Birthstones by Month: Meanings and Colors

Quick answer: The modern US birthstones are: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, alexandrite or moonstone, July ruby, August peridot, spinel or sardonyx, September sapphire, October opal or tourmaline, November topaz or citrine, and December turquoise, tanzanite, zircon or blue topaz. For everyday rings, harder choices like diamond, sapphire and ruby last best; many people also use colored diamonds or moissanite to capture a birthstone color with extra durability.

Birthstone jewelry makes personal, meaningful gifts. Here is a simple guide.

Birthstones by Month

Month	Birthstone	Color	Mohs hardness
January	Garnet	Deep red	6.5 to 7.5
February	Amethyst	Purple	7
March	Aquamarine	Light blue	7.5 to 8
April	Diamond	Colorless	10
May	Emerald	Green	7.5 to 8
June	Pearl, alexandrite, moonstone	White, color-change, milky	2.5 to 8.5
July	Ruby	Red	9
August	Peridot, spinel, sardonyx	Lime green, varied	6.5 to 8
September	Sapphire	Blue	9
October	Opal, tourmaline	Multicolor, pink	5.5 to 7.5
November	Topaz, citrine	Golden yellow	7 to 8
December	Turquoise, tanzanite, zircon, blue topaz	Blue	5 to 8

Durable Birthstone Alternatives

Softer birthstones can scratch in everyday rings. Colored lab diamonds, sapphires and colored moissanite offer similar colors with more durability:

Pink tones (October): pink lab diamond or pink sapphire.
Yellow (November): yellow lab diamond or yellow moissanite.
Green (May, August): green lab diamond or green moissanite.
Blue (March, September, December): blue sapphire or blue lab diamond.

Shown: Fancy Intense Pink Oval Cut Floral Halo Lab Diamond Ring

Birthstone Jewelry Ideas

A mother's ring with each child's birthstone.
A birthstone pendant for a birthday or graduation.
Birthstone accents inside a wedding band.
Stackable rings, one for each family member.

Colored Stones at Ivevar

We handcraft colored lab diamond, sapphire and moissanite jewelry in our Surat workshop, including custom birthstone pieces. Every piece ships free worldwide, with 30-day easy returns. Browse fancy color rings and the rainbow collection.

Shop Colorful Birthstone Alternatives

Pink Oval Floral HaloShop Now

Pink Oval Double HaloShop Now

Vivid Yellow Oval HaloShop Now

Pink Radiant Five StoneShop Now

2.03ct Vivid Green HeartShop Now

3.29ct Intense Blue HeartShop Now

Swipe to see more → | View fancy color rings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the April birthstone?

Diamond.

Which birthstones are best for everyday rings?

Diamond, ruby and sapphire, all 9 or 10 on the Mohs scale.

Why do some months have several birthstones?

Lists have been updated over time to add options.

Can I use a colored diamond instead?

Yes, for a similar color with more durability.

Are birthstones good gifts?

Yes, they are personal and meaningful.

The Bottom Line

Birthstones add meaning to jewelry. For everyday rings, choose durable stones or colored diamond and moissanite alternatives.

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Author Bio

Aumsri Pradhan

Founder, Ivevar Luxury

Aumsri Pradhan is the founder of Ivevar Luxury, a Surat-based fine jewelry brand that designs and handcrafts lab grown diamond and moissanite jewelry in its own workshop. She leads the brand's design and customer experience, from engagement rings and bridal sets to custom pieces made to each client's story. Through the Ivevar blog, she shares practical guidance on lab grown diamonds, moissanite, diamond grading and ring design to help buyers choose with confidence.

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