What is a birthstone?
A birthstone is a gemstone traditionally associated with a month of the year. Lists have evolved over time, so some months offer several choices.
Choosing by birth month is a lovely way to personalize a piece, though there is no rule that you must. Wear the stone you simply love.
The twelve months
Here are the commonly recognized stones for each month.
- January: garnet
- February: amethyst
- March: aquamarine
- April: diamond
- May: emerald
- June: pearl, alexandrite or moonstone
- July: ruby
- August: peridot or spinel
- September: sapphire
- October: opal or tourmaline
- November: topaz or citrine
- December: turquoise, tanzanite or zircon
Hardness and durability
The Mohs scale ranks minerals by their resistance to scratching, from 1 (very soft) to 10 (diamond, the hardest). Generally, stones with a higher number resist scratching better and suit daily wear in rings.
Hardness is only part of the story. Toughness, meaning resistance to chipping and breaking, and stability under heat or chemicals also matter. Some stones are hard but can still split along internal planes if knocked at the wrong angle.
Choosing for everyday wear
Diamond, sapphire and ruby are among the hardest gems and are widely used in rings. Softer or more delicate stones, such as opal, turquoise and pearl, are often loved in earrings, pendants and occasional rings where they face less knocking.
This is not a reason to avoid a stone you adore. It simply means matching the piece to how you will wear it, and caring for it accordingly.
A note on pearls
Pearls are organic gems formed within living mollusks, and they are softer than most mineral gems. Their surface can be marked by perfume, hairspray, perspiration and acids.
Put pearls on last when dressing and take them off first. Wipe them gently with a soft cloth after wearing, and store them separately so harder stones do not scratch them.