Modern birthstones correspond to the month of your birth. It is considered lucky to wear your birthstone. Learn about your own special gem.
January – Garnet
Color is often deep red but can also be yellow, orange, pink, green or violet
Comes from the Latin word for pomegranate
Symbolizes faith and truth
Believed helpful in preventing and curing blood diseases and infections
Powers are healing, strength and protection
Ruling planet is Mars
Mohs hardness of 7.0 to 7.5
It is said that Noah used a bright red garnet as a light for the ark
First chakra at the base of the spine is represented by garnet
February – Amethyst
Color is purple
Comes from the Greek word for sobriety
Symbolic of spirituality and piety
Believed helpful in preventing overindulgence
Powers include healing, spiritual uplifting, happiness
Ruling planet is Saturn
Mohs hardness of 7.0
This royal purple stone has been favored by monarchs throughout history
Seventh chakra at the crown is represented by amethyst
March – Aquamarine
Color is pale blue
Comes from the Roman word "Aqua," meaning water, and "mare," meaning sea
Symbolizes foresight, courage and happiness
Believed to reverse poisoning and useful in fortune telling
Powers include good luck, reducing stress and enhancing intuition
Ruling planet is Neptune
Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8.0
Sailors often carried aquamarines to ward off seasickness and keep them safe while at sea
The throat chakra, number five, is represented by the aquamarine
April – Diamond
Colorless diamonds sparkle with reflected light but diamonds can be any color including black
The word diamond comes from the Greek word "adamastos," which means invincible The ancient Hindu word for diamond was "Vajra," meaning lightning
Symbolic of invincibility, courage and strength
Believed to have strong medicinal properties
Powers include protection and everlasting love
Ruling planet is Venus
Mohs hardness of 10
Diamond rings are traditionally worn on the third finger of the left hand because the ancient Egyptians believed that the “vein of love” ran from the heart to the tip of this finger
The diamond can cleanse the crown, or seventh, chakra
May – Emerald
Color is green
The word emerald comes from the Latin word "smaragdus", meaning green gem
Symbolizes faith, fertility and goodness
Believed to enhance eyesight and mental clarity, they were often carried on long journeys to keep the traveler safe
Powers include fertility and clairvoyance
Ruling planets are Jupiter, Mercury and Venus plus the Earth’s moon
Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8
Legend claims that Nero wore eyeglasses made from emeralds to enhance and protect his eyesight while watching the gladiator games
The fourth, chakra of the heart, is represented by the emerald
June – Pearl
The only monthly birthstone that is not a stone, pearls range in color from pure white or pink to gray or black
The Latin word for pearl means unique
Symbolic of innocence, purity and wealth
Believed to change bad fortune into good fortune
Powers include enhanced virility and the ability to attract the help of influential people
The Earth’s moon rules the pearl
Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 4.5
Ancient people believed that pearls were the tears of angels, goddesses or mermaids
Pearls enhance the solar plexus chakra, number three
July – Ruby
When red, the mineral Corundum is called a ruby (other colors are considered sapphires)
The word ruby comes from the Latin word “rubeos” for red and the ancient Hindus called the ruby the "Rajnapura" or King of Gems
Symbolizes heat, passion and power
Believed to make the wearer wise
Powers include protection, healing and bringing love
Ruling planets are Mars and Saturn
Mohs hardness of 9.0
Some believe that a ruby will turn a darker color when danger is imminent and return to their original color when the danger has passed
Rubies stimulate the heart chakra, number four
August – Peridot
Color is light green, yellow-green or olive green
Peridot is a French word derived from the Arabic word "faridat" which means gem
Symbolic of the sun and good luck
Believed to protect against evil and nightmares
Has the power to attract fame and fortune and bolster the confidence of an insecure person
Ruled by Saturn, Venus and the sun, it appears almost clear in direct sunlight and retains color even in low light
Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7
In the past, peridot was formed into goblets because legend claimed that any medicine drank from the stone goblets had increased efficacy
As a protection against jealousy, peridot relates to the fourth, heart chakra
September – Sapphire
Any non-red form of corundum is classified as a sapphire, most typically they are blue
Sapphire comes from the Persian word "safir", which means beloved of Saturn
Symbolizes truth, sincerity and faithfulness
Believed to make a stupid man wise and an bad-tempered man agreeable
Has the power to protect against poverty and promote spiritual enlightenment
Ruled by the planet Saturn
Mohs hardness of 9.0
The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a great sapphire and the blue of the sky was a reflection of the stone
The sapphire represents the fifth chakra, the throat chakra
October – Opal
The color of an opal is hard to describe, iridescent and changeable
The word originates from the Greek “opallus” which means to see a change in color; the Romans called the opal "Cupid Paederos”, a child as beautiful as love
Symbolic of hope, innocence and purity
Believed to cleanse foul-smelling air, it is considered bad luck to carry an opal if it is not your birthstone
Powers include invisibility and protection against spiritual breakdown
Ruled by the planet Venus
Mohs hardness of 5 to 6.5
The ancient Arabs claimed that opals fell to earth in flashes of lightning
The opal is beneficial to all seven of the chakras
November – Citrine
The golden quartz, citrine is the official birthstone of November but golden topaz is also claimed by this month
The name citrine has the same roots as our word citrus and means yellow or golden
Symbolizes creativity, hope and strength
Believed to bring light and clarity to the owner
Gives the power to see through deceptions, banish fears and protect against snake bites
Ruled by the planet Jupiter
Mohs hardness of 7.0
Considered to be the merchant’s stone, a citrine placed in a money drawer will draw prosperity
The yellow color of citrine makes it especially beneficial to the third, solar plexus, chakra
December – Blue Topaz
Only the blue variety of topaz, the color created by irradiation, is recognized as the modern birthstone of December with turquoise a second alternative
The name comes from Sanskrit “tapa” which means fire
Symbolic of love and fidelity
The ancient Greeks believed that a person wearing a topaz could become invisible and experience an increase in strength
Allegedly has the power to cure insomnia, asthma and hemorrhages
Blue topaz is ruled by the planet Venus
Mohs hardness of 8.0
Legend says that blue topaz thrown into a pot of boiling water will cool the water – and hot tempers as well!
Blue topaz is soothing to the throat, fifth, chakra
Our information is based on modern birthstones for each month. Many other birthstone lists exist. Enjoy finding and wearing your birthstone or the birthstones of loved ones.
Jean Fisher is a former elementary school teacher. Her website What’s For Dinner? provides a dinner suggestion for each day of the week, a customizable grocery shopping list, table topics and quality time activities.
