a mother necklace with birthstones representing each of her children, for example, is one of the most popular personalized jewelry categories, with Etsy reporting over 2.3 million searches for “birthstone necklace for mom” in 2023 alone.
When selecting a birthstone piece, consider the gemstone durability. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires (hardness 9-10 on the Mohs scale) are suitable for daily-wear rings that face frequent contact. Softer stones like pearls (2.5-4.5) and opals (5.5-6.5) are better suited for necklaces and earrings that experience less abrasion. For rings intended for everyday wear, a hardness of at least 7.0 is recommended — garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, and peridot all meet this threshold. Metal choice also matters: sterling silver and gold both pair beautifully with birthstones, with 14K gold being the most common setting metal (63% of birthstone jewelry sold in the U.S. uses 14K gold, per 2023 industry data).
FAQ About Birthstones
Can I wear a birthstone that is not my birth month? Absolutely. There are no rules restricting which gemstones you can enjoy. Many people wear multiple birthstones representing family members, or simply choose gemstones whose colors and meanings resonate with them personally.
What if my birth month has multiple birthstones? You have options — and that is a feature, not a bug. June babies, for example, can choose between the classic elegance of pearls, the color-shifting mystery of alexandrite, or the iridescence of moonstone. Multiple options allow you to select a stone that matches your budget, style, and ethical preferences (lab-grown versions are available for many birthstones).
How do I verify that a birthstone is genuine? Purchase from reputable jewelers who provide gemstone identification details and, for higher-value stones, a grading report from an independent laboratory such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA reports include verified measurements, treatments (if any), and origin information. For everyday birthstone jewelry, look for sellers who clearly label “natural” versus “synthetic” stones — transparency in labeling is a strong indicator of a trustworthy source.
Find Your Perfect Birthstone Piece
Birthstones of the month offer a uniquely personal way to wear jewelry that tells your story. With a history spanning over 2,000 years, a standardized modern list maintained by industry authorities, and annual U.S. sales exceeding $4.3 billion, birthstone jewelry is not a passing trend — it is one of the most enduring traditions in personal adornment. Whether you are celebrating your own birth month, honoring children or loved ones with a family birthstone piece, or gifting a meaningful gem to someone special, the perfect birthstone awaits. Explore the BCC birthstone jewelry collection to discover rings, necklaces, and bracelets crafted with genuine gemstones and thoughtful design.
