Jewelry to Match Your Birthstone
Birthstone jewelry has long been a favorite gift idea, particularly for coming of age birthdays and significant life events. Take a look at your birth month below and explore the color, significance, and popular jewelry options that beautifully display your birthstone.
January Birthstone: Garnet
Garnets are most commonly a deep red color, known for roots in ancient Egypt and the historic Victorian era. Garnet actually includes a group of several different minerals, many of which hold gemstone-level beauty and significance, particularly in jewelry. The most popular is tsavorite, which is actually a bold green color. Garnets are believed to bring health, happiness, and wealth to those who wear them. Necklaces with garnet accents and rings with tsavorite center stones are some of the most popular January birthstone jewelry.
February Birthstone: Amethyst
The purple shade of an amethyst cannot be mistaken, and its gorgeous hue is reminiscent of royalty. Catherine the Great and the Duchess of Windsor are just two royals who have famously and proudly worn amethyst-adorned pieces. It’s believed to keep its wearers of clear mind and with quick wit, and it is a common gift for 6th wedding anniversaries. Amethyst earrings and amethyst pendant necklaces are two great February birthstone jewelry pieces.
March Birthstone: Aquamarine & Bloodstone
While the traditional March birthstone is aquamarine, the unique bloodstone is also associated with March, and both stones are thought to bring health, strength, and wellbeing to whoever wears them. While aquamarine is a gentle blue, the bloodstone is a deep green jasper with red iron oxide spots, often bearing religious significance. Aquamarine is commonly gifted for 19th wedding anniversaries, such as with a diamond and aquamarine necklace or an aquamarine cocktail ring.
April Birthstone: Diamond
The stunning diamond is the birthstone of those born in April, and it represents pure beauty, clarity, and strength. Diamond engagement rings go back to the 1400s, but right-hand diamond rings and other diamond jewelry is still evolving and growing in popularity today. Diamonds are popular gifts for 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries, and they are thought to have powers of protection, healing powers, and provide longevity and strength to wearers. Diamond bracelets and right-hand diamond rings are common April birthstone jewelry gifts.
May Birthstone: Emerald
The deep green of an emerald has long been adored. It’s reminiscent of springtime, and it is believed to bring about renewal, rebirth, intelligence, and wit. Emeralds have been revered by royalty and those from ancient Egypt to Incan empires to Spanish conquistadors. Cleopatra was particularly fond of emeralds, and they are now commonly given for both 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Emerald and diamond earrings are a great way to wear this beautiful stone, and cocktail rings embellished with emeralds are a playful take on the stunning May birthstone.
June Birthstone: Pearl, Alexandrite, & Moonstone
Pearls are the most traditional June birthstone, but alexandrite and moonstones certainly deserve honorable mentions. Moonstones are reflective and appear to glow at times, and they are commonly associated with passion and fertility. Alexandrite is a type of mineral that changes colors based on lighting, going from a vibrant green to a purplish red, making it a fascinating and beautiful birthstone. Pearls, of course, are some of the most sought-after gems around, partially due to their association with purity, innocence, and humility. Pearls are classic wedding gifts and are commonly found on many types of jewelry, such as in pearl earrings and pearl necklaces.
July Birthstone: Ruby
One of the most coveted and loved gems of all time is the ruby, also known as July’s birthstone. This precious gemstone is a deep, bold red with a hint of purple and has long been revered for its beauty and rarity. Rubies are extremely hard, making them both stunning and durable. They are symbols of both power and energy and are believed to bring about health, wealth, love and wisdom. Rubies are traditionally given on 15th and 40th anniversaries, and common jewelry gifts include ruby earrings and necklaces with ruby pendants.
August Birthstone: Peridot, Spinel, & Sardonyx
The original August birthstone was the sardonyx, which is made up of brownish-red bands alternating with black or white onyx. It has Biblical significance and is thought to bring about bravery, clear communication, and happiness. The peridot is a bright yellowish-green and was commonly mistaken for emeralds many times in the past. It is best known for forming under some of the most extreme and intense conditions and being found in lava or in meteorites from space. Peridot is a common 16th anniversary gift and spinel is a popular 22nd anniversary gift. Spinel can be found in many colors but is most frequently a deep red, similar to a ruby, which it is often mistaken for. A spinel and diamond ring would make an excellent gift for anyone with an August birthday.
September Birthstone: Sapphire
The bright blue sapphire is one of the most cherished gemstones today, and it has been that way for many centuries. Sapphires actually come in a wide range of colors, and they are believed to represent romance, royalty, and fidelity. The royal family of Great Britain and John D. Rockefeller are known for the most significant sapphires in history, although this gemstone has been worn by royals and clergy members alike for many years. Blue sapphire bracelets and pink sapphire earrings are some of the most popular choices for September birthstone gifts and are commonly given for 5th and 45th anniversaries.
October Birthstone: Tourmaline & Opal
Opals are known for their “play of color,” or changes in colors that cover every hue in the rainbow. This stone is a typical 14th anniversary gift, and it has been associated with protection, purity, hope, and virtue. Tourmaline comes in a stunning array of colors, from pink to green and from blue to black. A common 8th anniversary gift, tourmaline has long been mistaken for other precious gemstones, such as rubies and emeralds. Each color symbolizes different things: black brings about confidence, pink represents love and compassion, and green promotes strength and courage. Green tourmaline and diamond earrings are a great gift for an October birthday, as is a ring with tourmaline accent stones.
November Birthstone: Topaz or Citrine
Citrine is a beautiful yellow or orange color and is typically gifted for 13th wedding anniversaries. It has been popular for centuries as a reasonably priced yet stunning gemstone, and it is believed to have calming properties. Topaz can be found in a number of colors, such as light blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange, and brown. Over the centuries, topaz has symbolized strength, long life, and intelligence. Blue topaz is commonly given on the 4th anniversary while the imperial topaz, a pinkish-orange variety, is typically gifted for the 23rd anniversary. A topaz pendant necklace or a pair of citrine and diamond earrings are great gifts for those with a November birthday.
December Birthstone: Tanzanite, Zircon or Turquoise
With just about every variation of blue covered, the three birthstones for December are all stunning in their own ways. Tanzanite is a deep blue or violet and is one of the most recently discovered gems, which quickly was named the traditional gem of 24th wedding anniversaries. Zircon is found in many different colors and is known for being incredibly brilliant and sparkly. Finally, turquoise ranges from blue to green in color and commonly has remnants of rock in it, making it beautifully unique. This gem is the gift for 11th anniversaries and has a rich history from King Tut to the Duchess of Windsor to Native Americans. Turquoise is a symbol of peace, health, protection, and good fortune. People with a December birthday are sure to love their birthstones on jewelry, such as with tanzanite earrings and turquoise and diamond rings.