Birthstone Colors and Meanings by Month (with Chart)

Each month is tied to a birthstone, with its distinct color and story. Birthstones go beyond aesthetics or add-ups to jewelry, they carry meanings that reflect one’s personality, energy, and even luck.

In this guide, we will answer questions like what are the birthstones for each month, as well as birthstones colors and meanings by month, helping you know the one that truly resonates with your kind of person.

Birthstone Colors and Meanings Chart by Month

Wondering what are the birthstone colors of each month? Here’s a chart of each month’s birthstones, their colors, and meaning. 

If you’re wondering the differences between modern and traditional systems, check the modern and traditional birthstone chart.

January Birthstone: Garnet

Garnet is a durable gemstone known for its rich, glassy appearance and wide range of varieties. It was firstly worn by ancient warriors who believed it gave them courage and strength in the battlefield. But in recent years, it’s been used in medieval medicine for protection against illness.

Colors

Deep red is classic, but garnet also appears in green, orange, pink, and purple varieties.

Meanings

Represents courage, strength, and protection. It’s often linked to grounding energy, loyalty, and safe travels.

February Birthstone: Amethyst

This stone was named Amethyst after the nymph Amethystos who was turned into a stone for protection. Amethyst is perfect for people who want a meaningful gem that exudes peace and spiritual connection. It has a striking purple hue that blends with both fine and fashion jewelry.

Colors

Known for rich purple tones ranging from pale lavender to deep violet, sometimes with reddish or bluish hues.

Meanings

Symbolizes peace, clarity, and spiritual growth. It is believed to promote calmness, balance, and protection from negative energy.

March Birthstone: Aquamarine

Aquamarine is coined from a Latin name “aqua marinus,” which means seawater. Aqua means “water” and marinus means “sea.” It’s a beryl gemstone valued for its transparent, ocean-blue appearance, and light-reflecting clarity.

Colors

Light blue to blue-green shades; some stones appear nearly colorless with a light icy blue tint.

Meanings

Associated with calmness, courage, and clarity. It is also believed to grant safe travels, especially protection for sailors at sea.

April Birthstone: Diamond

Diamond is the hardest natural gemstone, formed under extreme pressure deep within the Earth. It tops the list of the most expensive birthstones because of its clarity and unmatched brilliance. The Greeks even thought Diamonds were tears of the gods, while the Romans said they were little drops of falling stars.

Colors

Typically colorless and brilliant white, but also occurs in fancy colors like yellow, pink, blue, and champagne.

Meanings

Represents love, purity, and strength. Often associated with gifts and engagement rings that signifies clarity and long-life commitment.

May Birthstone: Emerald

Emerald is a variety of beryl gemstones, commonly referred to as the stone of rebirth, fertility, and joy. It often comes in a rich-green color, with inclusions and impurities that add character to its overall look. This increases its appeal for high-end and vintage-inspired jewelry designs.

Colors

Vivid green is signature, ranging from bright grassy green to deep forest tones with slight bluish undertones.

Meanings

Symbolizes growth, renewal, and wisdom. It’s believed to have the power to sharpen the mind and bring good fortune.

June Birthstones: Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite

June Birthstone: Pearl

Pearls are standouts in the birthstone colors chart because they are the only gemstone formed in a living creature. While other birthstones are mined from the Earth, pearls are formed within mollusks. They are really valued for their smooth surface and soft luster, making them a classic choice for elegant jewelry.

Colors

White, cream, silver luster organic gemstone.

Meanings

Represents purity, elegance, and wisdom. It’s often associated with femininity and timeless elegance.

June Birthstone: Moonstone

Moonstone is a feldspar gemstone admired for its mystical glow, called adularescence. It exudes a unique light that resembles moonlight floating beneath the surface. It is commonly cut into cabochons to highlight this feature.

Colors

Adularescent glow, milky white with blue sheen and soft rainbow flashes.

Meanings

Symbolizes intuition, emotional balance, and new beginnings. It’s directly connected to the characteristics of the moon.

June Birthstone: Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a rare gemstone famous for its birthstone colors—the color changes under different lights. It appears green in daylight and shifts to reddish tones under incandescent light. Since it was discovered in Russia in the 19th century, it has become a prized collector’s stone.

Colors

Color changing green in daylight, red under incandescent light, rare gemstone.

Meanings

Represents transformation, balance, and adaptability. It’s commonly referred to as the symbol of change and duality.

July Birthstone: Ruby

Ruby has long been mentioned as the “king of precious stones” because of its blood-red color. The deep-red color naturally fostered a strong symbolic connection to human blood, with many people (especially warriors) associating it with power and protection.

Colors

Intense red ranging from pinkish-red to deep blood-red, sometimes with slight purple undertones.

Meanings

Represents passion, vitality, courage, and protection. The vibrant red color can strike fear into the heart of the enemy.

August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx

August Birthstone: Peridot

Peridot is formed deep within the Earth and sometimes found in meteorites. It is the only gemstone aside from diamonds that come from the Earth’s crust. Peridot is green, similar to Emerald—which makes it sometimes difficult to differentiate.

Colors

Olive green to lime green gemstone formed in volcanic rocks.

Meanings

Symbolizes positivity, emotional renewal, and uplifting energy. Egyptians believed it to be the “gem of the sun,” that protects against terrors of the night.

August Birthstone: Spinel

Spinel is a durable gemstone often mistaken for other gems due to its wide color range, including vivid red, pink, blue, purple, and black. It’s very popular for its brilliance in vibrant shades, making it blend effortlessly in different jewelry designs.

Colors

Vibrant red, pink, blue gemstone often mistaken for ruby historically.

Meanings

Represents revitalization, energy, and inspiration. It’s often linked with strength and fresh beginnings.

August Birthstone: Sardonyx

Sardonyx is one of the oldest gemstones in ancient Rome. The stone has a distinct layered appearance that serves as an earthy alternative to brighter modern stones. It is commonly carved into cameos and beads.

Colors

Layered reddish brown and white banded chalcedony used in cameos.

Meanings

Symbolizes strength, protection, and stability. It’s historically believed to bring confidence and encourage clear communication.

September Birthstone: Sapphire

Sapphire is a deep blue stone that symbolizes royalty and was used to ward away evil. The ancient Persian rulers even had a notion that the sky got its color from Sapphire’s reflection. This stone is perfect for those who want a classic, meaningful gem.

Colors

Best known for deep royal blue, but also occurs in pink, yellow, green, and colorless varieties.

Meanings

Represents Royalty, loyalty, wisdom, and truth. The belief traditionally is that it can protect against harm and envy.

October Birthstones: Opal, Tourmaline

October Birthstone: Opal

Opal is a unique gemstone in the birthstone chart by month, especially because of its play-of-color and shifting flashes of multiple hues. Its internal structure diffracts light, creating a distinctive and dynamic visual effect.

Colors

Rainbow play of color gemstone with shifting flashes of light.

Meanings

Symbolizes creativity, inspiration, and emotional expression. It’s believed to hold the colors and powers of all gemstones.

October Birthstone: Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a versatile gemstone that forms in a wide spectrum of colors, and sometimes showing multiple colors in a single crystal. It is widely used in both modern and custom jewelry designs.

Colors

Multicolor gemstone ranging pink, green, blue, black, often bi-colored.

Meanings

Represents balance, protection, and healing. It’s often linked to emotional stability and positive energy.

November Birthstones: Topaz, Citrine

November Birthstone: Topaz

Topaz is a durable gemstone, referred to as the “fire stone” due to its bold energy. Legends have it that this stone can quench thirst and prevent bad dreams. It is valued for its clarity and wide color range, which makes it appeal to both luxury and affordable jewelry.

Colors

Golden yellow, blue, or colorless gemstone known for clarity brilliance.

Meanings

Symbolizes strength, clarity, and confidence. It’s often associated with success and positive energy.

November Birthstone: Citrine

Citrine is often called the “merchant’s stone” for attracting wealth. It comes in yellow color, which is believed to evoke the warmth of the sun and life-giving energy. People said the gemstone made men more handsome and intelligent. While it made the women bear more children and increased happiness.

Colors

Warm yellow to amber quartz gemstone symbolizing positivity and abundance.

Meanings

Represents joy, abundance, and positivity. It’s generally linked to success across all facets of life, especially wealth accumulation.

December Birthstones: Turquoise, Zicron, Tanzanite

December Birthstone: Turquoise

Turquoise is an opaque gemstone prized for its smooth texture and natural veining. It has been used in jewelry and decorative pieces for thousands of years across many cultures all over the world—from Persia to America.

Colors

Deep blue-green opaque gemstone often with natural veining patterns.

Meanings

Symbolizes protection, peace, and good fortune. It’s traditionally used as a protective talisman, as well as healing and positive energy.

December Birthstone: Zircon

Zircon is a natural gemstone known for its high brilliance and fire, often compared to diamonds. It comes in a variety of vibrant colors and has been used in jewelry for centuries.

Colors

Brilliant gemstone in light blue, clear, or golden tones, high brilliance.

Meanings

Represents wisdom, clarity, and confidence. It’s historically believed to improve restful sleep.

December Birthstone: Tanzanite

Tanzanite is a rare gemstone found in Tanzania in the 20th century. It’s one of the newest gemstones but its striking color and rarity make it highly wanted in various jewelry designs.

Colors

Violet-blue gemstone known for trichroism, shifting blue-purple shades.

Meanings

Symbolizes transformation, intuition, and growth. It’s often associated with spiritual awareness and new beginnings.

Zodiac Birthstone Colors Chart (By Sign & Date)

Beyond gemstones meaning and birthstone colors by month, many people choose gemstones based on their zodiac sign for deeper personal meaning. Here’s a simple chart to explore zodiac birthstones, their dates, and the colors most commonly associated with each sign.

Key Takeaways

Birthstones are more than just gemstones or add-ups to jewelry. From January to December, each stone carries its own identity, giving you a deeper connection to your birth month. Understanding these birthstones colors and meanings will help you make more intentional choices.Are you ready to create something really unique? It’s best you work with a custom jewelry manufacturer who can turn these gemstones into jewelry pieces that reflect your exact style and story.