Birthstones by month: colors, meanings and jewelry
Every month has its own birthstone. January is garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, moonstone or alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal or pink tourmaline, November citrine or topaz and December turquoise, tanzanite or blue topaz. Below you will find them all in one table, plus the color of each stone, what it traditionally stands for and which piece of jewelry goes with it.
The short answer
- Every month has its own stone. The list we use today dates from 1912 and has been extended since.
- More than one stone in your month? Then you get to choose. Simply pick the color you like best.
- A piece for every month: the Zoe ring, the Embla necklace and the Grace studs have a little stone in the color of the birthstone.
Birthstones by month: the overview
| Month | Birthstone | Color | Traditionally stands for | At Lundholm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Deep red | Friendship and loyalty | Zoe ring · Embla necklace |
| February | Amethyst | Purple | Calm and clarity | Rosan necklace · Embla necklace · Ella ring |
| March | Aquamarine | Light blue | Calm and courage | Grace studs · Embla necklace |
| April | Diamond | Clear | Love and strength | Zoe ring · Grace studs |
| May | Emerald | Green | Growth and hope | Zoe ring · Grace studs |
| June | Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite | White, cream, lilac | Gentleness and intuition | Zoe ring · Ella ring (moonstone) · Perla studs |
| July | Ruby | Red | Passion and love | Zoe ring · Grace studs |
| August | Peridot, spinel | Light green | Light and positivity | Zoe ring · Grace studs |
| September | Sapphire | Deep blue | Wisdom and loyalty | Embla necklace · Zoe ring · Grace studs |
| October | Opal, pink tourmaline | Milky white, pink | Creativity and hope | Embla necklace · Zoe ring |
| November | Citrine, topaz | Golden yellow | Warmth and joy | Zoe ring · Embla necklace |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite, blue topaz | Blue | Protection and good fortune | Embla necklace · Zoe ring |
The meanings come from old traditions and symbolism. They are not promises, but they do turn a birthstone into a gift with a story.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The list we use today was drawn up in 1912 by the American association of jewelers, now Jewelers of America. Stones were added later: in 1952 alexandrite for June, pink tourmaline for October and citrine for November, among others, in 2002 tanzanite for December and in 2016 spinel for August. England and other countries also have slightly different lists. That is why some months give you a choice.
Birthstones for January, February and March
January: garnet
Garnet is a deep dark red, a little like red wine. The name comes from the Latin granatum, pomegranate, because small garnets look like the seeds of that fruit. Traditionally, garnet stands for friendship and loyalty, a warm thought in the coldest month of the year. Choose the January Zoe ring with a deep red heart or the January Embla necklace with a deep red stone.
February: amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz, from soft lilac to deep violet. The name comes from the Greek amethystos, ‘not drunk’: the ancient Greeks believed the stone kept you clear-headed. Today it mostly stands for calm and clarity. The Rosan necklace has a pendant of real amethyst, and so does the Ella ring. Prefer a small, sparkling stone? Then choose the February Embla necklace. Read everything about this stone in the meaning of amethyst.
March: aquamarine
Aquamarine is light blue, the color of seawater, and that is also where its name comes from: aqua marina is Latin for seawater. It is related to emerald; both are beryls. Sailors used to carry the stone as a talisman. Today it stands for calm and courage. Choose the March Grace studs, small enough for a second piercing, or the March Embla necklace.
Birthstones for April, May and June
April: diamond
April has the best-known gemstone of all. Diamond is the hardest natural material we know; its name comes from the Greek adamas, ‘invincible’. It stands for love and strength. A clear stone goes with everything: choose the April Grace studs or the April Zoe ring with a clear heart. You will find more sparkling stones in our guide to jewelry with stones.
May: emerald
Emerald is deep green, the color of spring, and stands for growth and hope. Real emeralds almost always have tiny inclusions, which jewelers call ‘jardin’, French for garden. Choose the May Zoe ring, the May Grace studs or the Gemma huggies with an emerald green stone.
June: pearl, moonstone or alexandrite
June has three birthstones. Pearl is the only gemstone made by a living creature, an oyster or mussel. Moonstone has a soft, shifting glow that is reminiscent of moonlight, and alexandrite changes color: greenish in daylight, reddish purple in lamplight. Together they stand for gentleness and intuition. Choose the Perla studs or the Whitney necklace with a faux pearl, the Ella ring with white moonstone or the June Zoe ring with a lilac heart.
Pictured
Ella – real moonstone on your finger
Pictured is the Ella with peach moonstone, a warm, peach-colored variety of moonstone, alongside two Ellas with amazonite and onyx. For June there is also the Ella with white moonstone. Every Ella is adjustable, so you don’t need to know a ring size.
View the Ella →
Birthstones for July, August and September
July: ruby
Ruby is a vivid red and stands for passion and love. Funnily enough, ruby is the same mineral as sapphire, corundum; only the red ones are called ruby. A red accent looks lovely against summer-tanned skin. Choose the July Zoe ring or the July Grace studs.
August: peridot or spinel
Peridot is a fresh light green and one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color. It has even been found in meteorites. Traditionally it stands for light and positivity. Since 2016, spinel also belongs to August, a stone that was mistaken for ruby for centuries. Choose the August Zoe ring or the August Grace studs, both in light green.
September: sapphire
Sapphire is deep blue and stands for wisdom and loyalty. Sapphire comes in almost every color, but blue is the best known. It is a calm, elegant color that looks beautiful with gold. Choose the September Embla necklace, the September Zoe ring or the September Grace studs.
Birthstones for October, November and December
October: opal or pink tourmaline
Opal is milky white with a play of color that changes as you move it. Pink tourmaline is soft pink; tourmaline comes in more colors than almost any other gemstone. Both stand for creativity and hope. Choose the October Embla necklace with a milky white stone, the October Zoe ring with a pink heart or the October Grace studs with a creamy white faux pearl.
November: citrine or topaz
Citrine is yellow quartz, and topaz ranges from golden yellow to orange, warm like autumn light. They stand for warmth and joy. The November Zoe ring has a yellow heart, the November Embla necklace a champagne-colored stone. Handy when someone has a birthday just before the holidays.
December: turquoise, tanzanite or blue topaz
December is the month of blue. Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones we know and was already used in jewelry in ancient Egypt. Tanzanite comes only from Tanzania, at the foot of Kilimanjaro, and was not discovered until 1967. Blue zircon also belongs to December, and many jewelers count blue topaz as well. They stand for protection and good fortune. Choose the December Embla necklace with an icy blue stone or the December Zoe ring with an aqua blue heart.
Real gemstone or a stone in the color?
That depends on the piece, and we like to be clear about it:
- Cubic zirconia in your month’s colorThe Zoe ring, the Embla necklace and the Grace studs have a cubic zirconia stone in the color of the birthstone. Cubic zirconia is hard, sparkles beautifully and is fine in water.
- Real natural stoneThe Rosan necklace and the Ella ring have real amethyst; the Ella also comes with white moonstone. Every stone is slightly different.
- Faux pearlThe Perla studs, the Whitney necklace and the October Grace have a faux pearl with a soft sheen.
- Always stainless steelEverything is made of premium stainless steel with a gold-tone PVD coating: waterproof and hypoallergenic.
By the way, cubic zirconia is not the same as zircon: zircon is a natural gemstone (one of the December birthstones), cubic zirconia is made in a lab. Natural stones and faux pearls are not waterproof; take those pieces off before you shower or swim. Read more about types of stones in jewelry with stones: the complete guide.
How to wear your birthstone
As a necklace, you wear your month close to your heart. The Embla is 42 centimeters with a 5-centimeter extender, so it sits around your collarbone, lovely with a round neck or an open collar. A ring like the Zoe is delicate enough to combine with other rings. And the Grace studs are small enough for a second or third piercing, as a touch of color between your other earrings.
Pictured
Grace – a birthstone in your second piercing
A small stone in the color of your month, here light blue for March. Wear it next to a plain hoop or a small stud and the color gets all the attention.
View the Grace →A birthstone is a small accent of color, so keep the rest of your jewelry simple and in the same metal tone. Want to add a second necklace? Read how to layer necklaces first.
Stacking your children’s months
You don’t only wear a birthstone for yourself. Many mothers and grandmothers wear the months of their children or grandchildren together, for example a red, a green and a blue Zoe on one hand. Because the Zoe is fine and adjustable, you can easily slide two or three onto one finger, or spread them across your hand.
A birthstone as a gift
A birthstone makes a piece of jewelry personal without needing a name on it. It suits a birthday, but also a birth: give a new mother the month of her baby. That ties in nicely with baargoud, the old Dutch tradition of giving a mother a piece of jewelry after giving birth. For more ideas, read what to give someone who has just become a mother. Your own mother with the months of all her children, or your best friend with her own month, will also get a gift that lasts. Already looking for a Christmas present? Also see Christmas gifts for your mother or sister.
Prefer a zodiac sign? A zodiac sign does not run from the first to the last day of a month but starts mid-month: from March 21 to April 19, for example, you are an Aries. Read zodiac jewelry: the zodiac necklace as a personal gift. Together they make a lovely pair: a birthstone and a zodiac sign for the same birthday.
Order before 3 pm (CET) on a working day and we ship your order the same day. Free shipping thresholds vary by country; see our shipping page. Every order from our own webshop comes with a free gift bag, and with larger orders the gift ladder adds free gifts too (different every month). Find more ideas in our gift shop.
Not a birthstone, but much loved: rose quartz and tiger’s eye
Is your favorite stone not on the list? Rose quartz and tiger’s eye are not official birthstones, but they are two of the most popular natural stones. Soft pink rose quartz traditionally stands for love (read the meaning of rose quartz), golden brown tiger’s eye with its silky sheen for strength and focus (read the meaning of tiger’s eye). They look lovely next to a birthstone in a warm color, such as the pink October Zoe or the yellow November one.
Frequently asked questions about birthstones
Which birthstone belongs to which month?
January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, moonstone or alexandrite, July ruby, August peridot or spinel, September sapphire, October opal or pink tourmaline, November citrine or topaz and December turquoise, tanzanite or blue topaz.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The 1912 list was extended later, including in 1952, 2002 and 2016. June gained alexandrite, October pink tourmaline, November citrine, December tanzanite and August spinel. That is why those months give you a choice.
What is the birthstone for November?
November has two birthstones: citrine and topaz. They range from golden yellow to orange and traditionally stand for warmth and joy.
What is the birthstone for December?
December has turquoise, tanzanite and blue zircon as birthstones, and many jewelers also count blue topaz. They are all blue and traditionally stand for protection and good fortune.
Can you wear a birthstone that is not your month?
Yes. Many people wear the birthstone of their children, partner or a loved one, or simply choose the color they like best.
Are the stones in Lundholm birthstone jewelry real?
The Zoe ring, Embla necklace and Grace studs have a cubic zirconia stone in the color of the birthstone; the October Grace has a faux pearl. The Rosan necklace and Ella ring have real amethyst, and the Ella also comes with real white moonstone.
Can you shower with birthstone jewelry?
The Zoe, Embla and Grace are made of premium stainless steel with cubic zirconia and are waterproof and hypoallergenic. Jewelry with natural stone or faux pearl is best taken off before you shower or swim.
What is the difference between a birthstone and a zodiac sign?
A birthstone belongs to your birth month, from the first to the last day of the month. A zodiac sign belongs to a period that starts mid-month, for example Aries from March 21 to April 19.
Choose your month
A ring, necklace or studs in the color of your birthstone: waterproof, hypoallergenic and with a free gift bag.
