Birthstone Guide

Although dating back to biblical times, the custom of wearing Birthstones in Europe first became popular in Poland in the 16th century. By the 17th century, gemstones had become firmly associated with specific months of the year. Wealthy members of society would wear each months stone over the course of that month in order to be in harmony with the celestial spirits. As the months changed, the wearer hoped each stone would bring them the specific properties associated with each celestial period. For instance, Garnet would bring the wearer tranquility, protect against fevers as well as harm during travel. Whilst Ruby would bring clarity of mind and protect against harm from natural causes. This meant each individual had to invest in a set of twelve gemstones and a piece of jewellery with which to wear them. By the 18th century, probably as a financial necessity, society members began wearing only the gemstone that represented their birth month. Nowadays Birthstones are offered as gifts to symbolize the qualities attributed to the month of birth of the recipient.

What Are The Twelve Birthstones By Month

For historical, national and commercial reasons there are actually more than twelve birthstones and the number depends on the Birthstones Chart that you follow. Below you will find the Official British Birthstones List and the Official American Birthstones List along with an indication of whether birthstone beads or gemstones are Traditional Birthstones, a Modern Birthstones or Alternative Birthstones. Each entry comes with a description of the traditional Birthstones Meanings as well as a Birthstones Colours Chart.

For a wider understanding of each gemstone in these Birthstones Lists please see our Gemstones and Minerals Guide for each birthstone. This Gemstone Glossary provides the physical characteristics of each stone plus colour variations, history, sources, therapeutic properties, and the traditional meanings of gemstones.

The Official British Birthstones List

Defined in 1937

	JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Garnet Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety of colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows Birthstones Meaning – Eternity, Faith, Friendship, Loyalty, Purity and Truth
	FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Amethyst Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones Birthstones Meaning – Balance, Calmness, Courage, Health, Peace, Sincerity, Stability and Strength
	MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Aquamarine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens Birthstones Meaning – Awareness, Clarity, Courage, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding
	MARCH BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Bloodstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Dark Green and Red Birthstones Meaning – Courage, Creativity, Friendship, Health, Relationships
	APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Diamond Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear Birthstones Meaning – Courage, Eternity, Relationships and Strength
	APRIL BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Rock Crystal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear Birthstones Meaning – Awareness, Eternity, Courage, and Health
	MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Emerald Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green hues Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Fidelity, Faithfulness, Friendship and Loyalty
	MAY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Chrysoprase Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Healing, Hope, Insight & Love
	JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Pearl Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Iridescent Birthstones Meaning – Beauty, Chastity, Friendship, Loyalty, Modesty, Nobility, Peace and Purity
	JUNE BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Moonstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Foresight, Good Luck, Intuition and Passion
	JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Ruby Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red Birthstones Meaning – Confidence, Courage, Devotion, Enthusiasm, Happiness, Integrity, Prosperity and Success
	JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Carnelian Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Red Birthstones Meaning – Energy, Enthusiasm and Even Temperament
	JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Onyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Black Birthstones Meaning – Comfort, Relaxation and Self Confidence
	AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Peridot Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Lime Green hues Birthstones Meaning – Faithfulness, Fame, Love, Loyalty, Success and Truth
	AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Sardonyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown Birthstones Meaning – Friendship, Happiness, Integrity, Stability, Stamina and Willpower
	SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Sapphire Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow Birthstones Meaning – Constancy, Intuition, Serenity, Sincerity and Truth
	SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Lapis Lazuli Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Serenity and Truth
	OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Opal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues Birthstones Meaning – Health, Hope, Innocence and Purity
	OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Tourmaline Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Multi Coloured Birthstones Meaning – Health, Hope, Purity and Vision
	NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Topaz Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue Birthstones Meaning – Constancy, Courage, Faithfulness, Friendship, Loyalty, Peace and Wisdom
	NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE Citrine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Energy, Happiness, Joy, Optimism and Relationships
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Tanzanite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Birthstones Meaning – Communication, Compassion and Self Awareness
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Turquoise Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Green , Teal and Aqua tones Birthstones Meaning – Creativity, Happiness, Good Luck, Prosperity, Success and Wisdom

The Official American Birthstones List

In 1912, in an effort to standardize Birthstones, the organizations associated with the Jewelers of America officially adopted a list of gemstones, detailed as Traditional in the table below. The list was not changed until 1952 when a nationwide survey of men’s buying preferences showed that the available choice between June and December was not being followed and that a new buying pattern had emerged. These changes are detailed as Modern in the table below. More recently two attempts were made to add Tanzanite as December’s stone. Although December already had two stones representing it the American Gem Trade Association announced in 2002 that they had added tanzanite to December’s birthstone list Later in 2006 the Tanzanite cartel decided that a new marketing strategy would help their business and announced that Tanzanite would be a birthstone not just for a particular month of the year but should be presented on the birth of each child, no matter which month they were born in. The Jewelers of America accepted the idea hoping it would help increase sales of birthstone jewellery. This list is currently the most widely used in the United States, Canada and many other locations including the Far East and Australia. (Source: The American National Association of Jewelers)

	JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Garnet Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red though also available in a wide variety colours including Greens, Oranges and Yellows Birthstones Meaning – Eternity, Faith, Friendship, Loyalty, Purity and Truth
	FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Amethyst Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Purple and Violet tones Birthstones Meaning – Balance, Calmness, Courage, Health, Peace, Sincerity, Stability and Strength
	MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Aquamarine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Pale Blue but available in a variety of hues from Sea Blues to Deep Greens Birthstones Meaning – Awareness, Clarity, Courage, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding
	MARCH BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Bloodstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Dark Green & Red Birthstones Meaning – Courage, Creativity, Friendship, Health, Relationships
	APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Diamond Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White or Clear Birthstones Meaning – Courage, Eternity, Relationships and Strength
	MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Emerald Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green hues Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Fidelity, Faithfulness, Friendship and Loyalty
	JUNE BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Alexandrite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Green Birthstones Meaning – Confidence, Joy and Love
	JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Moonstone Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Foresight, Good Luck, Intuition and Passion
	JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Pearl Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White Iridescent Birthstones Meaning – Beauty, Chastity, Friendship, Loyalty, Modesty, Nobility, Peace and Purity
	JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Ruby Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Red Birthstones Meaning – Confidence, Courage, Devotion, Enthusiasm, Happiness, Integrity, Prosperity and Success
	AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Peridot Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Light Green hues Birthstones Meaning – Faithfulness, Fame, Love, Loyalty, Success and Truth
	AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Sardonyx Birthstones Birthstones Colour – White & Reddish Brown Birthstones Meaning – Friendship, Happiness, Integrity, Stability, Stamina and Willpower
	SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Sapphire Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Deep Blue or Indigo but also Pink and Yellow Birthstones Meaning – Constancy, Intuition, Serenity, Sincerity and Truth
	OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Opal Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Rainbow Iridescent hues Birthstones Meaning – Health, Hope, Innocence and Purity
	OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Tourmaline Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Multi Coloured Birthstones Meaning – Health, Hope, Purity and Vision
	NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Yellow Topaz Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow through to Bright Blue Birthstones Meaning – Constancy, Courage, Faithfulness, Friendship, Loyalty, Peace and Wisdom
	NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Citrine Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Yellow Birthstones Meaning – Clarity, Energy, Happiness, Joy, Optimism and Relationships
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Tanzanite Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Birthstones Meaning – Communication, Compassion and Self Awareness
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN Zircon Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Birthstones Meaning – Honour, Self Esteem, Wealth and Wisdom
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Turquoise Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Green, Teal and Aqua tones Birthstones Meaning – Creativity, Happiness, Good Luck, Prosperity, Success and Wisdom
	DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL Blue Topaz Birthstones Birthstones Colour – Blue Birthstones Meaning – Calming, Fidelity, Happiness, Love and Luck

If that is not enough choice there are also Birthstones Lists for the hour, day of the week, and season! This article ends with a Day of the Week Birthstones List which identifies a Birthstone for the day of a persons birth:

Day of the Week Birthstones List

	MONDAY BIRTHSTONES Pearl Birthstones
	TUESDAY BIRTHSTONES Ruby Birthstones
	WEDNESDAY BIRTHSTONES Amethyst Birthstones
	THURSDAY BIRTHSTONES Sapphire Birthstones
	FRIDAY BIRTHSTONES Carnelian Birthstones
	SATURDAY BIRTHSTONES Turquoise Birthstones
	SUNDAY BIRTHSTONES Topaz Birthstones

Birthstone Guide

What Are The Twelve Birthstones By Month

The Official British Birthstones List

JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MARCH BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

APRIL BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MAY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

JUNE BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

JULY BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – ALTERNATIVE

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

The Official American Birthstones List

JANUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MARCH BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MARCH BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

APRIL BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

MAY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

JUNE BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

JUNE BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

JULY BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

AUGUST BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

SEPTEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – MODERN

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONES – TRADITIONAL

Day of the Week Birthstones List

MONDAY BIRTHSTONES

TUESDAY BIRTHSTONES

WEDNESDAY BIRTHSTONES

THURSDAY BIRTHSTONES

FRIDAY BIRTHSTONES

SATURDAY BIRTHSTONES

SUNDAY BIRTHSTONES

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