What Is My Birthstone? | GLDN

Written by GLDN Team — October 21, 2024

Your story starts the moment you’re born—and there’s a gemstone to celebrate that. Given their popularity, symbolism and, well, beauty, it’s natural of us to ask ourselves, “What’s my birthstone?” We’re answering all of that (and more) in this guide.

The Meaning of Birthstones

Birthstones represent the 12 months of the year, as well as the Zodiac signs associated with each! But they’re also said to have healing, protective and energetic properties that are amplified during the months assigned to each stone. (For example, a ruby would be at its most powerful during the month of July, since ruby is the July birthstone.)

Given no two months or Zodiac signs are alike, no two birthstones are, either. Each birthstone has its own unique meaning and symbolism attached to it. But how do you determine your birthstone (especially for the months that have several birthstones)? Well, it’s kind of up to you!

Traditional vs Modern Birthstones

The origin of birthstones dates back to 1912—over 100 years ago now! That’s when the National Association of Jewelers (now known as the Jewelers of America) drafted a standardized list of birthstones for use in jewelry far and wide, though historians debate what actually informed this list—from religious influences to nothing but good salesmanship.

When someone says “traditional birthstones,” they’re typically referring to that original list of birthstones the National Association of Jewelers drafted in 1912. You know the ones: emerald, ruby, sapphire, so on and so forth.

Throughout time, many jewelers began adding new, modern birthstones to the mix. Notably in 1952, the traditional list was updated slightly to switch out some gemstones and add a few more to certain months (that’s why December has three gemstones: tanzanite, turquoise and zircon, for example).

Beyond this, though, many modern-day jewelers (like ourselves!) have added even more birthstones to the mix: ones that are softer, subtler and more harmonious than the birthstones of yore, that still feel rooted in a sense of tradition.

Birthstones for Each Month

Now, for the big reveal. Ready to find out your birthstone?! See all of the traditional birthstones, (plus the modern birthstones) for each month below—including what each birthstone means, how it looks and what energy it’s said to bring to its wearer.

Or explore all jewelry for each month:

January Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Garnet

Garnet is derived from the old English and Latin word gernet, meaning blood red. It’s also speculated that the garnet inspired the word pomegranate, with its dark red seeds like gemstone crystals. The traditional garnet is said to bring good health, wealth and happiness.

Shop our traditional garnet birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Vintage Garnet

Compared to the traditional blood-red garnet, our vintage garnet is like the landscape of January: cooler, softer and muted. It pairs beautifully with greens, blues and neutrals alike! Associated with the heart and the force of life, our modern garnets symbolize confidence, courage and sincerity—the inner fire that burns within all of us.

Shop our modern garnet birthstones:

February Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Amethyst

Did you know? Amethyst is actually a type of quartz! Dating back to ancient Egypt and still beloved today, amethyst is easy to source and easy to love. The traditional amethyst is said to represent inner strength and empowerment.

Shop our traditional amethyst birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Royal Amethyst

Rich and dark like a winter’s night, our royal amethyst is a deeper take on the traditional stone—made to contrast gold and silver like no other. Believed to bring a sense of peace and calm to its wearer, our modern amethysts symbolize spirituality, serenity and trust.

Shop our modern amethyst birthstones:

March Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Aquamarine

Hence its name, aquamarine looks like the sea on a sunny day! The traditional aquamarine is said to symbolize the purity of spirit and the soul.

Shop our traditional aquamarine birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Airy Aquamarine

Our new take on aquamarine is a breath of fresh air: softer and subtler than its traditional saturated teal hue, designed to make your stack sparkle in the light. Like the soft waves of the sea, our modern aquamarines symbolize tranquility, vitality and everlasting youth.

Shop our modern aquamarine birthstones:

April Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: White Topaz

Known as the “stone of awareness,” white topaz is a natural, precious gemstone that looks very diamond-like—the perfect compromise between quality and cost.

Shop our traditional white topaz birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Clear Sapphire

Compared to April’s traditional white topaz birthstone, sapphires are even more durable (clocking in at a 9 on the Mohs scale!). Our modern sapphires emit a soft, radiant glow like spring sunshine, and symbolize clarity, strength and intuition—like a mirror for your innermost desires.

Shop our modern clear sapphire birthstones:

May Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Emerald

Bet you didn’t know that emeralds are one of the rarest gemstones! Known for their verdant green hue and clarity, traditional emeralds are also said to inspire wit and intelligence in their wearers.

Shop our traditional emerald birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Forest Emerald

Like walking through the woods at dusk, our new take on emerald is deeper (and, arguably) more timeless than its traditional counterpart. Our modern emeralds symbolize harmony, growth and new beginnings, capturing the spirit of early summer.

Shop our modern emerald birthstones:

June Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Freshwater Pearl

This traditional birthstone glows with purity, humility and innocence—the commonly agreed-upon symbolism for pearls! The only gemstone grown within a living thing (and not mined from the earth), every pearl is one-of-a-kind.

Shop our traditional pearl birthstones:

Our modern birthstones: Moonstone

This modern June birthstone is soft, romantic and infinitely wearable. Like a sliver of frozen moonlight, moonstone symbolizes intuition, hope and divine femininity. Sometimes you’ll even see a pop of rainbow iridescence when the light hits it right—how magical is that?

Shop our modern moonstone birthstones:

July Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Ruby

Renowned for their deep red color, traditional rubies are actually the red variety of the mineral corundum, making it one of the hardest, most durable gemstones out there! Traditional rubies are said to symbolize wisdom, wealth and success in finding love.

Shop our traditional ruby birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Subtle Ruby

The traditional ruby was a bit saturated for our tastes, so we took a few steps back and made it way more refined—a red you’ll actually want to wear. Associated with the sun of midsummer, our modern ruby symbolizes creativity, passion and boundless energy.

Shop our modern ruby birthstones:

August Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Peridot

Unlike deep emeralds, peridots take on more of a lighter, brighter green hue (almost nearing chartreuse). Traditional peridots are said to symbolize prosperity and good fortune—no room to be green with envy here.

Shop our traditional peridot birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Sage Peridot

Compared to the bright zing of traditional peridot, our sage peridot evokes a greater sense of peace and ease. Like the healing properties of nature, our modern peridot symbolizes luck, abundance and rest—all the good energy to carry with you.

Shop our modern peridot birthstones:

September Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Sapphire

Perhaps no other gemstone (other than diamonds!) has the recognition of sapphires. You know them, you love them—but what are sapphires, really? Like rubies, sapphires are another variation of the mineral corundum. Many blue sapphires today are heated to achieve their rich hue, though some appear quite saturated naturally. Traditional sapphires are said to symbolize royalty, romance and fidelity of the soul. How romantic!

Shop our traditional sapphire birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Midnight Sapphire

September: the start of shorter days and longer nights, like a hush over the world. In our modern palette, we opted for a deeper, richer sapphire to represent this glorious month, that still sparkles when the light hits it (like a sky full of stars)! Our modern sapphires symbolize truth, wisdom and sincerity.

Shop our modern sapphire birthstones:

October Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Pink Tourmaline

Though tourmalines come in different varieties and ranges of pink—from hot pink to bubblegum to other colors, like red and green—the classic pink tourmaline is the most traditional birthstone for October. It’s known to symbolize wisdom, creativity and insight.

Shop our traditional tourmaline birthstones:

Our modern birthstones: Blush Tourmaline & Iridescent Opal

Though the pink tourmaline is the most classic, we love blush tourmaline the most (especially for October)! This barely-there pink is soft and warm, like an early fall breeze. Our modern tourmaline symbolizes compassion, love and inspiration with every wear.

We can’t forget iridescent opal, either! Like a miniature moon, opal has an otherworldly glow that fits October like no other. Plus, our modern opals symbolize hope, purity and truth—positive, grounding affirmations to carry with you. We love iridescent opal and blush tourmaline together, too (for double the gemstone fun).

Shop our modern tourmaline and opal birthstones:

November Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Citrine

Known as the “success stone,” citrines range in hue from yellow to orange to amber, depending on the stone. It’s said to symbolize prosperity, like the sun shining upon you!

Shop our traditional citrine birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Sunshine Citrine

Nothing gold can stay—except citrine. Favoring the golden variety of citrine over the overtly orange, our November birthstone wears like a ray of winter sunshine! Like the traditional citrine, our modern citrine not only symbolizes success…but joy and motivation, as well. (Because who couldn’t use more of that?)

Shop our modern citrine birthstones:

December Birthstone

Our traditional birthstone: Turquoise

Though turquoise has a summery vibe, it’s actually the traditional birthstone for December! Ranging from blue to green, turquoise is beloved in the American southwest, and is said to symbolize good health and good fortune.

Shop our traditional turquoise birthstones:

Our modern birthstone: Indigo Tanzanite

Our modern take on the December birthstone is winter incarnate. Compared to the brighter traditional turquoise, we looked for warmer, deeper stones with hints of purple, like the winter sky at dusk. Our modern tanzanite symbolizes intuition, trust and higher consciousness; a deep belief in yourself.

Shop our modern tanzanite birthstones:

We hope you find the perfect birthstone to represent your special month, whether it’s the traditional birthstone or modern birthstone.

Looking for more birth month emblems? Allow us to introduce you to birth flowers! 💐

Happy hunting,

Team GLDN

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