Birthstones: The Twelve Months and Their Stones
Gemstone knowledge · Birthstones
Twelve months, twelve stones, a very old idea
The birthstones of the twelve months assign a gemstone to every month: garnet in January, emerald in May, opal in October. The custom is old, the list common today surprisingly young. Below are all twelve months with their stones, where the assignment comes from and why some lists name different stones from yours.
The list that applies everywhere: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl and moonstone, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal and tourmaline, November topaz and citrine, December turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
Which birthstone belongs to which month?
| Month | Birthstone | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red to almost black. The garnet counted as the stone of travellers, taken along on long journeys. |
| February | Amethyst | Violet quartz. Its name comes from the Greek and means roughly against intoxication. |
| March | Aquamarine | Seawater blue, often very clear. Bloodstone is also named alongside it. |
| April | Diamond | The hardest stone in nature and the only one made entirely of a single element. |
| May | Emerald | Rich green. Almost every emerald has inclusions, and here they do not count as flaws. |
| June | Pearl and moonstone | The only month with a stone from a living creature. Alongside it stands the shimmering moonstone, and in part alexandrite. |
| July | Ruby | Red and very hard. Chemically the same mineral as sapphire, just coloured differently. |
| August | Peridot | Olive green, formed deep in the earth's mantle. Some peridots come from meteorites. |
| September | Sapphire | Mostly blue, but it exists in almost every colour except red, because red corundum is called ruby. |
| October | Opal and tourmaline | The month with the most many coloured stone of all. No opal is like another. |
| November | Topaz and citrine | Warm yellow and amber tones. The two are frequently confused. |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon | The month with the most assigned stones, all of them in shades of blue. |
Where does the custom of birthstones come from?
The idea of linking stones with periods of time is very old. The origin is usually taken to be the description of a breastplate with twelve stones in the Old Testament, later connected with the twelve months and the twelve signs of the zodiac. Over centuries the assignments changed according to region, translation and commercial interest.
The list found almost everywhere today, by contrast, is young: at its core it goes back to a decision by the American jewellers' association in 1912 and was later added to several times, most recently with stones such as tanzanite, which was not even on the market in 1912.
What that means in practice
The birthstone list is not a handed down law of nature but a convention that grew over time and was partly set by the trade. That makes it no less beautiful, but it explains why different sources name different stones.
Why do the lists differ?
If you compare two overviews you will find differences. There are three reasons for that.
Traditional versus modern
Alongside the old assignment there is a more recent version with so called modern stones. For March, tradition names bloodstone, the modern list aquamarine.
Regional versions
British, American and central European lists differ from one another on individual months.
Later additions
Some months have several stones because more were added over time, such as spinel in August.
Why does October have two stones?
October is one of the months with two stones. Traditionally the opal stands there; the tourmaline was added later, among other reasons because it is harder. Opal in a surrounding setting remains everyday wear.
Why the opal is a special birthstone
All the other monthly stones have a fixed colour. The garnet is red, the emerald green, the sapphire blue. The opal is the only one that will not settle: its play of colour travels, and which colour you see depends on the angle.
Everything on the October birthstone and on when opal and when tourmaline is the better choice.
How the play of colour comes about physically is in the article on the play of colour of the opal. Which colours exist and what is said about them is in opal colours at a glance.
How do you give a birthstone properly?
A birthstone is a rewarding gift because it brings its own reason: it belongs to this one person and to no other month. Three pointers from practice.
Think about hardness
Opal and pearl are softer than sapphire or diamond. For a piece worn daily it is worth asking about the setting.
Know the second choice
For months with two stones you have a real choice. In October, for instance, opal for colour and character, tourmaline for robustness.
Check authenticity
With opal in particular there are many imitations. How to spot a genuine one is in how to spot a real opal.
For everyone born in October: Under opal jewellery you will find the whole range, under gift ideas a narrower selection. In gold: opal in gold, in silver: opal in silver.
If you are giving a birthstone
You do not have to stick slavishly to the list. It is a recommendation from 1912, not a rule. If blue suits your person but the month calls for red, take blue. More important than the right month is that the stone gets worn. Do mention which month has which stone when you hand it over, that makes a good opening, but do not let it box you in.
Common questions about birthstones
Which birthstone belongs to which month?
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl and moonstone, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal and tourmaline, November topaz and citrine, December turquoise, tanzanite and zircon.
Why does October have two birthstones?
Traditionally the opal stands there. The tourmaline was added later, among other reasons because it is harder and therefore less sensitive to daily use.
Where do birthstones come from?
The idea is very old and is usually traced back to a breastplate with twelve stones in the Old Testament. The list common today goes back at its core to a decision by the American jewellers' association in 1912 and was added to later.
Why do some sources name different stones?
Because alongside the traditional there is a modern assignment, because regional lists differ and because stones were added over time. One example is tanzanite, which was only discovered in 1967.
Is an opal suitable as an everyday birthstone?
With a little consideration, yes. Opal is softer than most other monthly stones and should be protected from chemicals, sharp changes in temperature and hard knocks.
Which birthstone suits which star sign?
Birthstones follow the months, not the star signs. Since star signs run across two months, there are separate assignments for those that differ from these.
If you are unsure or have questions, you are welcome to contact us at any time, even if you did not buy the opal from us. Contact form, email cs@libertyangels.de or call +49 171 1603048.
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Only natural, genuine opals. Each certificate is linked online to your order, so it is tamper-proof.
Written by Anton Kehler
Gründer FAERELLI & Liberty Angels
