What's my birthstone? The complete guide by month
A birthstone is the gemstone traditionally linked to your birth month. Here is the birthstone for every month, plus the stone from Cayumi's own collection that carries a similar meaning when we don't work with the traditional gem.
What's my birthstone?
Select your birth month.
Choose a month above to see your birthstone.
January
January's birthstone is garnet, deep red to burgundy in tone. It is traditionally linked to protection, strength and vitality.
Our January charm is genuine garnet, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
February
February's birthstone is amethyst, ranging from pale lilac to deep violet. It is traditionally linked to calm, clarity and protection against excess.
Our February charm is genuine amethyst, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
March
March's birthstone is aquamarine, in pale blue to blue green tones. It is traditionally linked to calm, clear headedness and safe travel.
Our March charm is genuine aquamarine, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
April
April's birthstone is diamond, colorless and traditionally linked to clarity, strength and permanence.
We don't work with diamond, so our April charm is clear quartz, a natural stone that is just as colorless. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
May
May's birthstone is emerald, green and traditionally linked to renewal, growth and love.
We don't work with emerald, so our May charm is malachite, a natural stone in deep green. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
June
June has three birthstones: pearl, moonstone and alexandrite, traditionally linked to purity, intuition and emotional balance.
Our June charm is moonstone, one of the month's three birthstones, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
July
July's birthstone is ruby, red and traditionally linked to passion, courage and vitality.
We don't work with ruby, so our July charm is carnelian, a natural stone in warm red and orange. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
August
August has two birthstones: peridot and spinel, traditionally linked to positivity, strength and abundance.
Our August charm is genuine peridot, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
September
September's birthstone is sapphire, usually blue though it comes in many colors. It is traditionally linked to wisdom, loyalty and intuition.
We don't work with sapphire, so our September charm is sodalite, a natural stone in deep blue. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
October
October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline, traditionally linked to creativity, emotional balance and protection.
Our October charm is genuine tourmaline, one of the month's two birthstones, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
November
November's birthstones are topaz and citrine, golden yellow in tone. They are traditionally linked to optimism, confidence and new beginnings.
Our November charm is genuine citrine, one of the month's two birthstones, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
December
December has three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite and zircon, traditionally linked to protection, calm and clear communication.
Our December charm is genuine turquoise, the month's best known birthstone, handmade by us in Madrid. Wear it on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or choose the single charm.
| Month | Birthstone |
|---|---|
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl, moonstone |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal, tourmaline |
| November | Topaz, citrine |
| December | Turquoise, tanzanite |
Jump to your month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
January birthstone: garnet
The birthstone for January is garnet, a stone historically carried by travelers for protection on long journeys. The name comes from the Latin granatus, meaning seed, a nod to the deep red pomegranate seeds it resembles.
- Color: deep red to burgundy
- Meaning: protection, strength, vitality
What's the February birthstone? Amethyst
February's birthstone is amethyst, a purple quartz long linked to calm and clear thinking. Its color comes from trace iron in the crystal, and the name comes from the Greek amethystos, meaning not intoxicated, since ancient Greeks believed it warded off drunkenness.
- Color: pale lilac to deep violet
- Meaning: calm, clarity, protection against excess
The March birthstone is aquamarine
March's birthstone is aquamarine, named for its resemblance to seawater and historically a favorite among sailors. It belongs to the same mineral family as emerald, beryl, with its blue green color coming from traces of iron.
- Color: pale blue to blue green
- Meaning: calm, clear headedness, safe travel
April birthstone meaning: diamond
April's birthstone is diamond, valued for its brilliance and permanence. We don't work with diamonds, Cayumi is built around natural stones, not fine gemstones. Diamond is the hardest natural material on Earth, a 10 on the Mohs scale, part of why it became the standard choice for engagement rings.
- Color: colorless
- Meaning: clarity, strength, permanence
Born in May? Here's your birthstone
May's birthstone is emerald, the green stone long linked to renewal and love. Its color comes from traces of chromium and vanadium, and the finest stones have long been mined in Colombia.
- Color: green
- Meaning: renewal, growth, love
June birthstones: pearl and moonstone
June has three official birthstones, pearl, moonstone and alexandrite. Moonstone and alexandrite were only added to the list in the 1950s, pearl is the original, centuries old birthstone for the month.
- Color: cream white (pearl), blue white sheen (moonstone), color changing (alexandrite)
- Meaning: purity, intuition, emotional balance
What's the July birthstone? Ruby
July's birthstone is ruby, prized for its color and its ties to passion and vitality. Ruby and sapphire are actually the same mineral, corundum, colored differently by trace elements, chromium gives ruby its red.
- Color: red
- Meaning: passion, courage, vitality
The August birthstones are peridot and spinel
August's official birthstones are peridot and spinel, both linked to positivity and abundance. Peridot is one of the few gems known to form deep in the Earth's mantle, reaching the surface through volcanic activity.
- Color: lime to olive green (peridot), many colors (spinel)
- Meaning: positivity, strength, abundance
September birthstone meaning: sapphire
September's birthstone is sapphire, tied to wisdom and intuition. We don't work with sapphire, it belongs to fine jewelry rather than the handmade natural stones we use, so we leave it out on purpose. Sapphire occurs in nearly every color except red, when corundum is red, it's called ruby instead.
- Color: usually blue, though sapphire comes in many colors
- Meaning: wisdom, loyalty, intuition
Born in October? Here's your birthstone
October has two official birthstones, opal and tourmaline. Opal's play of color comes from microscopic silica spheres that diffract light, which is why no two stones look quite the same.
- Color: play of color (opal), wide range including black, green and pink (tourmaline)
- Meaning: creativity, emotional balance, protection
November birthstones: topaz and citrine
November's official birthstones are topaz and citrine. The two are often confused since both come in shades of gold, but they are entirely different minerals.
- Color: golden yellow
- Meaning: optimism, confidence, new beginnings
What's the December birthstone? Turquoise
December's official birthstones are turquoise, tanzanite and zircon. Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones used in jewelry, worn in Egypt more than 6,000 years ago.
- Color: blue to blue green (turquoise), blue violet (tanzanite), various (zircon)
- Meaning: protection, calm, clear communication
Every month now has its stone at Cayumi. Our Birthstone collection brings together a natural stone for each month, handcrafted by us in Madrid. Eight of them are true birthstones: garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, moonstone, peridot, tourmaline, citrine and turquoise. For April, May, July and September, whose official gems are diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire, we chose natural stones instead: clear quartz, malachite, carnelian and sodalite. Wear your month on a necklace or bracelet, as a pair of hoops, or as a single charm. Browse the Birthstone collection, or explore Create your Own for a fully custom piece.
Frequently asked questions
What is a birthstone?
A birthstone is the gemstone traditionally associated with the month you were born, based on a list that combines ancient tradition, astrology and modern gem trade conventions.
Is there a difference between modern and traditional birthstones?
Yes. Several months have more than one official stone because jewelers updated the historical list over time. June, for example, includes pearl, moonstone and alexandrite depending on which version you follow.
Do you have to wear your exact birthstone?
No. A birthstone is a starting point, not a rule. Plenty of people choose a stone for its color or meaning rather than their birth month.
What if my birthstone isn't a stone Cayumi works with?
Diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire are fine gemstones, which is not what we work with. For those four months we chose a natural stone instead: clear quartz for April, malachite for May, carnelian for July and sodalite for September. You'll find them in our Birthstone collection, alongside the eight true birthstones we work with.
None of this is meant to be a rule. A birthstone is a nice starting point if you are choosing a gift or picking something for yourself, but it is not the only way in. Plenty of people wear labradorite without being born in September, or pick citrine simply because it is their favorite color. If you're shopping for someone else, our gift guide walks through how to match a stone to her personality, what to spend, and whether to go ready-made or custom. If you'd like a stone that isn't in our Birthstone collection, reach out through Create your Own and we'll see what we can source for you. Otherwise, browse our bracelets and necklaces and see which one finds you.
Written by Manon, Cayumi co-founder, who personally sources and handcrafts every stone in this guide.