May birthstone

May birthstone: Emerald

The May birthstone is Emerald. A green variety of the mineral beryl, colored by chromium and vanadium. One of the "big four" gems with diamond, ruby and sapphire.

Emerald

A green variety of the mineral beryl, colored by chromium and vanadium. One of the "big four" gems with diamond, ruby and sapphire.

Colors: Deep, vivid green; deep green with even color is valued most
Mohs hardness: 7.5 to 8
Everyday wear: Wear with care
Found in: Colombia (some of the finest), Zambia (often darker, with bluish undertones), Brazil (often lighter)

Cleopatra was known for her love of emeralds.

Emerald meaning, colors and care →

May birthstone gift ideas

The right piece depends on how tough the stone is. These suggestions follow GIA's hardness and toughness notes for each stone.

Stone	Best as	Why
Emerald	Pendants and earrings, or a protected ring	Can chip or scratch, so a pendant or earrings is the safer gift. For a ring, choose a protective bezel setting and occasional wear.

For a mom: a pendant or bracelet with each child's birthstone. Mix tougher stones with delicate ones only in pendants.
For a partner: stud earrings or a simple pendant in her own stone are easy to wear with anything.
Before you buy: ask whether the stone has been treated, and get it in writing. Treatments change how a stone should be cleaned.

See every month in our birthstone gift guide by month.

Traditional May birthstones

Before the US list was standardized in 1912, the traditional stones for May were: Emerald, agate. How the list changed.

Caring for Emerald

Emerald: warm soapy water: safest method, with gentle scrubbing; ultrasonic: risky: vibrations can weaken stones with fractures; steam: risky: hot steam can force oil or resin out of fractures. Details

Frequently asked questions

What is the May birthstone?

Emerald. A green variety of the mineral beryl, colored by chromium and vanadium. One of the "big four" gems with diamond, ruby and sapphire.

What color is the May birthstone?

Emerald: deep, vivid green; deep green with even color is valued most.

Is the May birthstone durable?

Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale (wear with care).

Sources: American Gem Society: Birthstones, GIA: The Beauty of Birthstones, and the GIA care guide and AGS overview for each stone (linked on its page). Checked October 16, 2026.