Checked October 16, 2026
Birthstone chart: birthstones by month, with colors
Every month's modern birthstones as listed by the American Gem Society, with each stone's main colors, Mohs hardness and how well it stands up to everyday wear. Click any stone for its full guide.
| Month | Birthstones | Colors | Mohs | Everyday wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | red, green, purple, brown, black, blue | 6.5 to 7.5 | Good for everyday wear |
| February | Amethyst | purple | 7 | Good for everyday wear |
| March | Aquamarine | blue | 7.5 to 8 | Good for everyday wear |
| Bloodstone | green | n/a | ||
| April | Diamond | white, yellow, pink, blue, black | 10 | Great for everyday rings |
| May | Emerald | green | 7.5 to 8 | Wear with care |
| June | Pearl | white, pink, black, yellow | 2.5 | Delicate |
| Alexandrite | green, red, purple | 8.5 | Great for everyday rings | |
| Moonstone | white, blue | 6 to 6.5 | Delicate | |
| July | Ruby | red, pink | 9 | Great for everyday rings |
| August | Peridot | green, yellow | 6.5 to 7 | Wear with care |
| Spinel | red, blue, pink, orange, purple, green, black | 8 | Good for everyday wear | |
| Sardonyx | brown, orange, white, black | 6.5 to 7 | Wear with care | |
| September | Sapphire | blue, white, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black | 9 | Great for everyday rings |
| October | Opal | white, black, blue, green, orange | 5 to 6.5 | Delicate |
| Tourmaline | pink, red, green, blue, brown, black, yellow | 7 to 7.5 | Wear with care | |
| November | Topaz | orange, yellow, blue, pink, white | 8 | Wear with care |
| Citrine | yellow, orange | 7 | Good for everyday wear | |
| December | Turquoise | blue, green | 5 to 6 | Delicate |
| Tanzanite | blue, purple | 6 to 7 | Wear with care | |
| Zircon | red, orange, yellow, green, blue, brown, white | 6 to 7.5 | Wear with care |
Lists: American Gem Society: Birthstones and GIA: The Beauty of Birthstones. Hardness and wear notes: GIA care guides (linked on each gem page).
Why some months have more than one birthstone
March, October and November have two birthstones, and June, August and December have three. The extra stones were added by the jewelry trade to give more choice of color and price:
- 1912: The National Association of Jewelers (now Jewelers of America) adopted a standard US list at its meeting in Kansas City.
- 1952: The Jewelry Industry Council of America updated the list, adding alexandrite (June), citrine (November) and pink tourmaline (October), and replacing lapis lazuli with zircon in December.
- 2002: The American Gem Trade Association added tanzanite for December.
- 2016: The American Gem Trade Association and Jewelers of America added spinel for August.
GIA's own list names one main stone for most months (two for October, November and December). Read the full history.
Birthstone colors at a glance
Swatches show a typical color for each stone; most gems come in several colors.
The traditional birthstones
Before the US list was set in 1912, stones varied by country. These are the traditional stones used from roughly the 15th to the 20th century:
| Month | Traditional | Modern |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst, hyacinth, pearl | Amethyst |
| March | Bloodstone, jasper | Aquamarine and Bloodstone |
| April | Diamond, sapphire | Diamond |
| May | Emerald, agate | Emerald |
| June | Cat's eye, turquoise, agate | Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone |
| July | Turquoise, onyx | Ruby |
| August | Sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz | Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx |
| September | Chrysolite | Sapphire |
| October | Opal, aquamarine | Opal and Tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, pearl | Topaz and Citrine |
| December | Bloodstone, ruby | Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon |
Traditional column: Wikipedia: Birthstone (history of the US list).
Frequently asked questions
What are the 12 birthstones?
January: Garnet; February: Amethyst; March: Aquamarine and Bloodstone; April: Diamond; May: Emerald; June: Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone; July: Ruby; August: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx; September: Sapphire; October: Opal and Tourmaline; November: Topaz and Citrine; December: Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon.
Which month has the most birthstones?
June, August and December have three each. June: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone. August: peridot, spinel and sardonyx. December: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
Which birthstone is the hardest?
Diamond (April), at 10 on the Mohs scale. Ruby and sapphire (9) come next, then alexandrite (8.5).