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Birthstones by month: colours, bead alternatives and necklace ideas

January garnet to December turquoise: the birthstone for each month, what colour it is, and how to use it in a pregnancy necklace.

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Gold charms, a hamsa hand and gemstone beads on a soft background

Short answer: Choose the birthstone of the baby’s due month, then add the parents’ and siblings’ months if you like. Where the stone is costly or soft, a bead alternative such as clear quartz, green aventurine or lapis lazuli gives the same colour.

Birthstone for every month

Lists vary a little between countries and traditions. This is the modern list most jewellers use, with a bead alternative where the stone itself is very costly or too soft for everyday wear.

MonthBirthstoneColourIn beads
JanuaryGarnetDeep redAlternatives: red jasper
FebruaryAmethystPurpleOften used as it is
MarchAquamarinePale blueAlso bloodstone, the traditional March stone
AprilDiamondClearClear quartz (rock crystal) in beads
MayEmeraldGreenGreen aventurine in beads
JunePearl or moonstoneCream or milky whiteMoonstone is a common bead choice
JulyRubyRedCarnelian or red jasper in beads
AugustPeridotOlive greenAlso sardonyx
SeptemberSapphireBlueLapis lazuli is a traditional blue choice
OctoberOpal or tourmalineMany colours; pink tourmalineOpal is soft, so beads are often tourmaline
NovemberTopaz or citrineGolden yellowCitrine is the usual bead
DecemberTurquoise, blue topaz or tanzaniteBlue to blue-violetBlue topaz or turquoise-coloured stones

Which month should you choose?

Most people choose the baby’s due month. Babies arrive early and late, so if the exact month matters to you, order closer to the date or pick a stone you love for its colour. Many families add more stones: one for each parent, one for each sibling. A ring of four or five stones on one necklace is a lovely record of who is in the family.

Choosing stones that work together

  • Keep the palette small. Two or three colours look intentional. Six look busy.
  • Mix hardness with care. Soft stones such as opal and moonstone can be scratched by harder ones.
  • Think about the metal. Cool blues and purples suit silver. Pinks, creams and ambers suit gold.
Gold charms and gemstone beads laid out together
A charm beside the ball can stand for a family member too.

What the stones stand for

For the traditional meanings of the stones most often used in pregnancy jewellery, see gemstones for pregnancy jewellery. For engraving ideas to go alongside them, see personalised pregnancy necklaces.

Questions people ask

Is a birthstone the stone of the birth month or the due month?

It is the stone of the month of birth. Before the birth, most people use the due month and, if they like, swap or add a stone afterwards.

Can I use more than one birthstone?

Yes. Many families combine the baby’s stone with the parents’ and siblings’.

Are all birthstones available as beads?

Not all. Diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire are costly, so we suggest alternatives such as clear quartz, green aventurine, carnelian and lapis lazuli.

Are birthstone meanings scientific?

No. They are tradition and symbolism. We don’t make health claims for stones.