By Crystal Cassandra · Updated 2026-08-23
Crystal Healing Expert
What is a birthstone?
A birthstone is the gem traditionally assigned to your birth month or zodiac sign. The modern month list was standardized by American jewelers in 1912 and last expanded in 2016, while zodiac stone lists come from older, varied traditions. Both are worn for meaning, not medicine.
Two calendars run through the birthstone tradition, and they do not always agree. The month list is the one jewelers standardized in 1912 and still print today; the zodiac list is older and looser, varying by source and era. In my practice, the most useful reading treats them as two honest answers to the same question. Find both of yours below, and if a stone never felt right, the guides include the alternates each tradition actually records. Every stone links into the crystal encyclopedia for the full profile, and the Birthstone Finder reads your exact date in one step.
Birthstones by Month
The birthstone chart below covers all 12 months in one place: the modern stone of record from the jewelers' list beside the recognized alternates each month actually carries. Every month name links to its full guide, with the history, the buying questions worth asking, and care notes.
| Month | Modern birthstone | Recognized alternates |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | None official; garnet stands alone |
| February | Amethyst | None official; amethyst has never shared the month |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone, the traditional March stone before 1912 |
| April | Diamond | None official; older tables had seated sapphire here |
| May | Emerald | None official; agate lingered on the older lists |
| June | Pearl | Moonstone (1912) and alexandrite (1952) |
| July | Ruby | None official; carnelian and onyx on the older lists |
| August | Peridot | Sardonyx (traditional and 1912) and spinel (2016) |
| September | Sapphire | None official; lapis lazuli was the ancient sapphirus |
| October | Opal | Tourmaline; pink tourmaline named the alternate in 1952 |
| November | Topaz | Citrine, added as the official second stone in 1952 |
| December | Turquoise | Zircon (1952) and tanzanite (2002) |
Birthstones by Zodiac Sign
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a month birthstone and a zodiac birthstone?
Month birthstones follow the calendar month you were born in and come from the standardized jewelers' lists, while zodiac birthstones follow your sun sign's dates, which span parts of two months. Someone born September 10 has sapphire as both their September stone and their Virgo stone, but a September 25 Libra splits between sapphire by month and opal by sign.
Who decided the official birthstone list?
The modern month list was standardized in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers in the United States and has been updated a handful of times since, most recently adding tanzanite for December in 2002 and spinel for August in 2016. Zodiac stone lists were never centrally standardized, which is why sources vary.
Can I wear a birthstone that is not mine?
Yes, any birthstone can be worn by anyone; the tradition assigns stones to dates, it does not restrict them. In crystal healing practice, many people choose stones by intention or attraction rather than birth date, and the stone you reach for consistently is usually the right one.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
Several months carry multiple stones because the jewelers' associations added affordable or newly fashionable alternatives over the decades. June holds pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone; December holds turquoise, tanzanite, and zircon. The alternates are equally legitimate; pick by budget, color, and feel.
What is October's birthstone?
October's birthstone is opal, with pink tourmaline as the official alternate fixed by the 1952 list revision. Opal diffracts light through stacked silica spheres into shifting play of color, while pink tourmaline, at 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, is the durable choice for everyday rings.
What is December's birthstone?
December's birthstone is turquoise, joined officially by zircon and tanzanite, and all three run blue. Turquoise is the ancient holder, blue zircon took its seat in the 1952 revision, and tanzanite was added in 2002 after its 1967 discovery in Tanzania.
What is June's birthstone?
June's birthstone is pearl, joined officially by moonstone and alexandrite. Pearl is the only major birthstone made by a living creature, and alexandrite, added to the month in 1952, shifts from green in daylight to red under lamplight.
Are birthstone meanings scientifically proven?
No. Birthstone assignments are cultural traditions, and the meanings attached to them come from folklore and crystal healing practice, not science. CrystalStones.com presents them as traditions for reflection, never as medical or predictive claims.
Share Your Result
Vertical 9:16 format, perfect for Instagram Stories or TikTok. Opens in a new tab; long-press or right-click to save.
Leave your email with Cassandra
Occasional notes on stones, on sourcing and on care, written when there is something worth your time rather than to a calendar.
We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.