Birthstones by Month

Garnet has represented January since the ancient world. The name comes from the Latin 'granatum' (pomegranate) for the stone's resemblance to the fruit's seeds. The National Association of Jewelers formalized it in 1912.

Amethyst was considered as valuable as diamond until massive Brazilian deposits were found in the 18th century. The ancient Greeks believed it prevented intoxication - the name literally means 'not drunk.'

Bloodstone was March's original birthstone for centuries before the jewelry industry replaced it with the more commercially appealing aquamarine in 1912. Bloodstone remains the traditional alternative.

Diamond's association with April dates to the 15th century. Its status as the engagement stone is largely a 20th century invention by De Beers. Before industrial mining, diamonds were genuinely rare and restricted to royalty.

Emerald has been May's birthstone since antiquity. Cleopatra claimed ownership of all Egyptian emerald mines. The Incas and Aztecs revered emeralds as sacred. Colombian mines remain the world's finest source.

June is unusual in having three recognized birthstones. Pearl is the traditional choice, alexandrite was added in 1952 for its rarity, and moonstone offers an affordable alternative. All three share an ethereal, light-playing quality.

Ruby has been the king of July since ancient Hindu tradition assigned gemstones to celestial bodies. Sanskrit texts call ruby 'ratnaraj' - king of precious stones. Fine rubies have sold for more per carat than diamonds.

Peridot was mined on the Egyptian island of Zabargad for over 3,500 years. Spinel was added as an August birthstone in 2016 - a long overdue recognition after centuries of being confused with ruby.

Sapphire has represented September since the Middle Ages, when clergy wore blue sapphires to symbolize heaven. The most famous sapphire in modern history is Princess Diana's engagement ring, now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Opal suffered a reputation crisis in the 19th century after Walter Scott's novel 'Anne of Geierstein' associated it with bad luck. The Australian opal industry spent decades rehabilitating the stone's image. Tourmaline was added as an alternative in 1912.

Topaz and citrine share November. Most 'citrine' in jewelry stores is actually heat-treated amethyst. Imperial topaz from Brazil (natural orange) is vastly more valuable than the ubiquitous treated blue topaz.

December has the most birthstones of any month. Turquoise is ancient, zircon is historic, and tanzanite was added in 2002 after heavy lobbying by Tiffany & Co. All share a blue palette but are vastly different minerals.