Birthstone Chart by Month and Zodiac Sign
Find your birthstone by birth month or zodiac sign, and see which ones can take a ring every day.
What is your birthstone? Your birth month decides: garnet in January, amethyst in February, aquamarine in March, diamond in April, emerald in May, pearl in June, ruby in July, peridot in August, sapphire in September, opal in October, topaz in November, turquoise in December. Some months get two or three stones. Zodiac birthstones are a separate list: pick your date below and you get both.
Find your birthstone by date
Pick a month and a day. No year needed, and nothing leaves this page.
Your month stone, your zodiac stone, and whether it can live on a ring.
All twelve months at a glance
| Month | Birthstones | On a ring |
|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Ring, with some care |
| February | Amethyst | Ring, with some care |
| March | Aquamarine, Bloodstone | Everyday ring, Ring, with some care |
| April | Diamond | Everyday ring |
| May | Emerald | Ring, with some care |
| June | Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite | Earrings or pendant first, Earrings or pendant first, Everyday ring |
| July | Ruby | Everyday ring |
| August | Peridot, Spinel | Earrings or pendant first, Everyday ring |
| September | Sapphire | Everyday ring |
| October | Opal, Tourmaline | Earrings or pendant first, Ring, with some care |
| November | Topaz, Citrine | Ring, with some care, Ring, with some care |
| December | Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon | Earrings or pendant first, Earrings or pendant first, Ring, with some care |
Months: the modern US birthstone list. Wear advice: our reading of hardness and toughness, checked on October 9, 2026.
Garnet Ring, with some care
7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair to good toughness: a good ring stone.
Amethyst Ring, with some care
7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years.
Aquamarine Everyday ring
7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone.
Bloodstone Ring, with some care
6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and tough for its hardness.
Diamond Everyday ring
10 on the Mohs scale, harder than any other gem. A hard knock at the wrong angle can still chip it.
Emerald Ring, with some care
7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, but its inclusions make toughness run from poor to good. A ring stone that needs care.
Pearl Earrings or pendant first
2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale: very soft and easily scratched. Earrings, a pendant or a pin.
Moonstone Earrings or pendant first
6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and it can split along its cleavage. Earrings, a pendant, or occasional wear.
Alexandrite on the list since 1952 Everyday ring
8.5 on the Mohs scale, excellent toughness, no cleavage: a good choice for a ring worn daily.
Ruby Everyday ring
9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone.
Peridot Earrings or pendant first
6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care.
Spinel on the list since 2016 Everyday ring
8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone.
Sapphire Everyday ring
9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone.
Opal Earrings or pendant first
5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, toughness very poor to fair. Earrings or a pendant.
Tourmaline on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair toughness: a good ring stone, worn with some care.
Topaz Ring, with some care
8 on the Mohs scale, but a knock in the wrong place can split it along its cleavage. In a ring, a protective setting.
Citrine on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness, like amethyst: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years.
Turquoise Earrings or pendant first
5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Earrings or a pendant.
Tanzanite on the list since 2002 Earrings or pendant first
6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, fair to poor toughness. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care.
Zircon on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Heat-treated stones can be brittle, and facet edges wear.
Garnet Ring, with some care
Amethyst Ring, with some care
Aquamarine Everyday ring
Bloodstone Ring, with some care
Diamond Everyday ring
Emerald Ring, with some care
Pearl Earrings or pendant first
Moonstone Earrings or pendant first
Alexandrite on the list since 1952 Everyday ring
Ruby Everyday ring
Peridot Earrings or pendant first
Spinel on the list since 2016 Everyday ring
Sapphire Everyday ring
Opal Earrings or pendant first
Tourmaline on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
Topaz Ring, with some care
Citrine on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
Turquoise Earrings or pendant first
Tanzanite on the list since 2002 Earrings or pendant first
Zircon on the list since 1952 Ring, with some care
A real garnet from our stock
See our garnets
A real ruby from our stock
See our rubies
A real spinel from our stock
See our spinels
A real sapphire from our stock
See our sapphires
A real tourmaline from our stock
See our tourmalines
- Months
- 12, with one to three stones each
- Three stones
- June and December
- Zodiac
- A separate list, one stone per sign
- Hardest
- Diamond, 10 on the Mohs scale
- Softest
- Pearl, about 2.5 to 4
- Newest
- Spinel, added for August in 2016
Birthstone chart by month
The whole year at a glance: this is the modern US list. Tap your month to open its guide.
The twelve months
One real stone per month. Tap a month to open its guide.
January
Garnet
Not in this selection
February
Amethyst
Not in this selection
March
Aquamarine, Bloodstone
Not in this selection
April
Diamond
Not in this selection
May
Emerald
Not in this selection
June
Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
Not in this selection
July
Ruby
Not in this selection
August
Peridot, Spinel
Not in this selection
September
Sapphire
Not in this selection
October
Opal, Tourmaline
Not in this selection
November
Topaz, Citrine
Not in this selection
December
Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon
Not in this selection
No stone matches these filters.
Photo credits
- January Red garnet, 14.44 ct. Joalys photo.
- February Photo: W.carter, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped to one stone).
- March Photo: Mauro Cateb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
- April Photo: Petragems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
- May Photo: Gaumania, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
- June Rainbow moonstone, 11.11 ct. Joalys photo.
- July Ruby, 1.11 ct. Joalys photo.
- August Pink spinel, 5.05 ct. Joalys photo.
- September Blue sapphire, 2.03 ct. Joalys photo.
- October Green tourmaline, 4.11 ct. Joalys photo.
- November Photo: Mauro Cateb, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
- December Green zircon, 5.94 ct. Joalys photo.
Months marked "Joalys photo" show stones we photographed ourselves. The others are credited photos of stones that are not ours. Not to scale.
Birthstones from cheapest to most expensive
Looking for the cheapest birthstone? It is amethyst: vendors ask about $14 per carat. At the other end sits alexandrite, the most expensive we could price, at about $6,200. Sort the table to find your month.
Asking prices per carat, cheapest first
Birthstones from cheapest to most expensive
For each stone, the middle of what three or more independent vendors ask. Not sale prices.
From tanzanite to spinel the vendors’ ranges overlap: there, the order follows the medians, not a clear gap.
Bars are drawn on a ratio scale: each step to the right multiplies the price.
Not ranked. Blue topaz (November) and turquoise (December): fewer than three vendors listed comparable stones. Diamond (April) is priced on its own grading scale. Pearl (June) is sold by the piece, not by the carat.
These are asking prices for everyday sizes. Rubies can command the highest per-carat price of any colored stone, but that is the market for the finest stones.
Natural, single, loose stones. Sapphire and ruby are heated, emerald is oiled, as most are. Opal and moonstone are cabochons. Asking prices read on vendors’ listings from October 7 to 9, 2026: 11,278 listings from 9 independent vendors, at least three per stone. Not sale prices, and quality moves every one of them. Read on October 9, 2026.
These are asking prices per carat, read on vendors’ listings from October 7 to 9, 2026: what vendors ask, not sale prices. Quality moves every one of them.
Stones of about one carat, up to three for blue zircon and aquamarine, up to ten for amethyst, citrine, red garnet and peridot, because few vendors list those at one carat. Every sapphire and ruby is heated, every emerald oiled. Blue topaz and turquoise carry no figure: fewer than three vendors listed comparable stones.
Expected ruby on top? Rubies can command the highest per-carat price of any colored stone, but that is the market for the finest stones, not the everyday prices we read.
A high price is not a scam: a shop is entitled to its margin. The scam is not knowing what you are buying.
Birthstone chart by zodiac sign
Born on April 25? Your month says diamond, your sign says emerald. A sign covers parts of two months, so your zodiac stone and your month stone can differ. Zodiac birthstones are a tradition of their own, and nobody keeps an official zodiac list. The most common chart simply hands each sign the stone of the month it mostly falls in. Older lists use bloodstone for Aries, agate for Gemini, onyx for Leo and carnelian for Virgo.
| Sign and dates | Stone |
|---|---|
| Aries (Mar 21 to Apr 19) | Diamond |
| Taurus (Apr 20 to May 20) | Emerald |
| Gemini (May 21 to Jun 20) | Pearl |
| Cancer (Jun 21 to Jul 22) | Ruby |
| Leo (Jul 23 to Aug 22) | Peridot |
| Virgo (Aug 23 to Sep 22) | Sapphire |
| Libra (Sep 23 to Oct 22) | Opal |
| Scorpio (Oct 23 to Nov 21) | Topaz |
| Sagittarius (Nov 22 to Dec 21) | Tanzanite or turquoise |
| Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19) | Garnet |
| Aquarius (Jan 20 to Feb 18) | Amethyst |
| Pisces (Feb 19 to Mar 20) | Aquamarine |
Which one is yours? Both: neither list is more right. Go by month for a birthday gift, by sign if you follow astrology, or by the color you like.
Which birthstones can you wear every day?
Hard does not mean safe: topaz is 8 on the Mohs scale, yet its toughness is poor because it cleaves. A daily ring needs hardness against scratches and toughness against knocks. Tap your birthstone on the map.
Hardness is not the whole story
Hardness is resistance to scratches, toughness is resistance to knocks. A ring needs both. Tap a stone.
Toughness
Hardness (Mohs scale)
Touch a point to read about the stone.
Diamond Mohs 10 · Toughness: Good in its cleavage directions, exceptional in all others
10 on the Mohs scale, harder than any other gem. A hard knock at the wrong angle can still chip it.
Ruby Mohs 9 · Toughness: Usually excellent
9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone.
Sapphire Mohs 9 · Toughness: Usually excellent
9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone.
Alexandrite Mohs 8.5 · Toughness: Excellent
8.5 on the Mohs scale, excellent toughness, no cleavage: a good choice for a ring worn daily.
Spinel Mohs 8 · Toughness: Good
8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone.
Topaz Mohs 8 · Toughness: Poor, because of cleavage
8 on the Mohs scale, but a knock in the wrong place can split it along its cleavage. In a ring, a protective setting.
Aquamarine Mohs 7.5 to 8 · Toughness: Good
7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone.
Emerald Mohs 7.5 to 8 · Toughness: Poor to good
7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, but its inclusions make toughness run from poor to good. A ring stone that needs care.
Garnet Mohs 7 to 7.5 · Toughness: Fair to good
7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair to good toughness: a good ring stone.
Tourmaline Mohs 7 to 7.5 · Toughness: Fair
7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair toughness: a good ring stone, worn with some care.
Amethyst Mohs 7 · Toughness: Good
7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years.
Citrine Mohs 7 · Toughness: Good
7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness, like amethyst: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years.
Zircon Mohs 6 to 7.5 · Toughness: Fair to good
6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Heat-treated stones can be brittle, and facet edges wear.
Peridot Mohs 6.5 to 7 · Toughness: Fair to good
6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care.
Bloodstone Mohs 6.5 to 7 · Toughness: Good
6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and tough for its hardness.
Tanzanite Mohs 6 to 7 · Toughness: Fair to poor
6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, fair to poor toughness. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care.
Moonstone Mohs 6 to 6.5 · Toughness: Poor, because of cleavage
6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and it can split along its cleavage. Earrings, a pendant, or occasional wear.
Opal Mohs 5 to 6.5 · Toughness: Very poor to fair
5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, toughness very poor to fair. Earrings or a pendant.
Turquoise Mohs 5 to 6 · Toughness: Generally fair to good
5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Earrings or a pendant.
Pearl Mohs 2.5 to 4 · Toughness: Usually good, but variable
2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale: very soft and easily scratched. Earrings, a pendant or a pin.
| Stone | Mohs | Toughness |
|---|---|---|
| 1Diamond10 on the Mohs scale, harder than any other gem. A hard knock at the wrong angle can still chip it. | 10 | Good in its cleavage directions, exceptional in all others |
| 2Ruby9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone. | 9 | Usually excellent |
| 3Sapphire9 on the Mohs scale and usually excellent toughness: an excellent ring stone. | 9 | Usually excellent |
| 4Alexandrite8.5 on the Mohs scale, excellent toughness, no cleavage: a good choice for a ring worn daily. | 8.5 | Excellent |
| 5Spinel8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone. | 8 | Good |
| 6Topaz8 on the Mohs scale, but a knock in the wrong place can split it along its cleavage. In a ring, a protective setting. | 8 | Poor, because of cleavage |
| 7Aquamarine7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a very good ring stone. | 7.5 to 8 | Good |
| 8Emerald7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, but its inclusions make toughness run from poor to good. A ring stone that needs care. | 7.5 to 8 | Poor to good |
| 9Garnet7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair to good toughness: a good ring stone. | 7 to 7.5 | Fair to good |
| 10Tourmaline7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, fair toughness: a good ring stone, worn with some care. | 7 to 7.5 | Fair |
| 11Amethyst7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years. | 7 | Good |
| 12Citrine7 on the Mohs scale with good toughness, like amethyst: a good ring stone that picks up fine scratches over the years. | 7 | Good |
| 13Zircon6 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Heat-treated stones can be brittle, and facet edges wear. | 6 to 7.5 | Fair to good |
| 14Peridot6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care. | 6.5 to 7 | Fair to good |
| 15Bloodstone6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and tough for its hardness. | 6.5 to 7 | Good |
| 16Tanzanite6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, fair to poor toughness. Best in earrings or a pendant; in a ring it needs care. | 6 to 7 | Fair to poor |
| 17Moonstone6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and it can split along its cleavage. Earrings, a pendant, or occasional wear. | 6 to 6.5 | Poor, because of cleavage |
| 18Opal5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, toughness very poor to fair. Earrings or a pendant. | 5 to 6.5 | Very poor to fair |
| 19Turquoise5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Earrings or a pendant. | 5 to 6 | Generally fair to good |
| 20Pearl2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale: very soft and easily scratched. Earrings, a pendant or a pin. | 2.5 to 4 | Usually good, but variable |
Points that would overlap are moved apart a little. The exact values are in the table.
Toughness has no number: it is rated in words, and one stone can sit on two lines. Inclusions, fractures or some treatments lower it for any single stone.
Why do some months have several stones?
Because the list never stopped growing. The first official US list dates from 1912, set by the National Association of Jewelers, now Jewelers of America. Then stones kept joining: alexandrite, citrine, tourmaline and zircon in 1952, tanzanite for December in 2002, spinel for August in 2016. Lists still differ: some add sardonyx for August, others do not.
Birthstones in our catalog
- January: garnet
- July: ruby
- August: spinel
- September: sapphire
- October: tourmaline
Quick answers
Can I find my birthstone by my date of birth?
Do birthstones go by month or by zodiac sign?
What is the cheapest birthstone?
Which birthstone is best for an everyday ring?
What is the most expensive birthstone?
Find your stone
Month first, sign if you like, then the question that matters: how will you wear it?
