Birthstone Chart by Month: Colors and Meanings

Every birth month carries its own gemstone. Each holding a story tied to color, history and meaning. A birthstone chart by month turns this ancient tradition into a simple guide anyone can use for gifting or self-discovery.

From January's fiery garnet to December's calming turquoise, this guide walks through every stone's color and symbolism. At Venust Diamonds, we believe understanding these gems adds deeper meaning to every piece of jewelry you choose.

What Is a Birthstone?

A birthstone is a gemstone connected to a person's birth month, worn as a symbol of luck and personal identity. This tradition dates back centuries, rooted in the twelve gemstones from the Book of Exodus.

Every birthstone chart by month follows this same structure, pairing each month with a gemstone based on color and history. People also use the birthstones by month chart to select gifts for family, friends or partners.

Birthstone Chart by Month

The table below lays out a complete birthstone chart by month and meaning, including the birthstone color for the month of March.

This birthstones by month chart offers a quick snapshot before the details below.

Modern vs Traditional Birthstones

Traditional birthstones trace back centuries, tied to ancient calendars and cultural beliefs. Modern birthstones were standardized in 1912, adding transparent, durable stones suited to contemporary jewelry-making.

Some months carry both a traditional and a modern stone including June, August, October, November, December. This is why every birthstone chart by month and meaning includes two options for these months.

How to Find Your Birthstone

Finding your birthstone starts with the chart above, though other methods make it more personal. Pairing your chosen stone with the right Types of Diamond Cuts setting brings out its color and brilliance. Color preference, zodiac sign or personal meaning can also help you choose the birthstone that feels right.

• By Birth Month: Match your calendar month to its official stone using the chart above.

• By Color: Choose a shade that fits your style, since many gemstones share similar tones.

• By Zodiac Sign: Astrology-based stones add meaning beyond the calendar system.

• By Meaning: Select a stone whose symbolism matches your personality, whether courage, love or wisdom.

January Birthstone: Garnet

• Month: January

• Modern Birthstone: Garnet

• Traditional Birthstone: Garnet

• Birthstone Color: Deep Red

• Meaning: Protection, strength and lasting friendship

• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5

Garnet's main color is deep red, though green, orange and purple varieties also exist naturally. The name comes from the Latin word pomegranate. Ancient warriors wore it for protection during battle. Today, it symbolizes trust, strength and lasting friendship.

February Birthstone: Amethyst

• Month: February

• Modern Birthstone: Amethyst

• Traditional Birthstone: Amethyst

• Birthstone Color: Purple

• Meaning: Peace, clarity and spiritual wisdom

• Mohs Hardness: 7

Amethyst ranges from pale lilac to deep violet, prized for its rich purple hue. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning "sober," since ancient Greeks believed it guarded against intoxication. Long linked to royalty, it now symbolizes peace, clarity and calm wisdom.

March Birthstone: Aquamarine

• Month: March

• Modern Birthstone: Aquamarine

• Traditional Birthstone: Bloodstone

• Birthstone Color: Light Blue

• Meaning: Calm, courage and serenity

• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 – 8

Aquamarine displays a light, clear blue reminiscent of ocean water, giving the stone its Latin name meaning "seawater." Sailors once carried it for protection during long voyages. Today, this birthstone color for the month of March represents calm, courage and lasting serenity.

April Birthstone: Diamond

• Month: April

• Modern Birthstone: Diamond

• Traditional Birthstone: Diamond

• Birthstone Color: Clear or White

• Meaning: Strength, love and eternal commitment

• Mohs Hardness: 10

Diamond is prized for its clear, colorless brilliance and unmatched hardness, scoring a perfect ten on the Mohs scale. Its clarity has long symbolized purity, strength and eternal love. Many now compare its sparkle to moissanite, a durable and brilliant alternative worth considering.

May Birthstone: Emerald

• Month: May

• Modern Birthstone: Emerald

• Traditional Birthstone: Emerald

• Birthstone Color: Green

• Meaning: Renewal, growth and lasting love

• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 – 8

Emerald's signature green ranges from soft sage to deep forest tones, valued more for saturation than size. Its name traces back to ancient Greek for "green gem." Long tied to Venus, the goddess of love, it now represents renewal, growth and love.

June Birthstone: Pearl, Moonstone and Alexandrite

• Month: June

• Modern Birthstone: Alexandrite

• Traditional Birthstone: Pearl

• Birthstone Color: White, Blue Sheen, Color-Changing

• Meaning: Purity, intuition and inner balance

• Mohs Hardness: 2.5 – 8.5 (varies by stone)

June's three official birthstones offer striking variety: pearl's soft white luster, moonstone's glowing blue sheen and alexandrite's rare color-changing effect under different light. Formed inside mollusks, feldspar, chrysoberyl, these three gems together symbolize purity, intuition, balance and lasting inner strength.

July Birthstone: Ruby

• Month: July

• Modern Birthstone: Ruby

• Traditional Birthstone: Ruby

• Birthstone Color: Red

• Meaning: Passion, courage and enduring love

• Mohs Hardness: 9

Ruby's signature color is a vivid, deep red, ranking among the most valuable gemstones in the world. Its name comes from the Latin word for red. Ancient cultures viewed it as a symbol of courage, believing it calmed anger and increased passion.

August Birthstone: Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx

• Month: August

• Modern Birthstone: Peridot

• Traditional Birthstone: Sardonyx

• Birthstone Color: Light Green, Various, Red-Brown

• Meaning: Positivity, protection and inner strength

• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 8 (varies by stone)

August's three birthstones bring warm variety: peridot's light green glow, spinel's range of vivid colors and sardonyx's red-brown banded pattern. Peridot forms in volcanic rock, spinel closely mimics ruby, sardonyx combines onyx with reddish sard, together symbolizing positivity, protection and inner strength.

September Birthstone: Sapphire

• Month: September

• Modern Birthstone: Sapphire

• Traditional Birthstone: Sapphire

• Birthstone Color: Blue

• Meaning: Wisdom, loyalty and enduring truth

• Mohs Hardness: 9

Sapphire's classic color is a deep royal blue, though pink, yellow and green varieties also exist naturally. Its name traces back to the Greek word for blue stone. Long connected to royalty, sapphire now symbolizes wisdom, loyalty and enduring truth.

October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline

• Month: October

• Modern Birthstone: Tourmaline

• Traditional Birthstone: Opal

• Birthstone Color: Multicolor

• Meaning: Hope, creativity and personal transformation

• Mohs Hardness: 5.5 – 7.5 (varies by stone)

October's two birthstones showcase a remarkable color range across the gem world: opal's shifting play-of-color alongside tourmaline's rainbow of pink, green and blue tones. Opal forms from silica deposits, tourmaline crystallizes in pegmatites, together representing hope, creativity and personal transformation.

November Birthstone: Citrine and Topaz

• Month: November

• Modern Birthstone: Citrine

• Traditional Birthstone: Topaz

• Birthstone Color: Yellow-Orange, Golden

• Meaning: Joy, success and quiet confidence

• Mohs Hardness: 7 – 8

November's two official birthstones bring golden warmth to the calendar: citrine's sunny yellow tone and topaz's range from golden brown to soft pink. Citrine forms from heat-treated quartz, topaz grows in volcanic rock, together symbolizing joy, success and quiet confidence.

December Birthstone: Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon and Blue Topaz

• Month: December

• Modern Birthstone: Tanzanite

• Traditional Birthstone: Turquoise

• Birthstone Color: Blue, Blue-Violet, Various

• Meaning: Peace, protection and good fortune

• Mohs Hardness: 5 – 8 (varies by stone)

December's four birthstones offer wintry variety: turquoise's sky blue, tanzanite's violet-blue shimmer, zircon's range of colors and blue topaz's icy tone. Together these gems come from copper deposits, metamorphic rock, volcanic zones, mineral veins, symbolizing peace, protection and good fortune.

Conclusion

From January's protective garnet to December's peaceful turquoise, every stone in this birthstone chart by month carries its own color, history and meaning. Pairing a favorite gem with a Moissanite Engagement Rings setting turns tradition into something wearable, adding lasting depth to any jewelry piece.

Whether you are drawn to a fiery garnet or a calming sapphire, choosing a birthstone adds a layer of personal meaning that goes beyond passing trends. Every piece becomes a reflection of the person wearing it, blending symbolism with timeless brilliance for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Emily Carter

Bridal Jewelry & Engagement Ring Specialist

Emily Carter has over 6 years of experience in bridal and engagement jewelry. She has helped thousands of couples find their perfect ring for their special day. At Venust Diamonds, Emily covers everything from ring styles to proposal tips.