Quick Answer
Every month has an official US birthstone: January garnet, February amethyst, March aquamarine, April diamond, May emerald, June pearl, July ruby, August peridot, September sapphire, October opal, November topaz, and December turquoise. Five of those months also carry modern alternates added over the past century. The list was standardized in 1912 and has been revised three times since, most recently in 2016.
Birthstones by Month: The Full List
Twelve months, twelve traditional stones, plus a handful of modern alternates added over the past century. The table below covers every official US birthstone, and each month links to a full guide on its meaning, hardness, care routine, and how to build a look around it in moissanite and sterling silver.
| Month | Traditional Stone | Modern Alternate(s) | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | — | January guide |
| February | Amethyst | — | February guide |
| March | Aquamarine | Bloodstone | March guide |
| April | Diamond | — | April guide |
| May | Emerald | — | May guide |
| June | Pearl | Alexandrite, Moonstone | June guide |
| July | Ruby | — | July guide |
| August | Peridot | Spinel, Sardonyx | August guide |
| September | Sapphire | — | September guide |
| October | Opal | Tourmaline | October guide |
| November | Topaz | Citrine | November guide |
| December | Turquoise | Zircon, Tanzanite | December guide |
Browse the necklaces collection for everyday pendant styles to pair with any birth month, or see the gifts under $100 collection for budget-friendly picks.
Where the Modern Birthstone List Came From
The birthstone list most US jewelers use today isn't ancient tradition — it was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association, known today as Jewelers of America, replacing a patchwork of regional lists with one agreed set. The list has been revised three times since, each time adding a stone rather than removing one.
- 1912 — the American National Retail Jewelers Association (today Jewelers of America) adopts the first standardized US birthstone list
- 1952 — alexandrite, citrine, and zircon added as alternates for June, November, and December
- 2002 — tanzanite added for December by the American Gem Trade Association
- 2016 — spinel added as a second alternate for August
How to Choose Jewelry for Your Birthstone Month
MYNSU's catalog is built on moissanite, a diamond simulant rather than a birthstone, and 925 sterling silver, so a birthstone-month gift here works as an everyday companion piece rather than a literal stone match. Pick a nameplate, initial, or solitaire pendant that fits the wearer's style, then tie it to the month's meaning in the card or gift note.
- A nameplate or initial pendant works for almost any birth month gift, since it's personalized rather than stone-specific
- Pendants and studs suit softer or rarer birthstones better than rings, since they see less daily impact
- Layer a solitaire or circle pendant with a plain chain for a birthday gift that reads as everyday jewelry, not a one-occasion piece
See the individual month guides in the table above for stone-specific care notes, or read our sterling silver and moissanite care guide for general upkeep.
Multiple Birthstones and Modern vs. Traditional Alternates
Five months — March, June, August, November, and December — list more than one official stone, because the 1912, 1952, 2002, and 2016 revisions added alternates instead of replacing the original picks. There's no wrong choice among them: the traditional stone, the modern alternate, or both are all correct, depending on availability and personal taste.
- March — aquamarine (traditional) or bloodstone (alternate)
- June — pearl (traditional), alexandrite or moonstone (alternates)
- August — peridot (traditional), spinel or sardonyx (alternates)
- November — topaz (traditional) or citrine (alternate)
- December — turquoise (traditional), zircon or tanzanite (alternates)
Want a Genuine Birthstone Piece? Here's How
MYNSU's ready-to-wear pieces are moissanite and sterling silver, not birthstones, so a genuine birthstone gem has to be a made-to-order build. Share the month, the stone, and a budget through a custom design inquiry, and it can become a one-of-a-kind pendant, ring, or pair of earrings.
A nameplate or circle pendant like this is a natural starting point for that conversation. Start a custom design inquiry and tell us the month, the stone, and what you have in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many official birthstones are there?
There are twelve birthstone months and roughly seventeen individual stones once every modern alternate is counted, since five months list more than one option. Every month has at least one traditional stone; March, June, August, November, and December each add one or more alternates adopted in later revisions.
Why do some months have more than one birthstone?
The original 1912 list gave each month one stone, but later revisions in 1952, 2002, and 2016 added alternates instead of replacing the traditional picks — often because the original stone was scarce, expensive, or geographically limited. That's why June (pearl, alexandrite, moonstone), August (peridot, spinel, sardonyx), and December (turquoise, zircon, tanzanite) each list several options today.
Does MYNSU sell birthstone jewelry?
MYNSU's ready-to-wear collection is moissanite and 925 sterling silver, not birthstone gems, so a genuine birthstone piece is a made-to-order build rather than something off the shelf. For an everyday companion piece, our nameplate, initial, and solitaire pendants pair naturally with a birthstone-month gift; for the actual gem, start a custom design inquiry.
What's the difference between a traditional and modern birthstone?
A traditional birthstone is the original pick from the 1912 standardized list; a modern alternate is a later addition for the same month, introduced in the 1952, 2002, or 2016 revisions. Both are considered equally legitimate today — there's no ranking between them, just more choice for months like June, August, and December.
Every MYNSU order ships free within the US, backed by 30-day returns, and ships from our Irvine, California warehouse.