Every month of the year has a birthstone, a gemstone associated with the time you were born, each one carrying its own colour, history and meaning. The tradition of birthstones goes back thousands of years, with roots in ancient cultures across the Middle East, India and Europe. Today they remain one of the most personal and meaningful ways to connect a piece of jewellery to the person wearing it.
Whether you're looking to find your own birthstone, searching for a gift for someone special, or simply curious about the gemstone that belongs to your birth month, this is everything you need to know.
January : Garnet
Colour: Deep red: rich, warm and bold
Garnet is one of the oldest known gemstones, worn by ancient Egyptians and used as a talisman for protection and safe travel. The deep red of a garnet is immediately distinctive, not the bright red of a ruby but something deeper, more complex, almost burgundy in certain lights. It's associated with passion, energy and commitment. For anyone born in January, garnet is a stone that carries real depth.
February : Amethyst
Colour: Purple: from soft lilac to deep violet
Amethyst has been prized for centuries across cultures, the ancient Greeks believed it prevented intoxication, the Egyptians used it in jewellery and amulets, and medieval European soldiers wore it as protection in battle. The purple ranges from the palest lavender through to a rich, saturated violet. It's associated with calm, clarity and inner strength. One of the most universally flattering gemstone colours, it works beautifully against every skin tone.
March : Aquamarine
Colour: Light blue: clear, cool and oceanic
The name comes from the Latin for seawater and the colour reflects exactly that, a pale, clear blue with a quality of light and transparency that feels almost liquid. Aquamarine has long been associated with the sea, with sailors historically carrying it for protection on ocean voyages. It represents clarity, youth and courage. For a March birthday it brings a lightness and freshness that feels entirely right for the shift into spring.
April : Diamond
Colour: Clear: brilliant white light
Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth and the most refractive, meaning it catches and disperses light in a way no other stone does. In jewellery, diamond is typically represented by a clear cubic zirconia stone that captures that same quality of brilliant white sparkle. Associated with strength, clarity and eternal love, diamond is one of the most meaningful birthstones to wear, and one of the most versatile, working with absolutely everything.
May: Emerald
Colour: Dark Green: vivid, rich and deeply saturated
Emerald is the stone of royalty. Cleopatra was famously obsessed with emeralds, the Mughal emperors had them engraved with sacred texts, and they have been associated with power, fertility and rebirth across every culture that has prized them. The green of an emerald is unlike any other green, deeply saturated, almost glowing, unmistakeable. For May birthdays it represents growth, vitality and the abundance of spring at its peak.
June : Pearl
Colour: Cream: soft, warm white with an iridescent quality
Pearl is unique among birthstones because it isn't mined, it grows. Formed inside molluscs over years, a pearl is the only gemstone that is created by a living creature. That organic origin gives it a warmth and softness that no other stone has. In jewellery, pearl is represented by a cream or soft white tone with a subtle luminosity. Associated with purity, wisdom and new beginnings, a fitting stone for a summer birth month.
July : Ruby
Colour: Red: vivid, bright and deeply saturated
Ruby is one of the most prized gemstones in the world. In many cultures it is considered more valuable than diamond, the ancient Burmese believed rubies made warriors invincible, Sanskrit texts called it the king of precious stones, and it has represented power and protection across every civilisation that has known it. The red of a ruby is brighter and more vivid than garnet, electric almost, impossible to ignore. Associated with passion, courage and vitality.
August : Peridot
Colour: Light green: fresh, bright and slightly yellow-toned
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that comes in only one colour, green, though the shade varies from a pale yellow-green to a richer olive. The ancient Egyptians called it the gem of the sun and believed it protected against nightmares. It's associated with warmth, positivity and good fortune. The brightness of peridot makes it one of the most distinctive birthstones, immediately recognisable and unlike any other green stone.
September : Sapphire
Colour: Deep blue: rich, velvety and intensely saturated
Sapphire is one of the most recognisable gemstones in the world. Associated with royalty, wisdom and divine favour across centuries of history, it has appeared in the crown jewels of multiple nations and been worn by rulers, clergy and nobility throughout recorded history. The deep blue of a sapphire is instantly distinguished from lighter blues, it carries weight and depth that feels significant. For September birthdays it represents loyalty, truth and calm under pressure.
October : Opal / Pink Tourmaline
Colour: Pink: soft, warm and feminine
October has two birthstones ,opal, known for its extraordinary play of colour, and pink tourmaline, which is represented in jewellery by a soft, warm pink. Pink is associated with compassion, love and sensitivity. It's one of the softest and most flattering birthstone colours, gentle enough to work with everything while still being distinctly present. For October birthdays it carries warmth and an emotional openness that feels fitting for a stone associated with creativity and expression.
November : Topaz / Citrine
Colour: Yellow / amber: warm, golden and sunlit
November birthstones come in the warmest tones of the year, yellow topaz and citrine both sit in that golden amber range that feels like captured sunlight. Associated with warmth, energy and abundance, these stones have historically been believed to bring good fortune and positive energy to the people who wear them. The golden amber tone works beautifully against warm skin tones and sits alongside gold settings in a way that feels entirely natural.
December : Turquoise / Blue Topaz
Colour: Teal blue: bright, distinctive and vivid
December has several birthstones but turquoise is one of the oldest and most culturally significant of all gemstones, worn by ancient Egyptians, Native American peoples, Persians and Tibetans across thousands of years of history. The teal blue is immediately striking, neither the cool blue of aquamarine nor the deep blue of sapphire but something entirely its own, bright and vivid and full of presence. Associated with protection, wisdom and good fortune.
Birthstones at a Glance
| Month | Birthstone | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red |
| February | Amethyst | Purple |
| March | Aquamarine | Light blue |
| April | Diamond | Clear / white |
| May | Emerald | Vivid green |
| June | Pearl | Cream / soft white |
| July | Ruby | Bright red |
| August | Peridot | Light green |
| September | Sapphire | Deep blue |
| October | Pink Tourmaline | Soft pink |
| November | Topaz / Citrine | Yellow / amber |
| December | Turquoise | Teal blue |
Why Birthstones Make Such a Personal Gift
A birthstone isn't just a colour, it's a connection between a gemstone and a person that has existed across cultures and centuries. When something is made with a specific person's birthstone it moves from being jewellery to being something that belongs to them in a way nothing generic ever could. It says: this was made for you, specifically, with your birth month in mind. That specificity is what makes a piece worth keeping forever.
